Abak-5 is a prominent political blog in Akwa Ibom Northwest (Ikot Ekpene) senatorial District, carved from the former Abak Division. It is made up of five local government areas namely Abak, Ika, Etim Ekpo, Oruk Anam and Ukanafun Local Government Areas.
HOW OUR MAGNANIMITY BECAME A NIGHTMARE
Right from when the country returned to democracy in 1999, Abak – 5 has played key roles in the emergence of political office holders in Akwa Ibom state. Significant among them was the support and subsequent voting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship joint ticket which eventually produced Arc. (Obong ) Victor Attah as the Governor, and Engr. (Dr.) Christopher Ekpenyong as the Deputy Governor .
Despite our political consciousness and large population, the people of Abak-5 magnanimously agreed and accepted the zoning of Senate seat, Deputy Governorship position and Deputy Chairman of PDP to Ikot Ekpene axis of the senatorial district which has only three (3) Local Government Areas. This was a show of love and brotherliness between the two sister political zones in the senatorial district.
Furthermore In 2006, when the then governor, HE Obong Victor Attah canvassed for power shift to Annang ethnic nationality and several political juggernauts in Abak-5 including Atuekong Don Etiebet, Rt. Hon. Sonni Udom, Dr. Udoma Bob Ekarika and others indicated interest, we again magnanimously allowed the mantle to pass to the Ikot Ekpene axis of which Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio eventually became the noncontributing beneficiary. Little did we know that Akpabio will become our worst nightmare.
SYSTEMATIC POLITICAL & ECONOMIC HOLOCAUST
Ever since former governor Godswill Akpabio took the oath of office in 2007, he began a systematic political polgrom in Abak-5. Throughout his eight years in power, Akpabio deliberately suppressed politicians from Abak-5 and did not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with anyone who dared to question his ill treatment of his once political benefactors from the zone.
He brainwashed few of our sons and used them to emasculate all our major political actors, turning them into pittiful slaves. Who would believe that Atuekong Don Etiebet, in whose house Sen. Godswill Akpabio served as a domestic staff, could end up becoming a portfolio aide to latter?
Akpabio set out to remove the least physical project that reflected a federal presence in Abak – 5 by demolishing the Independent hall, relocating the federal prison to Ikot Ekpene and replacing the prison with a mere hall that offered no employment to our people.
He ensured that there was no remarkable road rehabilitated or constructed in Abak for reason that Abak should not develop in case there will be need to create more States in future whereas he hurriedly completed the Abak – Ikot Ekpene road because it passed through his home town – Ukana.
Mean while, communities in Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, Etim Ekpo and Ika were completely left without any tangible road network except empty promises.
On the other hand, the former governor influenced the siting of all federal projects in Ukana- Essien Udim. For instance, Federal polytechnic – Ukana, Mobil Police Base -Ukana and Police Command School – Ukana. In addition, Akpabio did not spare any effort in providing all necessary infrastructure to prepare Ikot Ekpene federal constituency for possible emergence as future State capital, thus depriving people of Abak- 5, who gave him the largest votes in the entire state.
COLD BLOODED MURDER OF OUR SONS
Under Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio’s watch as state governor, so many of our prominent sons were either disgraced, hounded to death like wild pigs or outrightly murdered in cold blood.
Anyone that dared to challenge then Governor Akpabio was framed up, incarcerated or slaughtered. For this senate seat, we have lost prominent Abak-5 sons, including Dr. Ime Sampson Umana, Engr. Albert Ukpana, Rt. Hon. Okon Uwah and many others.
* Late Dr. Ime Sampson Umana (ufan ndito uwuene) was Governor Akpabio’s benefactor. This inarguable fact did not stop Akpabio from framing him with false charges of terrorism and attempted murder. Akpabio ensured that Dr. Ime Umana was incarcerated, charged to court on these trumped up charges and protracted the matter until the old gentleman died in an auto crash on his way to attend one of the court sessions.
* Late Engr. Albert Ukpanah was a prominent political stalwart in Ukanafun. As a staunch believer in equity and fairplay, he opposed Gov. Akpabio’s aspiration for the Senate. He was reportedly killed in cold blood while returning from a meeting with then Governor Akpabio and his son, Odudu, was framed for the murder.
* Late Rt. Hon. Okon Uwah, a former Deputy Speaker. He was allegedly mugged to death by polticial thugs believed to be working for then Governor Akpabio’s aide. A few days to his death, Akpabio had reportedly said that anybody opposing him or seeking political position behind his back will die.
MANDATE THEFT
The entire sinister plot against Abak -5 was unveiled in 2015, when then Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio brazenly stole our mandate.
Although it was rightfully the turn of Abak-5 to produce a Senator and Deputy Governor as Ikot Ekpene axis had taken their turn in 1999, Akpabio abused power as an incumbent governor to hijack the Senatorial ticket from Abak-5. He cheated particularly Abak Federal Constituency, made up of Abak, Ika and Etim Ekpo, who have never tasted the office. We then realized that his eight-year plan to emasculate Abak was so that he can imposed himself on us unchallenged.
It could be recalled that during his town hall meeting in Ukanafun in 2014, our brother Usoro Ukpana asked him when he would come back to give Abak-5 its chance at the senate. He never gave a definite answer but afterwards random killings of Abak – 5 politicians made everyone to steer clear.
Today, it is very clear that Sen. Akpabio does not want to relinquish the Senate seat back to an Abak-5 person or anyone else for that matter. He wants to occupy the seat until his death.
STOP AKPABIO NOW
The only way Abak-5 will have access to Senate is to stop Akpabio now. Therefore, on February 23, 2019, we should all vote for Engr. Christopher Stephen Ekpenyong, contesting on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He has agreed to go for only one term i.e 2019 – 2023 in order to create chance for Abak Federal constituency to produce a sllenator in 2023.
We have taken time to explain with tangible facts why no reasonable Abak-5 electorate should vote for Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio or All Progressives Congress, APC on the 23rd February, 2019. Akpabio does not mean well for Abak 5. He operated a stolen mandate and should not return to the senate.
Nevertheless, challenge anyone from Abak-5 to also publish his own version why we should vote for Sen. Akpabio for second term at the senate. We equally challenge Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio to tell us what he did in Abak-5 to deserve our votes for a second term.
A word is enough for the wise.
Thank you.
