RE: THE OUTRIGHT FALSEHOOD BY SOME ATTENTION -SEEKING EWEME INDIVIDUALS IN OKOBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA : SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT.

 

Our quality attention has been drawn to a misleading publication by one strange First Media Naija Blog and a live radio interview on Memories FM, Uyo, wherein  some individuals from  Eweme Development Area : Hon. Asuquo Edet Koffi, Mr. John Obisung and Barr. Effiong William Osung, claiming to be speaking for the people of Eweme Development Area, advocated for equitable distribution of political offices between Offi Development Area and Eweme Development Area. 

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 interest, failed to look at records before they ventured into making this unfounded, frivolous and fallacious claims of marginalization by  Offi Development Area.

From 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 whose pedigree, integrity and political sagacity are unimpeachable.

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 these wards are in Eweme Development Area and two (2) are in Offi  Development Area. If there is any iota of marginalization, it is Eweme Development Area  that has  exploited this seemingly political advantage to their selfish  gains.

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 protest 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.

(Please see the attached table) 

Interestingly, all the three comic actors crying marginalization today, have benefitted from one political position or the other and incidentally, were all assisted by Offi people.

Hon. Asuquo Edet Koffi had been a 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. Dr. (Barr.) Effiong  William Osung had been a Transition Committee member and a Special Adviser in Okobo Local Government Council. Hon. John Obisung had been a councilor in the same Local Government Area. 

We want to assure our great party - the PDP in Akwa Ibom State that there is no friction whatsoever between Offi and Ewem Development Areas. Some well informed Eweme people have promptly debunked and countered the lame claims of these self-seeking Eweme individuals as not being  their  Collective opinion or position, 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. 

We want to categorically state and remind our Eweme brothers that the only recognized and existing zoning arrangement in Okobo Local Government Area is between Okobo- Mbawa and Atak Oro. Anything short of this  remains a political mirage. 

Let it be made very clear here, that there has never been any position zoned to Atak Oro that Offi man or Woman indicated interest  which has not been fiercely contested against by Eweme  people, particularly, the current Transition  Committee Chairman, Hon. George Henshaw.

For now, if there is any proposed political position zoned to Atak Oro by our great Party - the PDP, which favours an Offi man, it  is not yet known to us. It is very disappointing and smack of a noble character for a  member of the PDP Congress Committee  in Okobo Local Government Area to expose the decisions of the committee that are yet to be made public to his supporters and followers just for his selfish political gains.

We  hereby appeal to the good and peace – loving people of Atak Oro (Offi and Eweme) to discountenance this desperate plot by some self-centered  politicians to incite them against the PDP but to remain calm and allow our great party, the PDP to elect credible and loyal party men and women to man positions of trust, especially now that we have many wolves in sheep’s clothing infiltrating our beloved party.

Again, It is laughable that a well known APC card – carrying Member  (Hon. John Obisung) on a live radio programme threatening PDP to cede a Chapter Chairmanship position to his Ward or his people will quit the party. This is a clear indication that some of our so-called PDP members are hand-in-gloves with the opposition members to frustrate the party. But God will keep disappointing them as he has always been doing. PDP will continue to wax stronger and stronger in Okobo Local Government Area. 

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 effects it has brought to our dear State

We will continue to give our all, supporting our leaders and our great party the PDP in Okobo and your administration even to continue to lead us through this golden era in our State. God bless His Excellency, our amiable  Governor. 

 God bless Akwa Ibom State!

God bless Okobo L. G. A!!

God bless Atak Oro !!!

 

 For and on behalf of Offi Development Area Stakeholders Forum.