TERROR IN IKOT EKPENE: BLOODSHED, PROTEST TRAIL YOUTH MEETING

… We Have Been Are Vindicated – IKEPEC

Chairman of Ikot Ekpene People’s Coalition (IKEPEC), Barrister Usoroh Usoroh, said his group has been vindicated following their last petition to Governor Udom Emmanuel on the reason why his nominee, Engr. Etido Inyang, for the position of a Commissioner is in parallel with equity, justice and fair play and against the wish of the generality of the people of Ikot Ekpene.
A press statement before the news desk of Ibom Telegraph has it that youths of the area met yesterday for truce and to find a way out of the alleged imbroglio, instead the meeting ended in bloodshed and more protest.
Barrister Usoroh expressed displeasure over the nomination made by the Governor, saying “The nomination of Engr. Etido Inyang is an error because he is not accepted by the people. We reject his nomination. We urge the State House of Assembly not to screen nor confirm his nomination.”
A respondent, Etim Charles, also urged the government of Udom Emmanuel to respect the wish of the people in order not cause disaffection among the people of the area.
In his words: “May yesterday go down in history as the day the youths of Ikot Ekpene took their collective destiny as a people into their hands to challenge the culture of impunity, brazen arrogance and sheer insensitivity of political leaders. For the first time, the youths of Ikot Ekpene rose in one accord to say no more to Etido inyang and his gang of political racketeer, who attempted to foist himself on the people after a monumental nine years plus in office as Special Assistant, Special Adviser and Commissioner, with nothing to show for it except an over blurted belly. My question is did Etido Inyang study Commisionership in the Polytechnic?”
The statement further explained thus: “Yesterday Etido inyang hastily organized a backyard Congress of a few Ikot Ekpene youths in a desperate effort to seek endorsement for re-appointment into the State Exco. This act of desperation is so appalling and embarrassing. Our prayer is may affliction never rise up again.”
“It is on record that Etido inyang only open his doors to people, receive calls; entertain people and give peanut for transport money, anytime he’s seeking endorsement for reappointment or election period after which he sees their calls or comments as intolerable aberration.”
”It is an insult on our collective sensitivity for a man who had more than nine years in office with nothing to show for it, a man who should be covering his face in shame to seek to be endorsed for reappointment by the very people he has shortchanged for the same number of years at a time when the people are still in the nadir of his suffocating miasma of gross insensitivity. Truth to it, those who desire progress must be ready to match force of lies with greater force of truth and this was what played out yesterday when TRUTH out shined LIES to bring the caricature Congress to an abrupt end.”
“Yesterday marked the end to the era of throwing pebbles at the people of Ikot Ekpene and taking them for a ride by Etido inyang. As a unified umbrella group, we commend the high level of political consciousness demonstrated by the youth of Ikot Ekpene. This is a strong signal to those who think the conscience of Ikot Ekpene people, especially the youths, can be bought and sold at the altar of greed, personal aggrandizement and political gains to have a rethink. We are out to speak truth to power and to reclaim our place in the comity of civilized world,” the statement ended.