BARR. EFFIONG ABIA FIGHTS FOR ORO NATION

As Akwa Ibom state celebrated its 27th anniversary as a state on 23rd September this year some could boldly assert that the state has never had such performance in governance like they have in Governor Akpabio's administration but critics are rather of the view that never before has the state had so much in flow of finance from allocation and internally generated revenue with so little to show. Meanwhile, the people of Oro nation (one of the three major tribes in the state) have a very different view to this. According to them never before has any tribe been so neglected, marginalized and discriminated against in the comity of nations like they have been subjected to since the creation of the state climaxing in the present administration. To remedy these wrongs the Oro people have demanded to equally take their turn at the Hiltop Mansion as other two tribes (Ibibio and Anang) have. Incidentally these three tribes are found in the three senatorial districts of the state with other minority tribes - one dominating each respectively: The Ibibio dominating the Akwa Ibom North East/ Uyo Senatorial District, the Anang dominating the Akwa Ibom North West/ Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and Oro dominating the Akwa Ibom South/Eket Senatorial District.
But it took so much arm twisting for Gov. Akpabio to accommodate the Eket Senatorial District in his succession plot which unfortunately is not an Oro son. The arguments for this seem to revolve on two phoney dibs - first being that the Oro people with five local government areas do not have the population to produce the governor but they produce more than the required natural resources to sustain and enrich those with the population. Second, that the Oro people betrayed Godswil by fielding a candidate against him in 2007 primaries that he Akpabio emerged victories through all the supports of the then State Party Chairman Chief Ita Toyo a.k.a "Total Chair" and chief Edet Mpkubre the National Vice Chairman (South South) of the party both Oro fathers.
However, while the Oro people are "fighting" their fate it is equally pertinent to note that the number of "Judas" in their fold are alarming. This is more so considering the fact that they are especially of the older generation that should bequeath better things for their children. Thus, while the general population are clamoring for the Governorship of the state these men and women are surreptitiously admitting pots of porridge. For instance, one of them after raising so much dust against His Excellency has been settled with the party ticket for the senate, while another elderly rabble raiser has been quieted with a N200m largesse together with a former commissioner and some have been buried with promises of "golden carrots."
But in the midst of all these one man stands out noble and undaunted : Barr. Effiong Abia. He is still very much in the race for his people and there is no sight of his reneging. It must be noted that this amiable gentle man has served the state as a civil servant and public servant without blemish and his good nature has won him so much goodwill that even the current State party Chairman Obong Paul Ekpo affirmed during his official declaration that he is the only aspirant who hasn't stepped on anybody's toe or hurt anyone with his aspiration since the beginning of the race to the Hiltop Mansion 2015.
Today the Oro people in alliance with the good people of Akwa Ibom who believe in justice, equity and fairness are all closing ranks with the fine gentleman to narrow the contest to Gov. Godswil Obot Akpabio and his anointed right hand Mr. Udom Emmanuel Gabriel and their band of lots on the one side against Barr. Effiong Abia with the good people of Akwa Ibom on the other side. And the battle may either end or begin today. But whatever may be the result in the end the people of Oro Nation as humans may forgive and forget the acts of those who chose to desert them over porridges in a time like this but posterity may not forgive them and history will never forget such but to those whose good conscience has been to soak their grains in the field of truth the Oro people will forever remain indebted to even as we all pray that in the end "let they that laugh laugh in Oro lest we bid ourselves "goodnight Akwa Ibom" on a morn like this.
Okpo Ewa Edmund Esq.
Solicitor, Arbitrator, Literati.
Humanity Chambers,
260, Idoro Road, Uyo ,
Akwa Ibom State.

This is serious.

Well, If I was asked to choose who becomes the next Gov. of AKS between both of them, I'll go with Udom Emmanuel. He's a gentleman and a young mind