Big trouble in Ikot Abasi *Assemblyman knocks Obong Obot Etokafia

  *Says he’s an attention seeker *We’ve never had a political leader

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN
 
Following the recent  announcement and recognition of  Obong Obot Etokafia as political leader of Ikot Abasi Local Government, the member Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Uduak Odudoh has taken a swipe at Obong Obot Etokafia and his followers, describing them as attention seekers, impostors, fraud and hungry politicians who have failed their generation.  

The lawmaker while speaking with THE INK last week in his office, said right from the creation of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, the area has the never had a political leader, rather there has always been a leadership structure which is comprising of some influential decision makers and political stalwarts, and that the self acclaimed political leader, Obong Obot Etokafia is nothing but a detractor who is seeking for attention in the area.

Hon. Uduak Odudoh said as the highest political office holder in the area, he was not invited to the said meeting, the Transition Chairman was not there, the chapter chairman of PDP and officers in the area were not also present at the meeting as well as other prominent stakeholders from the area, adding that the meeting was full of hungry and expired politicians who could not deliver their unit in the last election and they were expecting landing by the convener at the end of the meeting because of the economic situation, expectation the lawmaker said he was told never came to reality.  

He hinted that after the meeting, majority of the people that attended the meeting call him to apologize with excuses that they were sorry for attending the said meeting and that they never knew the agenda of the meeting.

He warned those who are attempting to cause confusion in Ikot Abasi to desist from such activities, saying that the people of the area know the right way to follow no matter the level of distraction by the opposition who are claiming to be members of the PDP. 

“I was out of the State when some people called me that Obong Obot Etokafia issued a circular for a meeting, and that the agenda of the meeting was to discuss the well being of Ikot Abasi. Greater number of those who attended called me that they were shocked at the end of the meeting which was pre-planned. Somebody moved a motion and was hurriedly seconded that Obong Obot Etokafia is their leader. Leadership is of categories, but if you are talking about political leader, it is not to my knowledge.” 

Hon. Uduak Odudoh maintained that historically, Ikot Abasi Local Government has never had somebody being ascribed as a political leader, rather the area is made up of a leadership structure which himself is part of. 

In his words, “We have never had a political leader in Ikot Abasi, what we usually have is a leadership structure. We had Sen. Udo Udoma, he never ascribed himself as the political leader. We had two Deputy Governors, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu and Obong Nsima Ekere, they never called themselves political leaders even Chelly Okoko that is closer to the present government is not our political leader. So for somebody to just wake up one day and begin to call himself a political leader, he is nothing but an attention seeker.” 

While emphasizing that the leadership structure in the area is intact, Hon. Uduak Odudoh who is the Chairman, House Committee on Labour and Productivity, said even as the highest political office holder in the area, he will never ascribe the title of a political leader to himself because many people from the area had hold higher political offices than him and they never ascribe the title to themselves.

He however said that before any decision is taken in the area, the leadership structure must be aware. The lawmaker used the opportunity to call on all his supporters not to be shaken, but remain calm and loyal to the leadership structure of the area as well as the present administration led by Deacon Udom Emmanuel.

Hon. Uduak Odudoh, said as a member in the 6th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, he has been very active in all the deliberations and other activities of the House especially in terms of bills and motions. He disclosed that he has used his office effectively to recommend so many people for employment both in the State and outside the State even as he said his constituents should expect constituency briefing from him before the end of the year.