-Say Afaha Obong Clan can’t be chairman for 12 years
Recent news of the constitution of a zoning committee in Abak by the Caretaker Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the area, Prince Ben Ebong has been rejected by critical stakeholders in the Local Government Area.
In a rejection letter jointly endorsed by the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Moses Ekpo, MFR, immediate past House of Representatives Member, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, and Managing Director, Akwa Ibom Property Investment Company, APICO, Barr. Patrick Udomfang, dated Monday 17th June, 2024 and addressed to the state chairman of the party, Elder Aniekan Akpan, the stakeholders dissociated themselves from the purported zoning committee announced by the Caretaker Chairman in Abak, Ben Ebong.
Describing the zoning committee as a kangaroo arrangement designed to justify the palms greasing and tele – guidance, the trio expressed worry that it has become necessary for the State Chairman of the PDP, Elder Aniekan Akpan to step in and rein in the actions of a few actors whom they said were bent on foisting an anomaly aimed at extending the chairmanship slot in AfahaObong Clan for a 12 year period, a development they argued would not be in the best interest of Abak with 5 clans.
They urged the state chairman of PDP to ensure the right path is toed in the zoning of the Chairmanship seat to engender peace, equity and justice in the local government area.
The statement also explained that there was no proper constitution of the party caucus inline with the constitution of the party, saying the zoning committee already has a predetermined mission.
The letter addressed to the party chairman and copied to His Excellency, Governor Umo, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon Udeme Otong and a host of others with attachment of historical records of elected political office holders in the Local Government reads;
“On behalf of the critical stakeholders and majority of members of Peoples Democratic Party, Abak Chapter, we write to publicly denounce, reject and dissociate ourselves from the ‘Kangaroo’ Zoning Committee announced by the Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Ben Ebong at a meeting on 13th June 2024 at the Party Office.
“Our grounds of dissociation and rejection of such a zoning committee are as follows:
1. In line with Section 17 (1-3) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (As amended), there was no proper caucus of the party constituted, rather, at a meeting of an amalgam of all comers, the Caretaker Chairman and the local government transition chairman, selected willing bidders into a purported zoning committee with a predetermined mission of zoning the up-coming Abak local government chairmanship seat in favour of AfahaObong Clan that has cumulatively been on the seat for 9 years since 1999.
“2. In an act of impunity and utter disregard, there was no meeting, consultation, or briefing of critical stakeholders regarding the so-called zoning committee.
“However, we are aware of several clandestine meetings by a group sponsored by some persons who are working to foist the illegality of an extended tenure for AfahaObong Clan in order to give them a total of 12 years (9, elected and 3, transition).
“3. It is a known fact that Hon Imoh Ibokette whom the Caretaker Chairman and the transition chairman announced as chairman of the purported zoning committee had in two previous meetings at the residence of the transition chairman on 10th February, 2024, also at the constituency office of the Speaker on Saturday 8th June 2024 and in several fora moved motions for the current transition chairman, Hon Ekerette Inyang to return for a ‘Third Term’ as Chairman, whereas his Afahaobong Ward 2 has done 2 conservative terms of 6 years from 2017 to 2023 and the current one year transition.
“4. May we bring to your attention that in-spite of His Excellency, the Governor’s admonition for strict adherence to proper zoning and rotation; a few actors have conspired to thwart the equitable rotation of the chairmanship position in Abak. This has unnecessarily caused disharmony in the party which should be arrested on time.
“Whilst placing on record that we are NOT part of the purported Zoning Committee, we once again call on the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Member Representing Abak State Constituency, Hon. Elder Udeme Otong to urgently meet with critical stakeholders and ensure that the proper path is followed in the interest of peace, equity and fairness.
“Finally, Mr. Chairman, we urge you to use your good offices to intervene and check the undue excesses and actions of some persons capable of exacerbating the already inflamed situation in our party in the local government area.
“We await the reaction of the Prince Ben Ebong group.”
Maybe something will come out of it?