By Sunny Dickson
East Itam III Ward 5 in Itu Local Government Area has always been known as the pacesetter Ward both in style and actions, especially as it affects the rotation and zoning of councillorship position around the six villages of Mbak Obio, Obong, Ikot Andem, Ikot Uso Akpan, Ekim and Ikot Ukap Itam, that make up the Ward.
Since the coming of democratic government, the position of Councilor has been shared amongst five out of the six villages, with some villages taking more than one turn.
For instance, Obong Itam and Ekim Itam have produced two Councilors each at different times; Mbak Obio Itam, Ikot Uso Akpan and Ikot Andem have produced one each.
Whoever goes to equity, they say, must go with clean hands. It is in the light of this that the entire youths of the Ward met and decided that Ikot Ukap Itam being an integral part of the Ward should be considered for the position of Councilor of the Ward.
Investigations revealed that the youths held several meetings last week, convened by the Itu Chapter Chairman of Akwa Ibom Youth Caucus, Anietie Okon James, and the PDP Youth Leader of Ward-5, Mr. Nsidibe Vincent, and at each meeting, it was unanimously resolved that the Councillorship position of Ward-5 should be zoned to Ikot Ukap Itam, the only village in the area that have not produced a Councilor before.
Our reporter gathered that on Wednesday, the youths decided to take their meeting to Ikot Ukap Itam for a decision to be taken since they have zoned the slot to the same village.
According to our reporter, after setting the tone for the meeting, the PDP Youth Leader of Ward-5 recognized representatives of the six villages to speak. Speakers upon speakers opined that the youth leaders should look closely amongst the aspirants from Ikot Ukap Itam and adopt one person whom they can entrust with their mandate, someone with capacity and passion for leadership and someone who is youth friendly.
To this end, Mr. Emmanuel Ndayongmong from Mbak Obio Itam moved a motion adopting Comrade GEORGE AKPAN as the sole candidate of the youths of Ward-5 to represent them as Councilor in the forthcoming Local Government Election come November 11, 2017.
Before moving the motion, which was seconded by the Ekim Itam-born Dakkada Coordinator of Itu Local Government Area, Mr. Mbuk Eni Effiong, Mr. Ndayongmong extolled the leadership qualities of George Akpan to include resourcefulness, accessibility, intelligence, with a lot of drive and passion for youth development, and above all a loyal party man.
After the motion for adoption was moved and seconded, the PDP Youth Leader in the Ward put the question and the “yes” had it and Comrade George Akpan, from Ikot Ukap Itam, was accordingly adopted as the sole candidate of the youth and he was accordingly handed over to the Ward-5 Executive of PDP for ratification.
The meeting was attended by Comrade Anietie Okon James (Chairman, Youth Causus, Itu Chapter), Mr. Nsidibe Vincent (PDP Youth Leader Ward 5), Ebuk Eni Effiong (Dakkada Coordinator, Itu L.G.A), Iniobong Akpan (Publicity Secretary, PDP Ward 5), Aniekan Oku Ekpa (Legal Adviser, PDP Ward 5) and Ime Udoita (Treasurer, PDP Ward 5).
Samuel Aduak (Organizing Secretary, PDP Ward 5), His Ancient Dianabasi Ekpenyong, Ifreke Ana Ekong (Youth President, Ikot Ukap Itam), Ubong Wilson Nkutt (Youth Leader Ikot Uso Akpan Itam), Emmanuel Ndayongmong (Youth Leader, Mbak Obio Itam) and Princess Unyime Ebuk (Obong Itam).
