IBIBIO POLITICAL CONFAB:ANNANG MEETS ATTAH OVER UDOEDEHE

New Deal Underway
Prominent individuals and groups from Annang extraction of the state have met with Ex Gov. Victor Attah in view of the gubernatorial aspiration of Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.

The meeting, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity is preparatory to the Saturday All Ibibio Political Confab where Obong Victor Attah is expected to address political torch bearers in the state ahead of the 2011 gubernatorial election and endorse the candidacy of the “firebrand”.

Those who led delegation to Obong Attah included past Commissioners and Special Advisers, Chieftains of PDP from five local government areas making former Abak of Ikot Ekpene senatorial District known as Abak 5. The group under the aegis of Concerned People of Former Abak Division is campaigning for inclusion of her people in the anticipated government to right the marginalization the area is said to be subjected to. Former Abak which comprises of Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Oruk Anam and Ukanafun have been campaigning for power shift from Annang of Ikot Ekpene which has Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim and Obot Akara to the axis for equity having been purportedly rubbed of the privilege of fielding key political offices zoned to the senatorial district from inception. The group, before the emergence and massive support given to Senator John James Akpanudoedehe as governorship hopeful, has been lobbying for an eight year term for Annang with four years of the concluding two terms being shifted to the axis. Pursuant to the arrangement, the axis has prod aspirants from the region to wrestle power from incumbent Gov. Akpabio who hails from Essien Udim of Ikot Ekpene Annang axis.

Having been instrumental to power shift to Ikot Ekpene senatorial district in 2007, it was gathered that Former Abak saw Obong Victor Attah as a ready tool whose charisma and political goodwill in the state could be utilized toward the goal since his core loyalists in the senatorial district are rooted in the axis.
A former commissioner in the state who refused his name on print while confirming meeting with Obong Attah and other top politicians from Ibibio extraction on the 2011 guber race, told Global Concord that the old Abak region of Ananng were seriously aggrieved over what he described as cross marginalization by the three local government of Ikot Ekpene federal constituency in the senatorial district. As revenge, it was learnt that the lobbyists are seeking the office of deputy governor or speaker of the legislature to be zoned to the area since the expectation of a consensus candidate being adopted from the axis by opposition camp is dashed with the expected endorsement of Sen. Edehe by Obong Attah on Saturday.

The commissioner who contested in the last gubernatorial election while pointing to a letter of protest against the adoption of Chief Godswill Akpabio as sole candidate for the axis by traditional rulers of former Abak local government, said discordant voices from the axis were to the effect that they be given their due place in the scheme of things. He said: “we have written many letters, we have made many contacts within and outside the state to the effect that we produce the next governor or at least, field a sensitive office in the next government, like SSG, Deputy, or Speaker of the House to bring a sense of belonging to us”.

Sources at the meeting said it was also to declare solidarity to the ex-governor for ensuring power shift to Ananng and to strike a new formula on how the axis could benefit in the proposed government.
The source said if the interest of the area is protected, the long marginalization will be erased. He said the axis was aggrieved that key developmental projects, and general infrastructure were lacking in the area. Quoting from a protest letter by Concerned People of Former Abak Division against the endorsement of Chief Godswill Akpabio as 2011 sole guber candidate by the traditional leaders of Abak 5 the source said: “The present political atmosphere in Abak and its environs may not seem to bug the few eccentrics in government echelons now, but they know of a surety that sooner or later as the power and myth that insulate them become powerless and the myth demystifies, that it would”.

The protest letter which was handed to Global Concord while analyzing the frustration of the former Abak, states in part: “Former Abak axis comprising of Abak the mother local government to Etim Ekpo, Ika, Oruk Anam and Ukanafun Local Government Areas, is nothing but a far cry from what it should be with emphasis on its political well-being as a long founded and standing political entity.
“One would expect that by its unequivocal status as the majority of the Annang Race that it should be treated fairly by all, but this has not been so since the inception of this present administration.

One would also have expected that after all that had befallen and is still befalling the good people of old Abak division, that the spirit of warmth and togetherness should be the watch word in order to foster oneness of purpose amongst its people and seek to build synergy like never before in a bid to harmoniously move this important entity further into limelight.

“Alas, this is not so. Fairness would demand that if anybody or group of persons in former Abak were to gather together to say or do a thing in the interest of former Abak, that it should have been on the positive note to facilitate the collective interest of everyone and to chat the course of the people of former Abak also known as Abak 5 ahead of their rightful place in history and governance of the land, and where it truly does belong amongst its contemporaries, but the reverse is the case”.

Global Concord learnt from the lengthy letter which was signed by Hon. Godwin Umana (JP) as president and Hon (Engr.) Usenideh Charles Akpan as secretary and published in a local tabloid (not Global Concord) that elders of former Abak area of Annang had on 17th December 2009 planned to endorse Governor Godswill Akpabio for a second term having adjudged him to have affected the lives of the people of former Abak with developmental projects and series of empowerments. Members of the Concerned Citizens Group alleged that the endorsement was consequent upon the financial inducement on behalf of the governor by his foot soldiers in power and bickered the elders over such decision. They queried then: “What are the indices for such envisaged perfidious endorsement? Is it the arrays of yet to be fulfilled promises by the “promise keeper” to the people of former Abak during his campaign tours?... “Instead of backing out of a government that has not benefited your people in meeting their basic yearnings and fundamental aspirations, you further seek to endorse that same government.

Does the political marginalization, under development, incessant aggression by the people, subjugation and subjection, hunger and teeth gnashing not prick your conscience to know what is right and do so?...”

The letter which was copied to Director, State Security Service, Commissioner of Police, National Security Adviser to the President, Itai Afe Ananng and the Governor, states further: “Since these slap-happy government officials don't know what to do to earn our respect, we wish to pejoratively state that their slapdash attempt to endorse Governor Akpabio is not a reflection of our minds and state of our well being and are doing so at their own peril.

“We the concerned people of former Abak division are firmly against these devious acts, we warn in advance against it.
“We are unhappy and aggrieved at this false hearted acts by these avaricious government officials and traditional rulers who have come together to mislead and plunge us into further darkness instead of finding the means and modes to ameliorate the sufferings of its people but have been bought over too cheaply by Government, as such losing the power to be the spokesmen and torch bearers of their alienated people”.
The group called on the governor to: “Stop cowing people to sing your praises, let their views of your governance be brought to bear on virgin platter without any interference or financially maneuvered guidance. For this will be the indices to properly evaluate and asses your achievements.

“If you are so sure of your deeds, let them so speak for you: after all Governor Fashola of Lagos State who is one out of many with a less bogus allocation has achieved so much worthy of commendation by all, has not doled out money to buy the people of Lagos to endorse him for a second term concentrating in government oriented projects affecting the lives of the average Lagosian as expected of him as a Governor and we are yet to hear or read in prints and electronic media of any endorsement plan for a second term. Why…? FOCUS!”

Concluding, the letter which was not unconnected to why the endorsement exercise was foiled, opined that: “For the interest of peace for all, if anybody or group of persons in old Abak division should gather in future to discuss the political clime of the region, endorsement should not be the discussion of the day, rather the meeting should be with the aim of making spirited sacrifices to ensure the sustenance of the good of all seeking also to bring to bear a viable community bonded by a strong cord targeted at moving its people from their present demeaning status as political bench warmers, a forgotten and neglected race, political escorts, and to speak in favor of its people against all that presently stares them in the face like teeth gashing, lamentation, hunger, frustration, hopelessness, poverty, orchestrated alienation plots by government, the terror of kidnappers and being kidnapped or “adultnapped” as the case may be, and all that plaques its people but to mention a few, to indeed that land where milk and honey flows vis-a-vis the land of fulfillment where government's impact would be felt by all and this we know is not an utopia”.

Our source said they were satisfied with response of the ex-governor who is said to have consented to protecting the interest of the Ananng progressives.