MKPAT ENIN ASSEMBLY RACE: IS ZONING SACROSANCT?

MKPAT ENIN ASSEMBLY RACE: IS ZONING SACROSANCT?

Circumstance that gave birth to the tenure elongation of the incumbent State Assemblyman, Barrister Ekong Sampson, has ignited a war of words between two Clans insisting for and against the retention of the age-long principle of rotation in the area. Ibom Telegrap x-rays issues surrounding the 2015 race.

The Mkpat Enin State House of Assembly seat, by 2015, like every other one, will be up for grabs. The incumbent lawmaker representing the area, Barrister Ekong Sampson, is now seeking the Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency seat at the House of Representatives at the expiration of his second term in the State Assembly. Before his second term ambition, the area was rated as the only place where rotation of political offices works.

All that may be history as the arrangement that returned him to office for a second term has made a section of the area, Ibiaku Clan vow not to allow rotation work in the area again. Apparently emboldened by the clamour for zoning by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) as well as the State Governor, they maintained it is their turn. “By the principle of rotation known in Mkpat Enin, it is our turn to represent the area. The people of Ikpa Ibom sold out their turn, in 2011, to Ikpa Ikono. So, they should wait for the turn of Ikpa Ikono for an exchange,” they argued.

But the Ikpa Ibom people would have none of that. They argue that the Ibiaku people must respect the age-long principle of rotation of political offices in the interest of peace, harmony and unity of the area. Chief Richard Umoren, one of the political heavy weights of the area and Chairman of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency Forum sums up the raging controversy this way: “Those clamouring for the seat are making zoning an issue. Zoning is not an issue at all. I believe in equity and fair play. I do not have any interest in the race.”

The ‘Lust Seat’ And Its Seekers

With the seat about to be vacated in 2015, 13 heavyweight and lightweight aspirants have already indicated interest to claim the seat. They are the incumbent Local Government Council Chairman, Mr. Ephraim Akpan; a former Chairman of the Council, Mr. Mfon Nkanteen; the State Programme Manager for Society for Family Health, Mr. Emmanul Udoh; a Board Member, Engr. Otobong Ndem; a Special Assistant to Governor Godswill Akpabio on Project Monitoring, Mr. Joseph Akpan; a serving Councillor, Mr. Emem Alex; an Aide to the State Deputy Governor, Mr. Richard Udom; Mr. Hilary Oton; Mr. Iniobong Akpan (Olokpo); Mr. Monday Ebong; Prince Idongesit Bassey; Raphael Essien and his brother, Nse Essien.

Interestingly, all the aspirants are from the two clans of Ibiaku and Ikpa Ibom, making the contest a straight one. Among those alleged to be aspiring, only a handful were bold enough to speak with Ibom Telegraph Politics about their aspiration as others tactically avoided saying a word as to the reason for their aspiration.

The Political History Of The Area

Mkpat Enin Local Government Area is a 4-Clan local government, one of the highest in the state. It is sub-divided into Ibiaku (three Wards); Ukpum Minya (four Wards); Ikpa Ikono (three Wards), and Ikpa Ibom (four Wards). Over the years, political positions, particularly the State Executive Council seat, Local Government Council seat and the House of Assembly seat, have been shared among the four Clans in a clockwise order.

For the House of Assembly seat where our emphasis is, between 1999 and 2003, Dr Nseobong Nkanta (Ibiaku) held the Assembly seat, while Dr. Dominic Udoh (Ukpum Minya), was at the State Exco as Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engr. Frank Okon (Ukpum Minya), was Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical Matters, and Akparawa Udo Sam Umoatan (Ukpum Minya), was the Chairman of the Local Government Council. Obong Udobong Ekpo (Ukpum Minya) succeeded Dr. Nkanta and kept that seat from 2003 to 2007. Within that period, Ikpa Ibom had the late Elder Joe Udobia in the State Exco as Special Adviser in the Bureau of Political and Legislative Affairs. Ukpum Minya had the late Sir Maurice Ebe as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Council, and Ikpa Ikono had Barrister Ekong Sampson as the Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Council.

Between 2007 and 2011, Barrister Sampson (Ikpa Ikono), fresh from the Council, got the House of Assembly seat. The present Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe (Ukpum Minya), became a member of the State Exco as Commissioner in the Ministries of Environment and Mineral Resources and later, Culture and Tourism. Barrister Jerry Akpan (Ikpa Ibom), held the office of Special Adviser in the Bureau of Political and Legislative Affairs. The period of 2011 till date, has Lady Valerie Ebe (Ukpum Minya) as Deputy Governor, Barrister Sampson (Ikpa Ikono), still in the House of Assembly. Barrister Jerry Akpan (Ikpa Ibom) was Commissioner for Economic Development for one year and was later substituted with Mr. Martyns Udoinyang (Ukpum Minya) as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. And yet another Ukpum Minya son, a Commissioner in the State Judiciary Service Commission Board, Mr. Ubong Ekefre, was the immediate past Transition Committee Chairman of the Council while Mr. Ephraim Akpan (Ibiaku) is the present Chairman of the Council.

The Rotation/Zoning Argument

Rotation of political office, what some people call zoning, has been in practice in Mkpat Enin since the advent of democracy in 1999. The Chairmanship and State House of Assembly seat rotates between two political blocs of Ibiakono and UkpumIkpa. Whether or not the rotation arrangement is still in existence in the area depends solely on the people.

For one of the foremost stakeholder of the area, Chief Richard Umoren, who is also the Chairman of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency Forum, he says “In as much as I do not want to talk about this, I strongly believe in fair play and equity. I have no interest in the House of Assembly race. Those clamouring for it are making zoning an issue. It is not an issue at all. It stands as it were. I am saying this with all amount of authority.”

Surprisingly, the former Special Adviser to Governor Godswill Akpabio on Political and Legislative Affairs, Barrister Jerry Akpan, the man on whose face the accusing fingers are pointing at for the role allegedly played in the 2011 elections, hinged his stand on the issue by saying “I am a Field Marshal in the area. I do not want to make any comment on this. Anybody who feels he or she is fit is free to aspire and contest. It is free.”

For other stakeholders, their position on zoning or rotation of political offices was sacrosanct. All those who spoke, though with varying views on the issue, confirmed that the arrangement exists in the area.

In the views of Otuekong Bernard Udoh, a former ranking member of the House of Representatives, who represented Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, “Zoning must prevail in Mkpat Enin. In Essien Udim, Nse Ntuen was returned to the Council as Chairman. The same thing was done in Etinan with Isantim Kenneth Okon (WAYAS), and in Mbo with Victor Antai. Maybe it was done because of their loyalty to the system. The same thing happened in Mkpat Enin in the case of Ekong Sampson for a second term in the State House of Assembly.” To justify his argument, he further says “So,Ekong Sampson’s second term in the House of Assembly has nothing to do with the existing zoning arrangement of the area. It was just a reward for his loyalty.”

For Obong Udobong Ekpo, a former Member of the State House of Assembly, “The issue of zoning is not constitutional. It is an arrangement that was done in the area to encourage fair play and equity. But that arrangement was thwarted by the incumbent Assemblyman when he sought a second term which the Governor pleaded with the people of the area on his behalf. That was the turn of Ikpa Ibom. They sold it to him. So, you cannot eat your cake and have it. It is now the turn of Ibiaku people.”

The former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Martyns Udoinyang, says “I stand where the people of Mkpat Enin stand. I want everybody to be fairly represented. The concept of robbing Peter to pay Paul should not be played in Mkpat Enin. Justice, equity and fair play should prevail.”

For Ubong Ekefre, who painstakingly explained the political sharing formula using a chart, the issue is based on commonsense. According to him, “I believe in fairness and equity. The argument regarding the State House of Assembly seat for Mkpat Enin is very clear. It belongs to Ikpa Ibom and there are no two ways about that. An Ikpa Ibom man will win.”

Utitofon Jeremiah, who was a favourite for the Chairman ticket of PDP before Ephraim Akpan got it, told the Ibom Telegraph: “Today, two clans are laying claims to the Assembly seat and I tell you, as an Ibiaku son, I will not be fair to my people if at this point in time I am jumping to tell people that it is the turn of Ikpa Ibom because I will go back home. And so I am saying an Ibiaku son or daughter should be in the State House of Assembly in 2015.”

Jeremiah’s feeling for the plight of his people, according to him, was so strong that he had to explain further by saying “The second term bid of the present Assemblyman is a sacrilege, especially when you have someone who said ‘going for a second term was like one repeating a class and that it is only dull students that repeat classes.’ We tried our best but somehow Barrister Ekong Sampson stole the mandate of the Ikpa Ibom people because 2011 was for them. 2015 is naturally for Ibiaku. We have waited patiently for our turn and we cannot jeopardize it. After Nsebong Nkanta’s tenure, there has never been any attempt by the Ibiaku people to contest for the seat until now. We are peace loving and law abiding people. So, it is our turn. Part of what is happening today in Mkpat Enin was backed up by some stakeholders in Ikpa Ibom. They gave Ekong Sampson the backing to contest. Like my big brother, Barrister Jerry Akpan, he completely backed Ekong Sampson and he also, somehow, deceived the power that be in the state to support him. Election was never conducted in Mkpat Enin, they just named Ekong Sampson as the Assemblyman and those that were supposed to speak for the Ikpa Ibom people refused to do so and that is the mess we are facing today.”

For Godswill Udofe, a serving Councillor in the Local Government Council, it is his boss, Ephraim Akpan or no other person. According to him “Because my boss, Mr. Ephraim Akpan, is in the race I will want it to be given to the Ibiaku people and particularly to him. My advice to the people of Mkpat Enin is that they should join hands and build a small clan like Ibiaku. The Ikpa Ibom people have had the best of the area. An Ikpa Ibom son represented the area in the Federal House of Representatives for 12 years, another was Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Legislative Affairs and also a Commissioner was from there.”

And yet for Imoh Coxton, a strong foot soldier of the area, the crisis has nothing to do with Sampson or Jerry Akpan. He says “I was a Personal Assistant to the then Special Adviser to Governor Godswill Akpabio on Political and Legislative Affairs and there had never been a time my boss and Ekong Sampson had any arrangement for a second term in office. For the 2015 Assembly seat, the Ikpa Ibom people, just like any other clan, have the right to aspire but everybody knows it is not their turn.”

Coxton went further to say “By right, it is supposed to be the turn of Ikpa Ibom but that zoning arrangement has been cancelled because Ikpa Ikono was not supposed to run for two tenures. Why that happened was because, according to the Ikpa Ibom people, they had no credible candidate in 2011 and they asked Ekong Sampson, from Ikpa Ikono, to run their turn for them. So, by virtue of that it should go to Ibiaku. Well, there is nothing that is not negotiable in life, but it is absolutely the turn of Ibiaku.”

The Argument, According To Aspirants

Some of the aspirants who dared to speak have their own view of the argument. For the LG Council boss, Mr. Ephraim Akpan, a leading contender, no comment was made. These were his words “I don’t have anything to say but as for the House of Assembly seat, I have the best of chance.”

For Mfon Nkanteen “There must be zoning for peace to reign and for everybody to have a sense of belonging. There must be that brotherly understanding. Mkpat Enin is made up of 87 villages and out of this Ikpa Ibom has 31 villages, the largest in Africa. Ukpum Minya, the second largest, has 24 villages, while the other two small clans have 16 villages each. The Ibiaku people have had theirs, the Ukpum Minya people have had theirs, and the Ikpa Ikono people are enjoying theirs. So, where is Ikpa Ibom, with 31 villages? There is an existing formula on ground which is why we have something like Ibiakono and UkpumIkpa.”

He went further to say that “It is on this basis that we share the State House of Assembly seat and the Chairmanship but as we speak, the two is in Ibiakono. What happened? You see, when things happen, people capitalize on that. One of our illustrious sons was assassinated and every one of us, who aspired, were incarcerated in prison and there was need for the Governor to have at least 10 of former House Members in the House for his own reason and because he did not have the number he needed he saw an opening in Mkpat Enin. He asked Ekong Sampson to repeat with the understanding that the position will come back to Ikpa Ibom and now the Ibiaku people are saying it is their own turn. So, what happens to Ikpa Ibom? In fact, the point that Ikpa Ibom has not been to the State House of Assembly should tell every reasonable man that is looking for peace, justice and equity that they deserve it. Whatever happened that returned the incumbent Assemblyman to the House of Assembly has nothing to do with the zoning arrangement of the area. Whoever is saying the Assembly seat in 2015 belongs to Ibiaku is a selfish person.”

Emmanuel Udoh also talked with strong conviction. He says “Absolutely, I am the most favoured in terms of zoning because it is the turn of Ikpa Ibom Clan, the biggest in terms of numerical strength. So, I want Mkpat Enin people to vote for change, honesty and competence.”

Richard Udom also says “Zoning in Mkpat Enin is non-negotiable. It has become a way of life. I wouldn’t be aspiring but for the zoning arrangement and so I stand the best chance. The House of Assembly seat is not just zoned to my Ibiaku Clan; it is zoned to my Ward and to my village. I have garnered so much political exposure and I have been well taught. This is why my people want me there.”

The Party Line

For the race to grasp the Mkpat Enin seat at the State House of Assembly, the aspirants, apart from getting the approval of the people, must successfully sail through the PDP nomination. For the Mkpat Enin PDP Chapter, the Chairman, Hon. Nkereuwem Akai, says “I don’t know what they are saying. Nobody has consulted the party for now. The party, stakeholders and the entire people of Mkpat Enin will decide that when the time comes. And until we do that, there will be no zoning in Mkpat Enin. It will only remain an issue.”

But for Utitofon Jeremiah, “I am a member of the PDP and I know the nomination and subsequent elections will be free and fair. My advice to the people of Mkpat Enin is that they should support Ibiaku in 2015. Ibiaku is the most peaceful clan in the area and I am asking the people of Mkpat Enin to encourage us to be peaceful and reward our long standing loyalty.”

The Preferred Aspirant

Apart from Godswill Udofe, who clearly declared his stand by saying, “Yes, I have a favourite among the aspirants and that is my boss, Mr. Ephraim Akpan. That is my stand and it is total,” every other stakeholder and foot soldiers, who spoke with Ibom Telegraph Politics, avoided taking a concrete stand on their choice of aspirants among those aspiring.

This is how some of the stakeholders and foot soldiers expressed their views. For Otuekong Bernard Udoh, “I don’t have a choice person for the Mkpat Enin House of Assembly seat but will only support whoever the people of Mkpat Enin want.”

The former Assemblyman, Obong Udobong Ekpo, also followed suit: “I don’t have any preferred aspirant but I think the contest is between the LG Chairman, Ephraim Akpan, and the people of Ikpa Ibom. I have only been consulted by Joe Akpan and Emmanuel Udoh for now.”

Martyns Udoinyang: “I do not have any aspirant on my shoulder or any that I prefer the most. In fact, as far as I am concern nobody is aspiring for the House of Assembly seat because none has told me. So, when the time comes, we will put them on the scale and see what we can do or say.” Also toeing the same line, the immediate past Transition Committee Chairman of the Mkpat Enin Local Government Council, Ubong Ekefre, whose personal permutation, it was alleged, brought the incumbent Council Chairman to office, says “I don’t have any favourite but whoever emerges shall be the people’s choice. That is my choice.”

Imoh Coxton was more political on the matter. According to him “Apart from the sitting Council Chairman, Mr. Ephraim Akpan, I do not know of any other aspirant. I have not been told by any of them except the Council Chairman and one Mr. Emmanuel Udoh, but as a side talk. I do not have any favourite for now but I will openly support anyone from Ibiaku that will be fit to represent us. But then, let me not rule away the fact that whoever the party and government will pick to represent us, I will support such a person equally.”

Utitofon Jeremiah also shared the sentiment of his Ibiaku people thus: “I don’t have any candidate I am supporting for now. My stand is that anybody from Ibiaku, man or woman, has the right to contest. I have not been consulted officially by any aspirant, though so many have told me about their aspiration.”

The Contenders

Mr. Ephraim Akpan

In fairness to him, Akpan has paid his prize as a hustling young man who has risen through the ranks, first as Supervisor, to become the number citizen of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area. “I am the man to beat. They are just afraid because they don’t have anything to show,” he says of his opponents.

Mr. Mfon Nkanteen

He is an Accountant and a businessman turned-politician. He is the immediate past Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Council. “I came into politics fully in early 2000 and I am in politics to serve. I was a polling agent for the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Ever since I came into politics, it has become part of me. I was given the opportunity to serve my people in 2008 as a Chairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Council and I did the best I could. My seeking to represent the people of Mkpat Enin at the State House of Assembly in 2015 is because of the will of my people. They want me there because they saw what I did with the little opportunity I was given.”

When asked why he was vying for the Assembly seat, he says “I like serving my people. I want to develop my area. As an Assemblyman, I will empower the people in both human and infrastructural empowerment. When I get to the House of Assembly, I will like to give legislative backing to an environmental bill.”

On the rumour that he was in the race at the instance of a godfather, Nkanteen says “I am not on anybody’s shoulder and I don’t have any godfather. It is the people that want me there and I am going there to represent them. But then, you cannot rule out the issue of political fathers. They must always be there. They are the king makers. So, one must have them. But what I have done in Mkpat Enin will speak for me and it has been speaking for me. So, it’s all about one’s pedigree.”

Mr. Emmanuel Daniel Udoh

Udoh, a geology graduate of the University of Calabar, is the Akwa Ibom State Programme Manager of Society for Family Health (SFH). He says “There are a lot of variables that motivate me to seek to serve Mkpat Enin people at the State House of Assembly. I want to bring my experience to bear. There are basic things in the area that I feel need legislative approach. Over 45 per cent of the area is submerged in water and yet it is grouped as an on-land area. The geology of that environment is offshore yet, in the comity of Local Government, the area is not gazette as a riverine area. This is what I intend to correct. I am hungry to serve my people and I want them to support me to do that. I want to stop infant-child mortality which is high in the area. I have a private bill in the present House of Assembly, the Anti-Stigma Bill, and if peradventure it does not sail through, it will be my cardinal agenda in the House because of its benefits to the people of the state.”

When asked about his popularity at the grassroots and how he intends to affect the people, Udoh says “As a critical thinker, it is difficult to know. But I have a better chance to win because the people want me. They know I am the most competent and the only aspirant that does not have a godfather. Effective representation; I will be their mouthpiece and my role at the House of Assembly shall be to take to Mkpat Enin what belongs to them. I am going to be their eye in the government budget as it concerns Mkpat Enin.”

Mr. Joseph Akpan 

Akpan came into limelight when he became the Chairman of the Mkpat Enin Youth Caucus. Today, he is a Personal Assistant to Governor Godswill Akpabio on Project Monitoring. Many people of the area are of the opinion that he is only aspiring as a means of getting any other political appointment in 2015. The Ibom Telegraph Politics could not ascertain this allegation as every effort to hear from him was fruitless after several appointments.

Engr. Otobong Ndem

Much could not be gathered about him, but speculations have that he might likely be the man to beat. In a telephone chat with him, he says “I don’t want to make any comment now until I am done with consultations. Probably, when I declare officially, I will go to the media to make myself known.”

Mr. Richard Patrick Udom

Udom, who is the Auditor of Mkpat Enin Chapter of Akwa Ibom Consolidated Alliance (ACA) and also the Chapter Leader of Continuity Advancement Group (CAG), is an Aide in the Deputy Governor’s Office. In trying to sell himself to the people of Mkpat Enin, he says “I am a level headed man who does not depend on narcotic drugs to be able to reason and more importantly, I belong to the new breed of political equations in the state with no trace of obnoxious godfather head. I am a man of the grassroots. I have the capacity and political will to get the House of Assembly seat without any good second. I want to represent my people up there because I have seen a few lapses in some of the communities that I have been to and I know it is difficult for government to completely touch everybody. So, I want to fill that gap.”

He went further to say “My greatest regret is my inability to be completely involved in the Chief Godswill Akpabio-led administration, having contested and won the PDP Councillorship nomination in 2008 and 2012 where my mandate was taken away due to an unpopular party decision. As a party man, I respected the wishes of the party even when the people asked me to dish the party and get their guaranteed support.”

When asked what his people will gain from his representation if given the opportunity, Udom says “I have a rich blueprint Mkpat Enin people. I have started a Rural Water Project in Ibiaku where I come from. I have also complimented the project with the distribution of school sandals to Primary School pupils in my community.”

The Verdict

For this race, everything depends on the party structure and the people’s decision. Observers say the race is inextricably linked to the House of Representatives’ race.

This is so as aspirants for the State House of Assembly are seen crisscrossing the camps of the three aspirants for the Federal Constituency seat at the National Assembly. They tend to have pitched tent with the incumbent National Assemblyman, Dr. Akpan Micah Umoh, who is looking for a second term; the incumbent State Assemblyman, Barrister Ekong Sampson, and the Chairman of Eastern Obolo Local Government Council, Mr. Francis Charles Uduyok, who are vying for the House of Representatives’ seat in 2015.

For now, none of the aspirants have consulted widely and they are very careful not to openly state their alignment and intention in the contest. Until then, it is difficult to give a clear verdict and it remains a race of luck. Much may also depend on how deep their pocket will be at the PDP primaries.