Drama in Itu Town Hall Meeting as Two Paramount Rulers Descend On Akpabio Far from the Uncle Tom timidity witnessed in Ikono on Wednesday, elders, who were allegedly handsomely paid off in dollars glibly danced around the governor, two paramount ruler at the Itu town hall meeting displayed rare courage to question the governor on aspects of his stewardship in their domain. The Paramount Rulers of Itu and Ibiono Ibom, took their turns to upbraid the governor on the neglect their people have suffered under his administration. Speaking in Ibibio language, the paramount ruler of Ibiono Ibom, Okuku Ime Udousoro Inyang, challenged the governor on the deplorable state of roads in his domain. He wondered what had happened to the Use/Ikot Amama road, which used to be the sing song of the governor in his first term uncommon transformation propaganda. He lamented that nobody hears anything about the road, which had since been abandoned. Okuku Udousoro Inyang complained to the governor of the insensitivity of his government in acquiring large expanse of his people’s farmland for a fathom hospital project, where not even a single block had been laid. He lamented the deplorable condition of schools in the area and wondered what kind of products would emerge from such school. On the governorship election of 2015, the traditional ruler insisted that the governor had promised the Ibibio people that he was going to return power to the ethnic group after his 8 years and urged him not to renege on the promise he made at the sacred Asan Ibibio on the matter. The turn of the Paramount Ruler of Itu was even more dramatic. Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang, the Paramount Ruler of Itu took on the governor on the total neglect of road networks in his area. He said that his people have continued to hear of the so called Uncommon transformation on radio and television, but have not had the privilege of being beneficiaries of same. He called on the governor to undertake some repair on Itu roads and give a facelift on dilapidated schools in the area. On 2015, the Itu ruler told the governor that he was a product of the people and as such must allow the people to make their choices. He reminded the governor that in 2011, after Ibibio leaders had accepted to endorse and support his second term bid, he (Paramount Ruler) was mandated to take the message of the decision of the leaders to his people. He said on that return journey to parley his people, he had an accident that he narrowly survived, but which claimed the life of a man. He said he had to pay school fees for the surviving children of the man. The import of his story being that the people will again decide on who becomes the governor in 2015, advising the governor to perish the thought of imposing any person on the people. He took on the governor on the apparent insult to the ruler by inviting them to such open town hall meetings. He reminded the governor that in the northern and western parts of the country, where traditional rulers are respected, it was in the place of the governor to go to the palaces of the rulers to consult them on issues. Attempts by the governor, who was the Master of Ceremony at the event to cut short the man from his speech was mildly rebuffed, but the governor eventually collected the microphone from him before the monarch could finish his speech. In his response, a thoroughly flustered Akpabio, told the Itu ruler that the town hall meeting was meant to feel the pulse of the communities. He said that what he is doing in trying to cede power to Eket was for equity, justice and fairness to prevail. He said that an Ibibio from Uyo had gone, while him an Ibibio from Ikot Ekpene is about rounding off, then it would be natural and justifiable for another Ibibio man from Eket to take over. On the challenge posed by the Ibiono Ibom paramount ruler on Use/Ikot Amama, the governor, apparently at a fix on what to say threw the question at Don Etim, his Works Commissioner, who informed that the first phase of the project had been completed, remaining the second phase. To save face, the governor off-handedly asked the commissioner to recommence work there. Amidst anti-zoning chants, many pro-zoning proponents were booed by the crowd, who were locked out of the small hall chosen for the venue, even when there are more spacious halls, giving credence to the allegation that only people the system could vouch for were to be admitted. Chief among those who received heckles from the crowd outside were the former commissioner for Agriculture who attempted to toe the line of the governor on the governorship race. He was severally booed. Anietie Okon was equally heckled by the crowd for his tepid attempt to support the governor’s position. Speaking to Weekend Insight on Anietie Okon’s ordeal, a youth in the area wondered what had come over the man, who was known for his courage. He said that the former senator’s softening of position would not be unconnected with the pecks he is enjoying from the government. He alleged that the former PDP National Publicity Secretary, had been accommodated at government expense at the Le Meridien Hotel for the better part of four years, added to contracts, the appointment of his brother and now, the nomination to the National Conference. One of the most popular faces at the arena was that of the commissioner for finance, whose supporters kept dancing and shouting no to zoning. IKONO/INI In sharp contrast was the town hall meeting in Ikono on Wednesday. Elders in the area were all praises for the governor for what he had done in the area. They took special time out to run down their son, Senator Aloysius Etok, who has been in a running battle with the governor. They told Gov. Akpabio that Etok was on his own and should not even dream of contesting the senatorial election with the governor, whom they said had been endorsed for the senate seat. From the paramount ruler of the two local government areas to some elder like, Otu Robert Akpan and Secretary of Ibibio Elders Forum, Dr Emmanuel Akpanobong, it was all praises for the governor, who enumerated his achievements in the area to include the construction of Uyo/Ikot Ekpene road, renovation and construction of school classroom blocks, appointment of commissioners and Justice of the Supreme Court, and the concession of the senate seat to the area. A native of the area, Obong Ini Ukpong, described as a shame the role played by the elders, who were the only people allowed into the hall. He wondered why none of them could tell the governor about the sorry state of roads in the area and wondered how Uyo/Ikot Ekpene road could be said to be for Ikono/Ini people. He said it had been rumoured that that the reason why Michael Afangide, the Essien Udim political leader was present was to ensure that the agreement reached with the likes of Akpanobong and Chief Otu Robert was fully observed. It was alleged that as much as $50, 000 each was given to some of the people that attend and made speeches at each of the stop so far since the town hall meetings commenced. A source close to the seat of power in the state asserted that at the close of the town hall meetings, more than N10b that could have been gainfully used, would have gone down the drain. Source:Weekkly Insight Newspapers
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 15:11:48 +0000
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