Ekaette Usip: A unifying factor in Mkpat Enin politics

BY VICTOR UFOT

The Transition Committee in Mkpat  Enin Local Government completed  the first six months in office early this year and the Akwa Ibom State of House under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke through the request of the state Governor Udom Emmanuel granted an extension of the current Transition Committee for another six months. In Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, the council is currently led by a seasoned grassroots politician in the person of Lady Ekaette Usip.

Mkpat Enin under the careful and vigilant  watch of Lady Ekaette Usip has recorded spectacular feats in many areas, her administration so far has been a success story despite the current economic recession that has biting hard on Nigeria where virtually everything has collapsed due to the hardship experienced by all tiers of government and the citizenry.

The economic hardship and the drastic fall in the prices of Crude Oil have resulted in paucity of funds and at the same time have adversely affected the smooth running of the various Local Government Areas; these no doubt have posed as an insurmountable challenge to the realization of her administration goals for Mkpat Enin people. The Transition Chairperson together with her team has so far displayed great prudence in managing the little resources that comes to the council by ensuring that the little income is well expanded on sub heads that demands immediate and urgent attention. This cautiousness in financial management and supervision has certainly made it possible for the entire Transition Committee members to contribute their quota positively towards the success of Governor Udom Emmanuel at the grassroots level.

During her inauguration as the Transition Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government, Lady Usip had promised a lot to her people, she has displayed great desire to accomplish these goals despite the challenges faced. Hitherto her appointment as the Transition Chairman, Mkpat Enin, the largest Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State politically, had been at war when it comes agreeing on a political course “the divide and rule” method was the most pronounced and prominent system of governance by political gladiators from the area.

Political appointees and elected office holders from the Local Government were to great extent always at war with the council Chairmen due to differences in interest. Lady Usip has been able to formulate a modus operandi of bonding heavy weights from her clime. Certainly this is a good way to bring about development into the area since no meaningful progress would had been possible if the supposed leaders continued to flood the cover pages of newspapers in the state with hate campaign against one another. The renewed understanding amongst the political class in Mkpat Enin unarguably can be numerated as an achievement of Lady Usip because of the understanding she has so far exhibited in relating with other stakeholders from Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.

Though in my humble opinion there is still plenty room for improvements but it is not as bad as what we used to have in the past where the Chairman and other opinion leaders rarely agree on issues especially when there are direct beneficiary. 

Respect for the traditional institution is also another area Lady Usip has certainly succeeded greatly; it is no secret that Royal Fathers in recent past had lost hope in the political leadership of Mkpat Enin Local Government due to how they were neglected by past council administrators.  Recent signs and testimonies from some of the traditional rulers show that cordial relationship has been restored between the two in full dose. This again is commendable because it will be hard to succeed at the grassroots without the cooperation of the traditional rulers.

In her short spell as a Transition Chairman, Lady Usip has kept to her promise which she made during her swearing in, that she will not be a Chairman whose office is located in Uyo rather she will bring governance to the grassroots by staying close to them so she could feel their pulse, pains, joys and aspirations. This promise has been kept to the latter by the Chairman, for the first time in a long while, we have not been told that our chairman has abandoned her duties and travel out of the State or Country has had always been the case in times past. Dignity and pride is back to the exalted seat because of the decorum that has been reinstated by the seasoned woman politician.

In terms of project execution, the present economic realities have not permitted Council Chairmen to embark on huge project execution but the Mkpat Enin Transition Boss has made concerted efforts towards ensuring that she attracts life touching projects to her people. As gathered recently, plans are on the way to help some communities in Mkpat Enin that has been in acute darkness due to non availability of Electricity. Such communities will smile soon as the council through the leadership of Lady Usip has made efforts to secure transformers for onward distribution to the affected communities. When this is done, it is hoped that the assisted communities will ensure that the transformers are protected to avoid damage or theft by criminals who target such public properties.

The Council Boss has make it a point of duty to always drum support for the State Governor at any given opportunity, she has taken it open herself to spread the gospel of Udom of Emmanuel to Mkpat Enin people while assuring them that the present Government means well for the Local Government. Her government has succeeded in explaining the policies of the state government to Mkpat Enin people especially at the grassroots.

The PDP family in Mkpat Enin under the leadership of Honourable Anietie Sunday is also enjoying a cordial relationship with the Chairman, the recent meeting between the party and Council Lady was another avenue to strengthen her friendship with the party. As a mother, Lady Usip has proven that friendship and Mkpat Enin comes first before politics, this has made it possible for the area to live in peace despite having many of her sons and daughters in top positions in the present administration. Mkpat Enin and her people now enjoy peace politically; this has at the same time made it possible for the development to pierce the area. 

It is on record that the Council Chairman has on several occasions met with youth leaders from the various Clans in Mkpat Enin to seek ways there can also contribute towards the advancement of Democracy in the area. Such meetings have also been held with women across the area.

The peace being enjoyed in Mkpat Enin today may be would not had been possible if a woman of substance and a core grassroots politician had not been appointed to man the affairs of the area. It is on this track record of sustaining peace in the area that Lady Ekaette Usip will go down as a true idol in the annals of history in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.