Offi Development Area Stakeholders Forum in Okobo Exposes Plots by Selfish Individuals to distort facts...debunks claims by saboteurs from Eweme...congratulates Gov Umo Eno, reinstate continued solidarity

 

A foremost organization in Okobo Local Area of Akwa Ibom State, Offi Development Area Stakeholders Forum, known for safeguarding the interest and championing the cause of Offi people, has described as utterly laughable, imaginary, erroneous and therefore misleading a badly fabricated publication recently published  on First Media Naija Blog and a follow-up reckless distortion of facts on a live interview on Memory Fm by a ragtag group of persons it described as a bunch of ingrates and infidels claiming to represent Eweme Development Area, also in Okobo.

In a press statement  issued, yesterday, in consequence of an emergency general meeting signed by Dr. Asukwo Uyah, Elder John Afahanam, Mr. Louis Eneminyi, Hon. Rex Enwieme, Dr. Christopher Uneh, Elder Joseph Akpe, Mr. Godwin Akaiso, Pastor Asukwo Nduonyi, Hon. David Nyong Bassey, Mr. Etim Okon Abang, Elder Friday Oluhu, Ulap Edet George Ukpoh, Pastor  Oscar Ita Usoh and others,  entitled "The Outright Falsehood By Some Attention-Seeking Eweme Individuals in Okobo Local Government Area: Setting the Records Straight", the organization

described as arrant nonsense and a badly scripted moonlight tales the funny claims by some selfish and frustrated ringleaders of Eweme Development Area, made up of Hon. Asukwo Edet Koffi, Mr. John Obisung and Barr. Effiong William Osung, who in their fantasy parade themselves as advocates for equitable distribution of political offices between Offi Development Area and Eweme Development Area. 

Identifying the sponsors of the ill-advised erroneous publication and radio interview as a comic group of frustrated and desperate  politicians in Okobo, Offi Development Area Stakeholders Forum maintained that, although it ordinarily would immediately have thrown the said publication and claims into the trash can

especially on considering the  widely known character and dirty credentials of the perpetrators of the falsehood, it was nonetheless expedient that it puts records straight before fifth columnists claiming to represent Eweme Development Area further mislead the unsuspecting public with their figments of imaginations.

Part of the statement made available to newsmen stated:

"Ordinarily, we would have dismissed and ignored this charade of a publication as a mere noise making and material meant for the dustbin as it is a mere futile attempt to draw public  attention over a non-existing issue of marginalization.  But to prevent the gullible from being fed by the outright falsehood peddled by these attention-seeking individuals, we decided to set the records straight. The sponsors and champions of the "new Eweme project" who are  obviously driven by their selfish interests, failed to look at records before they ventured into making this unfounded, frivolous and fallacious claims of marginalization by  Offi Development Area.

"By all intents and purposes, their unbalanced publication is not about marginalization. It is a calculated attempt to mislead the public, especially now that the Local Government election is by the corner. It is a clear case of frustrated and drowning political foes, engaging in mud-slinging intended to tarnish the image of a leader and widely acclaimed mentor whose pedigree, integrity and political sagacity are unimpeachable".

Digging deeper and unearthing more facts, the organization wondered why the Eweme dissidents chose to stand truth on the head without conscience  when It is an established fact that Atak Oro as a political bloc in Okobo Local Government Area is made up of five (5) political wards, three (3) of which are in Eweme Development Area and two (2) in Offi  Development Area. It therefore argued that if there was any marginalization, it is Eweme Development Area  that rather has  exploited and benefitted extensively from the political advantages it has cornered to itself with impunity, without regards to extant  principle of fairness.

To buttress its revisionistic position, the press statement(with attached tabulated evidence of previous allocation of political offices in the area), further observed, "Until 2003, when Rt. (Hon) Chief Asukwo Effiong Odiong (an Offi Son) emerged as the Chairman of Okobo Local Government Area –the first time in 14 years of the creation of the Local Government, that an Atak Oro Son became the Council Chairman. It had always  been one Eweme  man or the other that had been the  Vice Chairman to Okobo Sons  that held sway as Council Chairmen from 1989-2003.

"As a matter of fact, no Offi man or Woman had ever been a Vice Chairman since the creation of Okobo Local Government Area.

Similarly, no Offi man  or Woman had been the Council Secretary and almost the same scenario in the case of Leader of Okobo Legislative Council. It had always been our Eweme brothers all the way. This had been on unabated without any protest or Illwill by the peace- loving people of  Offi Development Area.

Eweme Development Area has had people occupying various political positions  at various times, including a Member of the  House of Representatives, Abuja, a House of Assembly Member, Vice chairmen, Council Secretaries, Chairmen of Boards, Chapter Chairman of PDP, Special and Senior Special Assistants to the Governor and currently,  Transition Committee Chairman".

The release also indicated that the same Eweme ward now crying marginalization has benefitted lopsidedly from one political position or the other and had always been freely supported and assisted by Offi people who believe in equity and fairness. With special reference, the statement  further pointed to the fact that 

Hon. Asuquo Edet Koffi had been practically everything in Okobo  local government area, namely, Councilor/ Leader of Okobo Legislative Council, Deputy Chapter Chairman of PDP in Okobo,  a Council Secretary, Special Assistant to the Deputy Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, and just recently, Vice Chairman of Okobo Local Government Council. 

Likewise, further revelations indicated that Dr. (Barr.) Effiong  William Osung had been a Transition Committee member and a Special Adviser in Okobo Local Government Council; whereas Hon. John Obisung had also been a councilor from the same Local Government Area. 

Warning the fabricators not to unsuccessfully try to shift the goal post of truths but to retrace their misguided steps and value the essence of unity enhanced by fairplay, the press statement therefore assured the public in general and the PDP in Akwa Ibom State in particular that there was no friction whatsoever between Offi and Eweme Development Areas, pointing to many conscientious and well informed Eweme people who  have promptly debunked and countered the lame claims of the self-seeking Eweme individuals as not reflecting  their  collective bargains or position on justice, but that of those who have benefitted politically and are still struggling to come out from their pit of broken political relevance.

"We in Offi Development Area salute their courage and promise not to allow this provocative action of these selfish Eweme politicians in their midst to rock the existing cordial and harmonious relationship between Offi and Eweme people" the press statement indicated, also reminding their Eweme brothers that the only recognized and existing zoning arrangement in Okobo Local Government Area is between Okobo- Mbawa and Atak Oro, and anything short of that remains a political mirage. 

Using the medium to congratulate the governor of the state, Pastor Umo Eno on his smooth take-off and momentous anniversary of his impactful one year in office, the organization  observed that it was even more laughable that a well known APC mole and card–carrying Member  (Hon. John Obisung) would lack the face on a live radio programme to threaten PDP to cede a Chapter Chairmanship position to his Ward or his people will quit the party, hence indicting some so-called PDP members who may be wolves in a sheep's blanket, to eat fat continually at two tables.

Appealing to the good and peace–loving people of Atak Oro (Offi and Eweme) to discountenance the falsehood and shenanigans by desperate politicians whose sole aim was to heat up the polity and incite them against the PDP especially as local government election nears, Offi Development Area Stakeholders Forum reinstated its unwavering resolve to continue to support the PDP and HE, Governor Umo Eno in his patriotic drive to interprete the Arise Agenda to logical conclusion in the greater interest of Akwa Ibom people.

"We wish to use this medium to congratulate our beloved Governor, His Excellency,  Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, on his impactful one year in office. Thank you Your Excellency for your excellent and robust leadership and the attendant positive effect it has brought to our dear State".