By Emmanuel MBONG
The word ” nascent” was very conspicuous in our political lexicon when full blown democracy reared its head in 1999.But after about nineteen years of uninterrupted governance, this strange word has since gone into oblivion
Available records show that Eket Local Government Area is divided into 3 zones of Eket Central, Eket Urban and Okon for the sake of political expediency. Furthermore, the “nsit ibi ekpu” people as sarcastically referred to, by our fellow Ekid brothers can only boast of three out of eleven wards in this enclave.
Political pundits are of the view that power may not be ceded to them if it is made an all comers affair by the powers that be judging by their numerical strength.
That is why the Minority Okon people are seriously advocating for the subsisting zoning formula to be strictly adhered to , for them to have a proper sense of belonging
A cursory look at this existing tripod indicated that Hon Jack Udota of Eket Central served 8 years as a legislator representing Eket Constituency. Hon Ayang Ayang of Eket Urban followed suit for 4 years before the baton was changed for the present indefatigable lawmaker to complete their eight years tenure.
This change in guard has now become the subject of debate and it is now seen as the mistake some stakeholders made in not allowing the same person to do two terms as previously done for Eket Central.
This has now become the albatross that is starring everybody in the face and set to allow the once peaceful people to take up their gauntlets in this battle for supremacy
Investigation carried out by this reporter showed that no Okon indigene has ever been an assembly man since the advent of this republic. One of the foremost political office holders of Okon extraction who does not want his name in print, in a telephone interview likened himself as a Nostradamus who foresaw this and asked all his fellow brothers to support Hon Ayang massively for second term, but his efforts then was blotched and truncated
Sources from the grapevine have it also that the Okon supporters of D’Law bid, that time had an agreement with him t that He would only go and complete one term of Eket Urban before abdicating power for one of their very own in 2019 when Okon will have their slot
If it is true that there was indeed such a gentleman’s agreement, Why does it want to be reneged now ?
Is someone trying to be smart here? ? What does the future holds for the minority of Eket stock ? ? Will they still continue in this marriage of inconvenience or will that day of reckoning come when they will all decide to take their destinies in their hands?
Where are the power brokers of Ekid nation ?
What is the position of the Eket PDP stakeholders on this debacle? A stitch in time, they say, saves nine
We should not be unmindful of the fact that, though the image of the umbrella looms larger in our political landscape, the broom lurking round in the corner with its federal might can spring a surprise. Please let’s try not to upset the apple cart
