A major crack is hitting the Akwa Ibom State Liaison Office in Lagos, following the formation of a parallel group by state Liaison Officer, Mr Samuel Asuquo and Otuekong Ubong Jackson Essien against the interest of the Akwa Ibom State Community (AKISCOM-Lagos).
A press conference on Wednesday, April 30, organised by the Uyo Senatorial District Indigenes Association (USDIA), Lagos revealed alleged division and manipulation within the state’s indigenes community in the city.
Reading the press text, Chief Matthew Udoheyop, President of Uyo Senatorial District Indigenes Association (USDIA), condemned the actions of the Akwa Ibom State Government’s Liaison Officer in Lagos, Mr. Samuel Asuquo, and a separatist political leader, Otuekong Ubong Jackson Essien.
According to him, Mr. Asuquo has been creating phantom groups, including the Akwa Ibom North East Consultative Forum (AKNECF), Lagos, and the Akwa Ibom State Indigenes Stakeholders’ Forum, in a bid to undermine the recognized umbrella bodies, AKISCOM-Lagos and USDIA.
“While USDIA comprises all the nine local government areas of Uyo Senatorial District, and has been in existence for 13 years, AKISCOM-Lagos is made up of indigenes of all the 31 LGAs of Akwa Ibom State and has been onboard for more than 35 years as the most formidable, recognized, inclusive and well structured organization of all Akwa Ibomites in Lagos and its environs.
“Also registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), USDIA is one of the three major groups that make up the Akwa Ibom State Community (AKISCOM) Lagos, alongside the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (ISD) Indigenes and Eket Senatorial District (ESD) Indigenes”, the statement said.
The stakeholder alleged that Otuekong Ubong Jackson Essien, leader of a separatist political group in Lagos, has been “orchestrating division and impunity, having been rebuffed by USDIA for his alleged support of discriminatory and thuggish activities during the 2023 AKISCOM elections and Uyo Senatorial District election.”
Essien, alongside Akparawa Churchill Udo were said to have claimed that the loser of the Presidential Election of AKISCOM, Lagos was sponsored by the Akwa Ibom State Government, a claim vehemently denied by USDIA and the leadership of AKISCOM, citing Governor Umo Eno’s reputation for integrity and inclusivity.
However, they appealed to the Governor not to be swayed by agents of corruption and division, who are allegedly exploring the option of divide and rule for their selfish interests.
The stakeholders condemned Mr. Asuquo’s actions, describing them as a “reckless attempts to undermine the unity and progress of Akwa Ibom indigenes in Lagos.”
“We call on the public to disregard the phantom groups being instituted by the liaison officer and his allies. We emphasize that AKISCOM, with over 35 years of existence, remains the recognized umbrella body for all Akwa Ibom people in Lagos”, the statement further said.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to working with the governor and other stakeholders to promote the welfare and unity of Akwa Ibom indigenes in Lagos and its environs.
Meanwhile, independent findings by WatchmanPost, however revealed that those who lost the AKISCOM-Lagos elections in November 2023, were all out to discredit the administration of the incumbent President, Dr Edet Ambang.
We further gathered that a fellow contender to the presidential office from Onna LGA who was reportedly funded by agents of the state government, had since gone solo, after the court refused to grant him injunction to stop the swearing-in of the current president in January, 2024.
We understand that the presidential election which was zoned to Eket Senatorial District with definite direction to the Oro Federal Constituency, had four candidates: from Onna (1), Mkpat Enin (1) and Urue Offong Oruko (2).
History has it that Dr Edet Ambang who was duly elected and declared a winner in a keenly contested election on November 18, 2023, is the first ever president of AKISCOM-Lagos from Oro Federal Constituency, since its inception over 35 years ago.
Again, the new groups, we learnt, were allegedly being raised by the Liaison Officer as a platform to receive Gov Umo Eno who is said to have concluded plans to visit them in Lagos in a thanksgiving ceremony on May 11, 2025.
Contacted for his side of the story, the Liaison Officer, Samuel Asuquo, told WatchmanPost that he does not belong to any of the associations except the one he was convening, adding that his group was not raised to undermine AKISCOM-Lagos, which was why he consciously invited the AKISCOM president to the maiden meeting.
Asuquo denied berthing his “Akwa Ibom State Indigenes Stakeholders Forum” for Gov Umo Eno’s reception, saying he has not been served any formal request from the state Chief Executive to that effect.
For Otuekong Ubong Jackson Essien, calls sent to his phone line were not answered, just as he did not reply to a text message sent to him till press time.
