That AKHA politricks

 

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

I have still not recovered fully from the  shock of what happened in the hallowed Chamber of the Akwa Ibom State Assembly last Monday. Political history was made again in Akwa Ibom State as a first timer to the House of Assembly emerged speaker of the just inaugurated 6th Assembly even when the standing order of the House was not in his favour.

It all stated before the last general elections in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had zoned the governorship position to Eket Senatorial District while the House of Assembly speakership seat was zoned to Uyo Senatorial District. Although none of the House of Assembly contestants knew who will emerged the speaker of the House of Assembly at the end of the day, but certainly members who were contesting for a second term from Uyo Senatorial District were very sure that one of them will emerge speaker of the 6th Assembly having know that the standing other of the House will not favour a first timer to the House.

Luckily, two members of the fifth Assembly returned. They were member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Hon. (Barr) Ime Okon and member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Hon (Barr) Onofiok Luke. These two returning members had started their campaigns as well as lobbies as to who will become the speaker of the 6th Assembly.

Ime Okon lobbied both all the returning 5 members from other Senatorial District and the powers that be in the state for him to be favoured as well as supported so he can emerge the speaker at the end of the day. Though he has the experience, but he was face with some barriers due to political slots that had already be been taken by his people. One of the barriers was that his Local Government Area, Ibiono Ibom had already produced a former speaker of the 3rd House of Assembly in the person of Engr. Ignatius Edet. Also another barrier was that the current Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District in the National Assembly hails Ibiono Ibom. All still under the umbrella of the People Democratic Party (PDP). Apart from the fact that government of the day was by his side, this was what the masses kicked against that Ibiono Ibom cannot produce a speaker of the AKHA again.

For Onofiok Luke, he had the brighter chance of emerging the speaker. He was the most favoured candidate for the position. He was the choice of Akwa Ibom people. But government of day and powers that be did not allow him emerge as the speaker. They were afraid according to close sources that Onofiok Luke will betray them. They leveled all types of lies and accusations against the member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency. That was the reasons they fight him till the last minute of the inauguration of the 5th Assembly.
Last Monday, was a shocking day to every right thinking Akwa Ibom people who were present at the hallowed Chamber to witness the inauguration of the 6th Assembly. The tension soaked inauguration was scheduled for 10am but was later shifted to 4pm after series of meetings of disagreements between the two factions and through the directive of the Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel that the inauguration be shifted since he was not in town. The governor later came back from Abuja to meet with both factions.

Onofiok Luke had led his faction into the hallowed Chamber. Out of 26 members that made up the House, 17 new members rooted for Onofiok Luke, exception of Nse Ntuen (Essien Udim), Ime Okon (Ibiono Ibom), Victor Udofia (Ikono), Gabriel Tobby (Ika/Etim Ekpo), Felicia Bassey, (Okobo), Udo Kerian Akpan, (Oruk Anam), Otobong Ndem, (Mkpat Enin) and Aniefiok Dennis (Etinan) State Constituencies who were in the other faction. By 7pm, Ime Okon-led faction came into the Chamber. 

The whole process of the inauguration started at 7:15 pm. The Clerk of the House, Mrs. Mandu Umoren had called the House to order.  She immediately read a letter of proclamation from the State Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, bringing the House to life in line with the provisions of section 105 (3) of the 1999 constitution as amended.  By the calculations of an average Akwa Ibom person that was inside the hallow Chamber, the Nsit Ubium representative, Onofiok Luke was to emerge speaker, having 17 members queued behind him.

It was so shocking when the floor was opened for the nomination of the speaker, Hon Idongesit Ituen of Itu State Constituency stood up to nominate, Hon. Aniekan Uko (a first timer) of Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency for the position of the speaker. The motion was seconded by Hon. Udo Kerian Akpan of Oruk Anam State Constituency. Initially, people thought it was just a joke or delaying tactics to pro-long the inauguration. But to the greatest surprise of everybody, when the House Clerk calls for a second nomination, the House was quite and there was no further nomination. That was how Aniekan Uko was declared speaker of the 6th Assembly. A development, people within and outside the state is still asking till today how and why did it happen? Has the standing order of the House been amended to favour a first timer?

The fight did not stop there; the two factions also went further to battle for the position of Deputy Speakership. Ime Okon after failing to emerge speaker, nominated Mrs. Felicia Bassey of Okobo state Constituency for the position of Deputy Speaker, while Hon. Victor Udofia of Ikono State Constituency seconded the motion. But Onofiok Luke’s faction opposed the nomination. Member for Eket State Constituency, Hon. David Lawrence stood up to nominate the member for Oron/Udung Uko State Constituency, Hon. Effiong Okon Bassey for the position of Deputy Speaker, while member for Uruan State Constituency, Hon. Aniekan Bassey seconded the motion. The position was further put into vote. Onofiok Luke’s faction pulled 17 votes for Effiong Okon Bassey, while Felicia Bassey scored 7 votes. Shortly after the inauguration of the 6th Assembly, the new speaker, Hon. Aniekan Uko in his acceptance speech, thanked God for making him emerge the speaker of the 6th Assembly. He urged all the members to tightening their belt for a very robust legislative engagement, adding that the people not regret giving them their mandate to speak on their behalf. Now that a first timer has taken the position of the speaker, political observers have blame ex-governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio for instigating ethnic war in the state. They accused Akpabio of interfering in the House of Assembly matter even after he had left office. They however described the State Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel for not being a man of his own and who could not take stand on his own.