2023 Guber Permutations In A'Ibom: Why Ibiono/Itu Federal Constituency Should Be Considered



True equality means holding everyone accountable in the same way, regardless of race, gender, faith, ethnicity or political ideology- Monica Crowley. To justify the above statement politically without rancor or marginalization from any ethnic group in the state and for fairness, equity and justice to take it full course, Uyo senatorial district come 2023 should be given the chance to produce the next governor with particular reference to Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency taking their turn.

Zoning is one of the many policy formulas used by political parties in resolving and managing problems associated with allocation and distribution of positions and offices among competing interests and groups. This provision, originally ideology of the then Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) in 1979 and adopted upon the formation of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998, has among other benefits brought unity, peace and stability into our political system and as well given every regions/areas, a sense of belonging, in the scheme of things. Today, there is no political party in Nigeria that has not adopted the idea of zoning, as well as States and local government Areas. So it is even a part and parcel of the Nigerian democratic system.

One of the ideas used by the PDP in winning the Governorship position of Akwa Ibom State in the pass years was zoning, an ideology that other political parties have even adopted. Since then and over years now, we have had the position and amongst other principal offices rotating to the benefit of all political zones, ensuring socio-political stability in the State.
Uyo Senatorial District was supposed to produced the deputy governor, they took it away from them, because they had no strong political gladiator to speak for them. It is only through the instrumentality of the zoning arrangement that Uyo for 2023 is guaranteed.

The major issue before the people of Uyo Senatorial District now, who are angling for the governorship to return to the zone in 2023, is to make sure they put their house in order and sustain the political arrangement put forward by the forebears to guarantee equity, fairness and justice to all

But in terms of equity and political considerations, it should be noted that Akwa Ibom State sits on a tripod that consists of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket Senatorial Districts. From 1999 through 2007, Obong Victor Attah of Uyo Senatorial District served as governor and Senator Godswill Akpabio succeeded him. Akpabio, who hails from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, was in office from 2007-2015. And Udom Emmanuel will complete the eight years turn for Eket senatorial district come 2023 on the same political platform. It should be noted that in the interest of stability and harmonious development, Uyo senatorial district should start again with ITU/Ibiono federal constituency taking the lead.

Moving down to Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency, the 2023 governorship of the State is of their right. If the Zoning is to be jettisoned, that means that morally, we don’t have any reason complaining about Nigerian politics which is being dominated by the northerners in terms of population and size.
Equity and justice, whether to majority to minority has no colour. Itu/Ibiono Ibom people are very contentious because as of right, that is the only zone in Uyo Senatorial District that has never tasted such position. But some people from other political blocs, maybe because of greed or because of share size are muscling to hijack power from them. God forbid.

In the months preceding, the governorship poll, the direction and the pendulum would swing in Akwa Ibom would become clearer. However, I'm optimistic that the state party stricture led by governor Udom Emmanuel will not do anything that would alter the pre-arranged calculations to thwart the aspirations of ITU local government producing the next Akwa Ibom state governor.
It is our hope and believe that if our party finally settles for ITU/Ibiono federal constituency then, an Apostle of the governor's industrialization and Completion Agenda; one who has been in the system from day one, should be given the preference for the sake of continuity and actualization of the Udom Emmanuel's dream for the state.


Umani Uwemedimo, a public affairs analyst writes from Abak, AKS

Good