2015 Governorship: Iyanam under fire over Umana Umana’s ambition - Oro council of chiefs slams injunction 2015 Governorship: Iyanam under fire over Umana Umana’s ambition - Oro council of chiefs slams injunction There are strong indications that the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers, COTR, may have sanctioned indigenes of Oron Federal Constituency who works against the governorship interest of the Oro nation, our investigations have revealed. The Radar learnt that COTR chaired by His Highness Offong Edet Isemin, a clan head in the area, had arising from its meeting last week, placed a ban and traditional injunction on all sons and daughters of Oro extraction from joining any group or supporting any individual who will not work for the overall interest of Oro nation to produce the governor in 2015. This position, we reliably gathered is coming against the backdrop of recent interview in The Nation Newspaper on Sunday and others previously published, where the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor Iyanam stated that the Oro people would be better off with Uyo senatorial district producing the next governor in 2015. According to Iyanam “I am looking at all the candidates. Since I am an Oro person, I feel that in the circumstance, my people will be better served by a candidate from Uyo Senatorial District,” adding; “I am looking at possibilities and I hope we can manage to persuade former SSG, Umana Umana to enter the race. “There are so many politicians in history, including Shehu Shagari and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, they were all persuaded to participate. We hope we can persuade somebody like Umana Umana to show interest and actually contest in the election. I think such a person will be better for Oro Nation,” he asserted. Iyanam in an earlier interview in Daily Independent Newspaper had also stated; “The only aspirant that has called for my support for his governorship ambition is Umana Okon Umana. As I talk to you now nobody else has mentioned his ambition to me. I have known Umana since 1983 and we have maintained a good relationship since then.” In his words; “I do not know how to betray the confidence of friends. I believe in that integrity. As long as Umana remains in the race, this is where I stand. The claim to senatorial zoning is spurious! I know about Ibibio-Annang-Oron. Oro people would be better off with Umana.” He disclosed further; “Umana has already taken me into confidence and I cannot betray him. If, however, he comes to a decision that another aspirant is better placed, then I may re-evaluate my stand.” Regardless, a former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Effiong Edunam despite kicking against the position of the COTR on the freedom of association and of free speech by Oro sons and daughters, warned that there may be no Akwa Ibom in 2015 if an Oro man is not allowed to govern the state. The former don maintained that Akwa Ibom would be ungovernable and in serious crisis because the area cannot produce first class resources and be rated as second class citizen in the schemes of things. According to him, “There is never a community in Akwa Ibom state that produced a governor that a condition of unanimity was imposed on such a community before they could produce a governor.” He said that; “If people begin to use the fact that few Oro people say the thing should be thrown open, to say that what is due Oro should not be given, then they will be making a very big mistake,” noting; “That justice can sometimes be taught if people do not learn it freely.” In a related development, The Radar can reliably report that the Oro Think Tank is putting up an arrangement to adopt one governorship aspirant as a consensus candidate for the people to queue behind in the 2015 poll. The arrangement, this paper leant, is already tearing the body apart as its members are divided on who should be adopted, since some of them have already pitched their tents with some aspirants, especially those in government with strong financial muscles. A frontline aspirant from the area who pleaded anonymity confirmed the development and warned that it would lead the people into a serious political quagmire if those behind the “devilish” plan do not put it on hold permanently. According to him “I am aware of that, but all I can say is that the OTT which I belong has promised every Oro sons and daughters a level playing field to test his/her popularity in the field. The arrangement I am told is a plot from some persons in government who want to destroy the chances of Oro man in 2015.” Another governorship hopeful from Oro extraction said thus; “If it is true then, it will be unfortunate,” asserting that; “Oro is a Republican Nation with people of independent mindset. I can only assure you that it would work.” Meanwhile, several efforts to get the reaction of the erudite lawyer, Victor Iyanam before press time proved abortive as he neither picked nor returned calls made to his mobile telephones.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 10:44:00 +0000
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