Eket Senatorial District Forum has laid out reasons, facts and historical references to support the widely held opinion that Eket Senatorial should rightly produce the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The Forum made their position known at an emergency meeting held at the Villa Marina Hotel, Eket. In driving home their point, the Forum noted that Eket Senatorial District is the only district in Akwa Ibom State that has not produced a Governor since the state was created in 1987. The Forum observed that Uyo Senatorial District was the first to take its shot from 1999 to 2007 which was followed by Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District between 2007 and 2015. They maintained that Eket Senatorial District is the economic life-wire of Akwa Ibom which contributes more than 90 percent of the total revenue of the state, this, they added is in addition to Eket Senatorial District being the largest in the state with 127 wards in 12 Local Government Areas.
On the zoning of political offices, the Forum maintained that zoning is a constitutional issue. The Forum also quoted the 1999 constitution, section 14 (4) which states that “the composition of the Government of a state, a Local Government Council or any of the agencies of such Government or Council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among the peoples of the Federation.’’ In light of the above, the Forum argued that its aspiration is based on the principle of equity, fairness, justice and resolve to promote peaceful co-existence among the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
The Forum also debunked insinuations that the position of Governor has never been zoned to any Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom State, stating that the truth is that zoning of the office of the Governor has always been part of the of the political life in the state. It noted that it was the consensus of political leaders in the state that since Uyo Senatorial District hosts both the state capital and the largest ethnic group in the state, among other factors, it should take the first turn to produce the Governor, this, they reiterated gave birth to the zoning principle and arrangement in the Akwa Ibom Governorship race.
“Due to the short-lived tenure of Obong Akpan Isemin who was on the seat for only 22 months on account of military interference, during the transition programme of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) which commenced in 1998, it was agreed by political leaders and founding members of our great party-the PDP at a meeting in then Metro Hotel that Uyo Senatorial District should be allowed to completes its tenure since the 1992 mandate given to the late Obong Isemin was brought to an abrupt end by the military.’’
The Forum observed that it was on the above premise that it settled for Obong Victor Attah who went on to govern the state for eight years beginning from 1999 to 2007. They noted further that following the consensus decision of political leaders in the state and in line with the zoning arrangement, Chief Godswill Akpabio, from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District was elected in 2007, a tenure that ended in 2015. The Forum maintained in strong terms that the issue of zoning has always been at the heart of the political arrangement in the state hence should be upheld to the letter. It added further that in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eket Senatorial District has unselfishly deployed its demographic strength to support the emergence of Governors from other districts.
The Forum noted that for the overall equitable, peaceful and harmonious co-existence of the components units of the state, Uyo Senatorial District should reciprocate the same gesture and support Eket Senatorial District to produce the next Governor.
On the zoning of political offices, the Forum maintained that zoning is a constitutional issue. The Forum also quoted the 1999 constitution, section 14 (4) which states that “the composition of the Government of a state, a Local Government Council or any of the agencies of such Government or Council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among the peoples of the Federation.’’ In light of the above, the Forum argued that its aspiration is based on the principle of equity, fairness, justice and resolve to promote peaceful co-existence among the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
The Forum also debunked insinuations that the position of Governor has never been zoned to any Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom State, stating that the truth is that zoning of the office of the Governor has always been part of the of the political life in the state. It noted that it was the consensus of political leaders in the state that since Uyo Senatorial District hosts both the state capital and the largest ethnic group in the state, among other factors, it should take the first turn to produce the Governor, this, they reiterated gave birth to the zoning principle and arrangement in the Akwa Ibom Governorship race.
“Due to the short-lived tenure of Obong Akpan Isemin who was on the seat for only 22 months on account of military interference, during the transition programme of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) which commenced in 1998, it was agreed by political leaders and founding members of our great party-the PDP at a meeting in then Metro Hotel that Uyo Senatorial District should be allowed to completes its tenure since the 1992 mandate given to the late Obong Isemin was brought to an abrupt end by the military.’’
The Forum observed that it was on the above premise that it settled for Obong Victor Attah who went on to govern the state for eight years beginning from 1999 to 2007. They noted further that following the consensus decision of political leaders in the state and in line with the zoning arrangement, Chief Godswill Akpabio, from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District was elected in 2007, a tenure that ended in 2015. The Forum maintained in strong terms that the issue of zoning has always been at the heart of the political arrangement in the state hence should be upheld to the letter. It added further that in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eket Senatorial District has unselfishly deployed its demographic strength to support the emergence of Governors from other districts.
The Forum noted that for the overall equitable, peaceful and harmonious co-existence of the components units of the state, Uyo Senatorial District should reciprocate the same gesture and support Eket Senatorial District to produce the next Governor.
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