Esit Eket Youths Protest, Kick Against Zoning Distortion As Usoro Akpanusoh Sues For Calm...assures stakeholders will resolve amicably

Worried as well as not satisfied with moves to distort the laid down zoning formula practiced in Esit Eket, youths of the area yesterday in their hundred thronged the streets of the Local government to register their grievances against the alleged imposition of Mr Iniobong Robson Nnamso for the upcoming December 2020 council elections.

The agrieved youths who defied the heavy downpour took their protest to the divisional police station, the palace of the Paramount Ruler and that of the member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Dr. Usoro Akpanusoh.

Brandishing placards with inscriptions such as "We can't breath Elder Ben Udobia, we don't want Local government Chairman that is richer than ten local govt chairmen, deputy political leader you no get shame, Ime Okon Dan sold Ward ten for 10 million, Esit Eket no be Calabar South etebe, God bless Usoro Akpanusoh for standing by zoning, his Excellency our Governor please protect zoning in Esit Eket amongst others, the youths also expressed dissatisfaction over the additional new ward in Esit Eket created recently by the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), noting that the commission should have extracted it from Ward 10, which according to them, is the largest in the area.

The dissatisfied youths alleged that Robson, the incumbent chairman who is from Zone A according to zoning should be succeed by someone from Zone "B" at the completion of his tenure in December in order for the zoning system to continue peacefully while also pointing accusing fingers at the political leader Elder Ben Udobia as supporting the Robson.

Speaking on behalf of the youths a youth leader in the area, Prince Akan Etteudo described the decision as unacceptable, saying "We are opposed to the recycling of Hon Iniobong Robson Nnamso who has been in office since 2015. He served as Transition Committee Chairman for two years and six months. And also, he was elected chairman in 2017 on the grounds that we wanted a Zone 'A' person to become chairman.

"Today, Etebe has served for five years and one months. By December when his tenure is expected to end, he would have served for five years and six months".

”We are aware that the chairman, in conjunction with the political leader and some selfish elders are out to truncate the zoning arrangement, insisting that Etebe should return for a third term.

Also speaking, the political leader of Ward 5 Dr. Okon D. Umoh said that the area in 2002, June 21 had agreed on zoning and that they have been doing that till date, where offices are shared around zones A, B and C.

"We had finished the first round, second round is where the incumbent Chairman is and he has been on saddle for the past five years. His tenure will be due December and he wants to go back and he is supported by some selfish persons. This is the time for zone B to produce Chairman as zone A had produced theirs. We can't abandon zoning".

He appealed to the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel whom he describe as also being a product of to call the elements trying to distort zoning in the area to order for peace to reign.

The protesters later took their protest to the residence of Usoro Akpanusoh where the presented to him a document containing their complaints for onward presentation to the Governor and the House of Assembly.

Addressing the youths, the lawmaker tasked them to be calm and not take laws into their hands as stakeholders of the area will take a critical look into the issues with a view to resolving them.

He noted that zoning of the chairmanship seat of Esit Eket local government area started with the now late Hon Imoh Udobia from Zone "A" in 2002. 

Udobia, according to him,  was succeeded by late Victor Bassey Isangedighe from Zone "B". Ibanga Bassey Etang, also late, from Zone "C" succeed Isangedighe to complete the first round of the zoning circle.

Akpanusoh said: "I am aware that the first round of zoning ended with Ibanga Etang. The second round of zoning returned to Zone "A" and our current chairman (Robson) was even so lucky to have a transition committee position for two years and six months.

"When he completed that transition programme, we all said that since it was not an elected position, he should be allowed to contest and stay for three years, the office in which he is still serving today as chairman.

know that our political leader, Elder Ben Udobia, is a man of peace. If he sees the need to allow things to go in a peaceful way, peace will prevail.

"I can say that Elder Ben Udobia is not ready to truncate the zoning arrangement. I want to assure that we the leaders of Esit Eket will meet and sort things out.

"The governor has constantly said that those not favoured by zoning in their areas should not contest it. He will not allow anything to happen to zoning of political offices in Akwa Ibom State. 

"We are ready to continue to make sacrifices for our party to win at all levels. The government of Akwa Ibom State will continue to do good things for us".

Akpanusoh expressed optimism that the PDP would win the upcoming local government election in the state, even as he thanked Governor Emmanuel for appointing Esit Eket sons and daughters into positions of authority in the government.