Mkpat Enin boils as Ikpa Ibom Ward 2 insists on micro zoning of chairmanship

Dennis Udoma

Tempers are high over the chairmanship position in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, as Ikpa Ibom Ward 2 insists on micro-zoning their area in the forthcoming council elections.

This happened after Governor UMO ENO announced the state government’s readiness to conduct council elections on October 26.

Chairman, Coordinators Forum of Mkpat Enin Conscience Group for Good Governance, Comrade Unyime Amatie while addressing a meeting at the weekend in Uyo called on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to micro-zone the Chairmanship position in the Local Government to Ikpa-Ibom Ward 2  as directed by the Governor for fairness and justice.

He maintained that Ikpa Ibom Ward 2 since the creation of Mkpat Enin as a Local Government has never been given any opportunity to produce a chairman either as a Caretaker or elected.

He said: “Our concern will be deeply appreciated if one looks through the records from the creation of Mkpat Enin in 1989 till date, to understand that Ikpa-Ibom Ward 2 which is made up of Ikot Osung Otuk, Ikot Akpabio, Ikot Ediongo, Ikot Etefia, Ikot Akpan and Ikot Obong (Ukam community) has been marginalized.

Comrade Amatie, an indigene of Ikot Obio Ndoho in Ikpa Ibom Ward 3 pointed out that, though other political Wards in the Local Government from time have produced elected or appointed chairmen and other political appointees, Ikpa Ibom Ward 2 has no such record and should also be accorded a sense of belonging by granting equal opportunity to produce the next Executive chairman.

He noted that “Ikpa Ibom Ward 1 had produced Hon. Otobong Ndem who was elected Member, House of Assembly from 2015 – 2019 and currently, Honorary Special Assistant to the Governor on Rural Development, Eket Senatorial District from 2023 till date. Mr. Andrew Abasiekong was Board Chairman, EARCOM under Godswill Akpabio, Chief Friday Udo Ayara, PDP Chapter Chairman from 2003 – 2007, Mr. Ubong Ndem, PDP Chapter Secretary from 2016 – 2020 and Hon. Ime Amos Inoh, PDP Chapter Youth Leader from 2016 – 2020. Lady Imaobong Nelson Ekong, PDP Chapter Woman Leader from 2007 – 2016.

“Ikpa – Ibom Ward 3 has produced 2 elected Chairmen in persons of late Chief Stephen Ikpim from 1989 – 1991 and Hon. Mfon Nkanteen from 2008 – 2011: Acting chairman, Hon. Lady Mercy Bassey, January to OCTOBER 2022, Transition Committee chairman from December 2023 till date.

“Barrister Jerry Akpan, former Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Commissioner for Economic Development and Special Adviser, Political and Legislative Affairs under Governor Godswill Akpabio, Hon. Mfon Nkanteen, PDP State Deputy Chairman, Eket Senatorial District from 2016-2020, State Financial Secretary from 2020 till date. Mr Nseobong Essien, PDP Chapter Secretary from 2020 till the date.

“Also, Rt. Hon. Bernard A. Udoh, a three-term House of Reps Member from 1999 – 2011, is currently Honoury Special Assistant to the Governor on Power from 2023 to date.

“Ikpa – Ibom Ward 4, has in the same arrangement produced Hon (Elder) Joe Godwin Udobia as elected chairman from 1996 – 1997, former Special Adviser, Political & Legislative Matters to Gov. Victor Attah, while Hon.  Imowo Godwin Udobia was appointed Chairman, Caretaker Committee in 2003. Mr. Iniobong Akpan, Local Government Council Secretary, 2017 – 2020, Board Member, Acting Chairman, SUBEB, and currently, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization, Eket Senatorial District, PDP Chapter Chairman, Hon. Ekong Mex Umoh from 1999 – 2003.

“Ikpa-Ibom Ward 2, Comrade Amatie however noted, has been grossly marginalized over the decades in political arrangements in Ikpa Ibom Clan, but only left with a Deputy Head of Council in person of Rt Hon Godwin Udofot who left office more than 2 decades ago”.

Comrade Amatie, therefore, on behalf of Mkpat Enin Conscience Group for Good Governance passionately pleaded with Governor UMO ENO and wife, Pst. Patience UMO ENO, PDP, and Mkpat Enin Local Government Stakeholders to come to the side of Ikpa Ibom Ward 2, which has been supportive of the party since 1999 to produce the next Executive Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area in the forthcoming council elections.

“We called on the Governor and wife, Pst. Patience UMO ENO, PDP, and Mkpat Enin stakeholders to look into the issue of Ikpa Ibom Ward 2 and help it produce the next chairman of the local government.

“It would be unfair to deny Ukam Community this opportunity, which generates N2m monthly to Government pause as IGR in addition to giving the PDP 734 votes at presidential, 821 votes at snatorial, 930 votes at the governorship, 785 votes at House of Representatives and 930 at House of Assembly elections”.

Also, the immediate past Council Chairman of Mkpat Enin, Hon. Aniekpon Ekpo who commented on his social media handle corroborated that, it would be needed for anybody to contest the position of chairman when it is a known fact that, there was zoning of chairmanship position to Ikpa Ibom Clan.

“In 2008, when it was Ikpa Ibom Clan’s turn to produce the chairman, Hon. Mfon Nkanteen from Ikpa Ibom Ward 3 was elected chairman. Now, it is the turn of the Ikpa Ibom Clan again and common sense should let people know that, it will not go down well again to Ikpa Ibom Ward 3, but for another Ward to produce the chairman, and this is one simple and the truth we should know “.