Election: Nsit Ubium Preaches zoning *Stakeholders say Chairmanship position goes to Nsit Axis, House of Assembly to Ubium North, Vice Chairman Ubium South

From Right: The Speaker AKHA, Rt. Hon (Barr.) Onofiok Luke presenting the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio 2017 excellence service Award, (Military), to Major Gen. Paul  John Isang (Rtd) during the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the organization last weekend in Uyo.

The people of Nsit Ubium through their representatives in the Nsit Ubium Political Caucus have zoned the chairmanship position of the Local Government Council in the forthcoming council polls to the Nsit axis of the Local Government Area.

In the same vein, the body also zoned the House of Assembly slot for Nsit Ubium State Constituency to Ubium North axis of the area and declared  that the Vice Chairmanship position will be occupied by a person of Ubium South extraction while the Council Secretary will come from Ubium North.

This decision was taken at the enlarged meeting of Nsit Ubium Political Caucus held in Uyo recently. 

Presided over by Senator Effiong Bob, the Caucus took a critical look at the prevailing peace and unity in the area and came to the conclusion that they were due to the understanding existing between the three sections of Nsit, Ubium North and Ubium South with regard to the zoning of political offices in the area.

The body noted that while Nsit Ubium blazed the trail in the zoning of political offices, it has been emulated by other Local Government Areas and adopted by the State as a whole and stated that the system should be adhered to in order to avoid rancour and unnecessary electoral expenditure.

Earlier in his speech, the leader of the Caucus, Senator Effiong Bob, had said that building consensus reduces tension, anxiety and unwarranted electioneering expenses stressing that that is the aspiration of Nsit Ubium people.

The two-term Senator of the Federal Republic pointed out that political decisions may not please some people in the short run but that the development brought about by such decisions in the long run often showed that they were well thought out.

He emphasized that the character of the person in office determines good governance as he said that whoever will be brought forth by the zone to which the chairmanship has been zoned should be someone of proven integrity and of competence and character. 

In his reaction, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Barr) Onofiok Luke, expressed appreciation to the Caucus members for showing maturity in such a delicate matter and commended Senator Effiong Bob for exhibiting quality leadership.

He said that as a representative of Nsit Ubium State Constituency in the House of Assembly, he will continue to seek the good of all Nsit Ubium people without being sectional.

Rt. Hon. Luke said the fruits of the zoning arrangement will continue to manifest in the peace, unity and consensus building in the area and that these will in turn translate into good governance, development and empowerment of the people of the Local Government Area.

At the Caucus meeting were, the Chapter Chairman of the PDP for Nsit Ubium Mr. Aniefiok Johnny, the Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning, Arc. Ime Ekpo, the Transition Committee Chairman for Nsit Ubium Local Government Council, Hon. Otobong Edemidiong, the Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Technical Committee on Foreign Direct Investment, Barr. Victor Bob, the Governor of Royalty Hotels and Suites, Pastor Umoh Eno, the Chairman, Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Petroleum Matters, Obong (Barr) Essien Esema, the Commissioner in the State Civil Service Commission, Hon. Ekpedeme Akpan and retired Permanent Secretaries as well as other members of the Caucus.