2023: Itu Mbonuso people cry to PDP, MPN over suppression in Ikono/Ini

… call on Ita Ukpabio to contest for National Assembly Seat

Seeks micro zoning for justice, equity, fair play

The people of Itu Mbonuso Clan in ward 3, Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, on Saturday, cried out to the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu; Gov Udom Emmanuel, PDP Chairman, Hon. Aniekan Akpan, and the leadership of Maintain Peace Movement (MPM) in the state over what they described as political suppression and gross marginalisation of their people in the zoning of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency Seat between Ikono and Ini Local Government Areas, while seeking micro zoning in 2023 as it will be the turn of Ini people to produce the next federal lawmaker.

They lamented that never in the history of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency sharing formula have they been given a chance to present their people to represent the federal constituency despite the number of high profile Personalities in Itu Mbonuso Clan as such act is undermining the principles of zoning of political offices in the area which has also contributed to the high level of underdevelopment in the clan without having any political office holder from their place to hold accountable for the poverty situation of the place.

In an interview with some Journalists, the Clan Head of Itu Mbonuso, His Highness Joshua Ise while lamenting to Governor Udom Emmanuel, the MPM leadership, the widely endorsed and acceptable incoming Successor of Gov Udom Emmanuel, Past. Umoh Eno and other political stakeholders, disclosed that his people despite their contributions to the development of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency as the food basket of Akwa Ibom State have suffered an age long political neglect which if not properly addressed may render the Maintain Peace Movement advocacy of Akwa Ibom State Government an exercise in futility.

He said: “I call on Gov Udom Emmanuel who is a product of zoning, equity and justice to look into our situation so that we can have a political office holder in Itu Mbonuso clan that we can look-up to in regards to the abject poverty situation in my clan.

“My people are drinking water from a dirty pond, we do not have pipe born water in this clan and no power supply at all. There is an abject poverty level here in Itumbonuso, no good road network but in other places here in Ini LGA, it is not the same, my neighboring village here, Ikpe ward 2 is like London” he cried out.

Similarly, the village head of Nchana Ebua in Itumbonuso, Ini LGA,
Eteidung Jeremiah Akpan, lamented the poor situation of Itumbonuso.

Akpan said the solution to the problem of the community is to have a son of the soil in Government to represent Ikono/Ini federal constituency in order to drag development down to all nooks and crannies of Ikono/Ini.

He said that the likes of Ita Ukpabio, who is sympathetic to the plight of his Community, as he often time uses his had earned resources for the development of the area, would make a good political representative for the people if given a chance.

According to him:”I’m the village head of Nchana Ebua and the problem of Itumbonuso is that we don’t have people in government. Since the regime of Sen Godswill Obot Akpabio, we’ve not had a representative and that’s why development does come to us. Our few sons and daughters have done their best, like Ita Ukpabio.

Similarly, the immediate Past State Organizing Secretary III of the PDP and Vice Chairman of Ini LGA, Hon. Dickson Abasiekong, called on the people to ensure that the truth was not suppressed and that Ini people should ensure that Itumbonuso people get Justice in the sharing formula of the National Assembly Seat.

He cried out to the National Chairman of PDP, Sen Iyorchia Ayu, the Leader of the Party in Akwa Ibom State, Gov Udom Emmanuel, State Chairman of the Party Rt. Hon. Aniekan Akpan and that of the Maintain Peace Movement to give a directive to the zoning of political offices in Ikono/Ini.

His words, “the National Chairman of our party had earlier said that the party would adhere to the principles of zoning, fair play and equity in the sense that any area that had produced a political office holder should not forward another candidate for the party again.

“In the case of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, concerning the National Assembly seat coming to Ini Local Government Area, it is zone to “Ini Proper” and the right place to produce the House of Assembly Candidate should be Ini Proper with special preference to Itumbonuso ward 3 while the State House of Assembly should be zoned to Odoro Ikono.”

Furthermore, the Ini PDP former Youth Leader of the party, Mr. Lawrence Nse, popularly known as Ikemba affirmed that it’s high time the party recognized Itumbonuso ward 3 in Ini Proper because other wards like Ikpe ward 2 had produced the National Assembly Member for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in person of Prof. Ini Udoka for two terms of eight years and currently a serving commissioner in the person of Dr. Glory Edet who has served for 13 years in the State Executive Council now, including about 4 SSAs to the Governor, Permanent Secretaries, the Chapter Chairman of PDP in Ini LGA with other political office holders are all from Ikpe ward 2 in Ini proper.

“The Vice Chairman of Ini local government area is from ward 1 in Ini Proper political bloc, together with other political office holders. Then if you go to Iwere ward 5 in Ini proper zone, the current state house of Assembly Member and Chief Whip, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Bassey, is from there.

“The immediate Past Council Chairman of Ini LGA, Hon. Etetim Anwatim who served the council for about 6 years is also from there together with other political office holders.

“Nkari ward 4 in our zone here has many SSA’s to the Governor but here we do not have any political office holder, why is it so? When we are part of Akwa Ibom State, we call on the God of Justice to deliver Ita Ukpabio for us as he is our only hope for now in Ini Proper.”

Ita UKPABIO, LLB, a top-rated industrialist, investment tycoon, management consultant, savvy businessman and a philanthropist, is the CEO of Icon Bullion Limited, Executive Director of the biggest Gold Refinery in West Africa, Republic of Ghana, Sahara Royal Gold Refinery Limited and the Chairman/President of I. T. A Investment & Business Consulting Company Limited, Ghana.

He is a Law Graduate from the prestigious Ghana Institute for Management and Public Administration (GIMBA).

Born five decades ago in Akwa Ibom State to Mr & Mrs. Samuel Ukpabio Inyang, he is a native of Okobedi, Itu Mbonuso in Ini Local Government Area.

He had traversed the length and breath of the private sector, owning businesses both nationally and internationally with human capacity, wide knowledge of an organizational structure for economic revelational changes.

Ukpabio has also extended the footprints of his investment into oil, gas and mining businesses and he is currently dealing on mining of mineral resources such as precious metals, gold, diamond, etc.
These establishments alongside its subsidiaries has generated both direct and indirect employment for hundreds of people, Nigerians in particular.

He is generous to a fault and philanthropy runs in his vein, and has practically turned humanitarianism and philanthropism to simplicity with establishment of his charitable organization, Ita Ukpabio Foundation.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements and invaluable contributions to humanity and nation building, Ukpabio has received numerous awards: excellence award from Ghana Law students, United Nation Peace Ambassador award, National award by the national youth leader of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Award of excellence in recognition of his impactful contributions to his community in particular and Akwa Ibom State in general by Ini Local Government Area Community, Lagos, Academic excellence and support award by the University of Uyo (UNIUYO)Chapter of National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS), etc.

He is happily married to Queen Owoidoho from Ukpom in Ikono LGA and they are blessed with children.

Credit : Emmanuel Ufon

Move Media Team