Akpabio in big trouble as Ibibio elders warn him, kick against zoning

Akpabio

 Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, the apex Ibibio cultural organisation in Akwa Ibom State, has rejected the ongoing pro-zoning campaign with regard to 2015 gubernatorial election in the state. The group made of elders of Ibibio ethnic nationality, SHOWBIZPLUS gathered, also advised Governor Godswill Akpabio to honour his promise in 2011 to hand over power to Ibibio in 2015.

Addressing the press on Thursday, the Akwa Esop led by their Patriarch, Obong Essien Udo Ekidem, the Ntisong III, said they had observed with great concern the partisan interest expressed by various groups and organisations in the state concerning the 2015 governorship race, especially, as regards zoning of the governorship office to a particular senatorial district.
While stressing that governorship elections in the state had never been subjected to any zoning arrangement, the organisation stressed that in 1999 many governorship aspirants emerged from the three senatorial districts of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket, even though Obong Victor Attah eventually emerged as consensus candidate.
“In 2007, 58 governorship aspirants from the three senatorial districts contested the PDP primaries of which the incumbent governor, his Excellency, Chief Godswill Akpabio emerged as the party candidate. In 2011 again, six governorship aspirants from the three senatorial districts contested the PDP primaries.
“It could be seen from the antecedents that there has never been a time that a governorship race is restricted to any particular senatorial district in Akwa Ibom State. In the same vain, ethnic consideration has never been a yardstick for selecting a governorship candidate.
“In the light of the ongoing, we in Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio and indeed wish to state categorically that zoning should not be brought into the governorship race for 2015. PDP governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom State has always been open to all aspirants in the three senatorial districts, therefore, 2015 cannot be an exception. In this circumstance, any governorship aspirant from any senatorial district from any political party is duly qualified to contest the 2015 governorship election,” the group said.
They said the ongoing town hall meetings should not be used as a political platform to whip up ethnic sentiments or disaffection among the peace loving people of the state or heat up the polity, warning that democracy should be allowed to take its due course rather than imposing a candidate against the will of the people.

 The Sun