It was mixed reactions on Tuesday, July 2018, when Obong Paul Ekpo led stakeholders and members of his state executive on a sensitization, mobilization and familiarization tour to Ikono/INI Federal Constituency to inaugurate the Local Government Caucuses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Addressing the people of Ikono/INI Federal Constituency, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul ‘Politics’ Ekpo, said “There is a new order in PDP now and that new order is to take back the party to the people at the grassroots. To ensure this work is perfect, we are here to put, in practical terms, the directive of the National Leadership of the party in line with its amended constitution of the party, to inaugurate Local Government Caucuses of PDP. This Caucus is saddled with the responsibility of mobilizing support-base for the party at the grassroots levels; engage in constant meetings at Ward and Unit levels in order to strengthen the bond among members. By way of taking the Party to the people, the position of the party on politics of inclusion through Zoning, Power Rotation, Power Balancing, and Streamlining. All these are sacrosanct. So for those that are not favoured by the zoning, please don’t waste your money to buy the nomination and expression of interest forms because any money paid is non-refundable.”
For this, three aspirants stood tall. Their numerous supporters were seen chanting solidarity songs. The aspirants are Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, a seasoned professional; the incumbent National Assemblyman, Engr. Iboro Ekanem, and Victor Udofia, A serving House of Assembly member.
Of all that was said at the event, Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, popularly known as Macaire, is one man that is known for grassroots Mobilization, philanthropic gesture, commitment and devotion to party. His name has remained synonymous to empowerment for decades. He is inextricably tied to zoning, rotation and streamlining.
Obong Ukpong-Udo’s vision says “To reposition Ikono/ Ini Federal Constituency in the comity of constituencies, empower the men, women and youths in various capacities, and trickle the dividends of democracy to all.”
Political, Obong Ukpon-Udo has been in the scene of politics since the inception of the People’s Democratic Party, or rather the return of democracy in 1998/1999. Although he preferred to remain at the background of politics for several dispensations, supporting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidates to victory both in cash and in mobilization capacities, he is a registered member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He has supported not just a few of the candidates from the party across the state both financially and morally in the general elections since 1999, but in his home Local Government, Ikono, his munificence has always been in full weight as he does not merely invest huge resources in elections, but also ensures he plays a leading role in harmonizing all the political wards and interest groups in the local government; a role which usually resulted in the landslide victory of the party at the polls.
Throughout the electioneering seasons, Macaire is always visible across the length and breadth of the local government area, evolving political strategies like holding meetings with various stakeholders and interest groups, setting up logistical framework and support for the monitoring of the elections and dolling out the needed finances to harmonize all existing factions and lots more towards the success of the party. Through his dedicated effort, he successfully transformed Ikono local government area to a PDP enclave.
His strength, trust and commitment in the areas of human capacity development/ empowerment, community development, extensive political network and political stability in the People’s Democratic Party in Ikono L.G.A, nay Akwa Ibom state encapsulated into his philanthropic and political strides earned him the appointment and recognition as the Political Leader of ward-8, Ndiya Usung/Ikot Idaha and Ikono Local government Area respectively in 2015.
He is also the Trustee of Transformation Initiative for the Empowerment of Ibom People (TIEP), a group which piloted the dreams of the present government. He is the chairman, Board of Trustees of Ikono People’s Consultative Forum, a Trustee of Akwa Ibom Centre for Community Development and National Officer, Continuity Advancement Group (CAG).
In précis, Macaire has already accomplished what many can testify that his capacities will lead Ikono/Ini people and Akwa Ibom State at large to a greater height.
How then is Obong Ukpong-Udo inextricably tied to zoning, rotation and streamlining drive of the PDP? Though politically divided into three zones of Ikono South (Four Wards), Ikono Middle (Four Wards) and Ediene/Itak (Three Wards), Ikono Local Government Area, traditionally, has four clans with Ikono Clan being the largest. Ikono Clan covers the entire Ikono Middle, three Wards in Ikono South and even extends to five (Odoro Ikono) of the 10 Wards of the sister local government, INI LGA. There is Ndiya Clan, which doubles as a ward in Ikono South. And there are Ediene Clan, which covers two Wards, and Itak Clan, which is made up of a Ward.
To further strengthen Macaire’s Chances, the Ikono Chapter Chairman of the PDP, Bariister Moses Akpan, set up a Zoning Committee that comprised of nine members representing the three zones of the Local Government Area with three members each from Ikono Middle, Ikono South and Ediene/Itak. The members include Dr David Akpan Ntuk (Chairman), Akparawa Charles Umoh (Vice Chairman), Chief Itoro Okoruen (Secretary), and Barrister Stephen Okunnyang (Proof Reader). Others are Dr Idotenyin Etokobong, Dr Godwin Udofia, Hon. M.P. Udoh, Hon. Friday Ubeng and Mrs. Idorenyin Okon as members.
To have a violent-free election that will reflect equity justice and fairness to the three zones, the Committee was saddled with the following terms of reference: To gather all relevant facts and evidence that shall help in arriving at a workable zoning structure. That in doing this, all relevant stakeholders and opinion leaders from Ikono shall be invited to bear their minds on such matters as it affects this subject matter. That previous zoning should also be x-rayed and any mischief arriving there from should be treated to afford a smooth zoning and rotation among the three geo-political zones in Ikono.
Consequently, the Zoning Committee in their conclusion and recommendation zoned the House of Representatives’ seat to Ikono South for a single term starting from 2019 to 2023. Ikono State Constituency seat was zoned to Ediene/Itak for a single term also, starting from 2019 to 2023. And finally, the Chairmanship seat was zoned to Ikono Middle for a single term, starting from 2020 to 2023.
Going by this and the popular opinions of the people of Ikono, most being prospective delegates, it is clear that Obong Ukpong-Udo is inextricably tied to zoning, Rotation and streamlining for the Ikono/INI House of Representatives’ seat in 2019.
