* Paramount ruler, PDP, APC, ors hail gesture
The people of Ikono local Government Area have
unanimously adopted the senator representing Ikot Ekpene
Senatorial District, Dr. Aloysious Etok as the political
leader of the area. Elders, women and youths of the area
said they had to undertake that formal action to put paid to
insinuations and an impression making the rounds that
some other person is the political leader of the area.
In an elaborate event which took place at Unity Secondary
School, Oduk, the chairman of the occasion and secretary
Ibibio Elders forum, Dr. Emmanuel Akpanobong called on
the people of Ikono to eschew all forms of bitterness,
political hatred and rancor and join the boat of the political
progress of Ikono which is being steered by senator Etok.
Akpanobong who is the Chief Medical Director of St.
Athanasius hospital in Uyo observed that the choice of
Aloysious Etok as the political leader of Ikono is a welcome
development.
He called on those who are still not in
tandem with what is going on to retrace their steps and join
the moving trend which he said is capable of protecting the
political and all economic interest of Ikono people. He had
kind words for Etok and however prayed God to grant the
senator the grace to lead the people of Ikono in the right
steps politically.
Earlier, the chairman of the planning committee of the
installation Sir Victor Etefia, KJW, in his address had said
that the installation of Aloysious Etok and Clement Bassey
as the Political Leader and Deputy leader of Ikono
respectively was the beginning of a new era in Ikono Local
Government Area. he added that with this exercise, Ikono
politics is no more a child’s play and that the politics of the
area can never again be left in the hands of misguided
political persons or group of persons stressing that the area
shall collectively say no to impostors at all cost.
He said, “my message to the good people of Ikono is let us
never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to
negotiate and were necessary confront our oppressors so
as to usher in a better image for the incoming generation.”
Speaking further, Victor Etefia said, the political image of
Ikono people for sometime now is not worth mentioning in
any political gathering in the state. He said the people of
Ikono have found themselves in a situation where their
territory is under siege by the in laws and friends. He
lamented that their views in the scheme of things are not
considered. He solicited for the corporation of all indigenes
of the area with a warning that freedom is indivisible and
that when one man is enslave, all are not free.
The Guest speaker at the event and a former senate hopeful
for Uyo senatorial district AbaiNsimaUmoh in his paper
entitled, Ibibio EtimIbaba, EtimUsungafere lamented the
enslavement of the Ibibio and the fact that the region is
almost losing its pride of place in the comity of nations in
the country. He expressed humility over his choice as the
guest speaker at the event. He maintained that by 2015, he
will support an Ibibio man from any senatorial district to
emerge the Governor of the state. in his words, “permit me
ladies and gentlemen to comment on this overflogged issue
of Akwa Ibom state and 2015. All I hear in the political
firmament is that of zoning and rotation of the leadership of
our state. I must warn that it is so much of our loyalty to
our region and tribe, and enthronement of mediocrity that
has brought Nigeria to its present sorry state. For now
however, it would appear there is already a consensus that
our next Governor will be an Ibibio man or woman of
whatever senatorial district, occupy the Hiltop mansion.
But my ideal candidate should be someone who has
something extra to offer in terms of integrity,
broadmindedness and the fear of God”
High point of the event was the administration of Oath of
allegiance on the new political leader, Aloysious Etok and
his Deputy Clement Adolf Bassey.
The administration of the
oath was done by Barr Imo Akpan. Aside from the
swearing in of Senator Etok as the political leader, Ikono
Political Advisory council was also inaugurated with
members drawn from all parts of Ikono local Government
Area. those sworn in as members of Ikono political
advisory council were Senator Aloysious Etok, Political
leader, Dr. Clement Bassey, Deputy, DrEdemUsoro, His
Excellency Chief UU OkorenEtefia Ikono and former Deputy
Governor of then Cross River state , Obong Amadu Akpan
Udede, Chief OkonAkpanusung, Obong IbangaUdo Akpan.
Others were Dr. Emmanuel Akpanobong, Elder Pius Eyo,
Elder Eyo Akpan Udo, Prof Joe Unyanka, Obong
KufreInyangette and Dr Augustine Umoh.
Also inaugurated were special members of the political
Advisory council. They were Hon IboroUdo, sir Obong Ntuk,
Obong Mathew Ebong, Comrade Ephraim Obot, Chief
EtimInyang, Engr Godwin Akang, Obonganwan Glory
James, ObonganwanIma K D Inyang, Chief GM Uba and Sir
Victor Etefia who was sworn in as the secretary of the Ikono
political Advisory council.
In his acceptance speech after the inauguration, the Ikono
Political leader Senator Aloysious Etok said, the history of
that event will, in clear and strong terms open a new phase
of our political participation with a drawn agenda of
defined unity, sustainable leadership, democratic and due
process in the selection of candidates for elections as well
as visionary representations. He promised to ensure that
the Ikono people are not shortchanged in the state and
nation’s politics. He appealed for the cooperation of all
Ikono sons and daughters. He promised to run an all-
encompassing administration.
Etefia Ikono in his goodwill message poured encomiums on
Senator Etok and members of his team. He promised to
always stand by them towards the growth of the local
Government Area at all times.
Chief UU Okoren harped on
peace and love amongst his subjects and called on the
people of Ikono at home and in the diaspora to recognize
SenatorAloysious Etok as the authentic Political leader of
the area.
The event received thumbs up from traditional rulers, all
political parties, women and youth groups, even as Ntisong
Ibibio the third, NtisongDr Essien Ekidem had kind words
for the event, Aloysious Etok and the people of Ibibio whom
he advised to guard what belongs to them jealously.
Source: The INK
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