TROUBLE IN ESIT EKET....over Udom Emmanuel's influence in Local Government Administration
There is so much trouble in ESIT EKET Local Government Area following the attempt by former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to dictate, redirect and distort the zoning arrangement of Local Government Administration in the Local Government Area.
ESIT EKET people are of the opinion that returning Engineer Iniobong Robson as the Transition Committee Chairman for another year would make Robson overstay as the Council Chairman as he was first appointed a Transition Chairman in 2016.
In their separate speeches and reaction, they said that it is a very terrible and horrible political decision to make as it would have robbed the other zones in ESIT EKET an opportunity of serving the Local Government Area.
The likes of a former Councillor in the area, Engineer Mkpong Isangedighe who hails from Etebi Idung Assan of Zone C is said to have drummed into the ears of all and sundry that Zone C is to produce the next Chairman of the LGA and must start from the Transition Committee.
The Zone is said to have held a Youth Seminar where matters of the future of the Zone and by extension ESIT EKET Local Government Area was discussed.
One of the persons from zone C who is equally agitating for the Chairmanship of the Local Government Area is a former Secretary of the Council Mr. Uyoatta Assam.
Uyoatta Assam popularly known as Ayotollah Azzam has been advocating for Zone C to produce the next Chairman starting from Transition and elected eventually.
Uyoatta Assam who is known for his dogged stance on a lot of Political issues have insisted that he will challenge for the Chairmanship of the LGA irrespective of who is standing on his way and that of his zone towards producing the next Chairman of the Local Government Area.
But some persons in the LGA such as Dr Umoh , the political leader of Ward 5 in Zone B, Mr Edoho Sunday aka Edoho Samsung from Ward 9 in Zone B, Mr Enobong Asubop from Ward 4 also in Zone B and their cotravellers are said to have sold out the opportunity of the Zone for the second time by endorsing the incumbent Chairman Iniobong Robson to remain again in the Council as Chairman.
Robson is said to have gotten the backing of the former Gov Udom Emmanuel, Mr Ime Okon Dan (Badan) and Elder Ben Udobia
Many ESIT EKET sons and daughters who spoke described the action as wicked, callous and senseless saying that it is ridiculous for anybody from Zone B or C, talkmore of outsider like Udom Emmanuel to endorse Robson whom they said has overstayed in the Local Government Area as Chairman.
The Political Leader of ESIT EKET Local Government Area Elder Benji Udobia is said to have been overpowered by the action as he is said to have appeared helpless to certain political happenings in the Local Government Area.
Udobia is said to be indifferent to actions as according to them Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has dirtily influenced decisions in the Local Government Area.
Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Dr Ini Adiakpan has been on political hybernation due to her incapacitation to relate well with her people.
But a former SA to Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and a one time President General of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Abongiwaad Isaiah Abia has vehemently opposed the return of the Chairman either as Transition, Caretaker or on an elongated tenure.
In a meeting held at the residence of Dr. Umoh in Uquo, Abia informed that if Iniobong Robson wants the sit of the Chairmanship again, he should come and sit down, appeal to and beg zone B which is the rightful zone to have the Chairmanship position.
Isaiah Abia maintained that zone B Elders who are selling out the position of the Zone for a plate of porridge will have posterity to contend with in due course.
It is not clear what the Governor's take will be when the matter gets to him as information is rife that ESIT EKET people will approach the State Governor for help. Can the Governor's SSA on Political (Eket Senatorial District) Bishop Sam Akpan wade into and handle this amicably?
Only time will tell