As the next political season draws close to elections, Ikono Local Government Area is becoming more tensed as political appointees seem to draw closer to their subjects with meagre offer to attract their support again.
While others claim that PDP will remain relevant and stronger in the upcoming local government election, others believe that the Broom Party will sweep them beyond repairs since existing political office holders in the area find it extremely difficult to effect necessitated change in the life of the people.
For instance, Hon Iboro Ekanem, member representing ikono/Ini in the National Assembly is undoubtedly political deaf and dumb.
His abysmal performance in the Green Chamber has politically scored PDP CAPITAL ZERO in Ikono / Ini Federal constituency, a second term for the underdog will spell doom for PDP.
Also, the blunt refusal of Hon Iboro Ekanem, Barr Godwill Umoh and Victor Udofia not to acknowledge the people oriented leadership existence in Ikono has set a stage for political royal rumble.
Recently, the romance of Hon Iboro Ekanem with member representing Ikono in the state house of Assembly, Hon. Victor Udofia has totally collapse following Udofia's ambition to contest for House of Representative come 2019.
The State legal adviser of PDP, Barr. Goddy Umoh who was one time removed in the middle of election as Ikono campaign chairman to then Governor Godswill Akpabio second term bid is not helping matters either. He is parading himself as emperor of Ikono politics and sometimes see himself as the street governor of Ikono politics.
It's on record that anyone who dares to challenge or oppose his submissions is politically doomed in the area.
As a stakeholder of Ikono politics and founding member of PDP, I expressed dismay on how and why Godswill Umoh (my brother) squandered over 2million naira from inter ministerial jobs allocated to Ikono by H. E Udom Emmanuel.
It's also on record that those who stood up to ask questions on purported embezzlement of public funds were blackmailed before the governor.
It is also on good authority that the recently organized empowerment program by the Senate Minority leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio that saw the disbursement of vehicles and other valuable items, the legal adviser in collaboration with the PDP Chapter Chairman, Barr Moses Akpan and the transition Committee Chairman, Mr. Itoro Columba connived and diverted three cars to themselves using different fonts.
When the people of Umoh's ward (Itak ward 11) discovered the fraudulent act, they staged a protest. Given the level of embarrassment, he immediately withdrew the vehicles, sewing machines and other items which he fronted people to collect. He has also instructed the transition chairman to take instructions from him.
However, the Transition Chairman is having a showdown with members of his transition committee for allegedly sales of Ikono local government properties in excess of more than ten million naira. These properties include; caterpillar, generators and vehicles.
He has also been accused of not rendering account of Internally Generated Revenue in the council and not holding FGPC meeting with members of the committee.
The head on fight between the Chapter Chairman of PDP, Chief Moses Akpan and his aide, Mr. Odudu Sunday Akpan only mellowed down when Odudu trickishly collected the car from Barr. Akpan who fronted him to collect the car on his behalf during Sen. Godswill Akpabio's recent empowerment.
Chief Akpan is running a PDP palace in his house where parties are organized daily courtesy of taxes (politically) from his palace. The most recent is the slicing of money meant for the ward chairmen for the just concluded ward congresses from 20000 to 10000. He is believed to be very greedy as that is the general opinion of Ikono people.
I am aware that out of four Special Assistants to governor Udom Emmanuel, three of them are from ward 2. They were not appointed for their contribution to PDP or support to governor Emmanuel but rather on the basis of in-laws and relationships.
Candidly, this appointment has really irked the hardcore politicians who have toiled hard and work to sustain the PDP in Ikono LGA. It's is known fact that as a result of insensitivity of Ikono elected and appointees political office holders, long standing members of PDP are now in APC.
For example: Senator Aloysius Etok, former AKHA, HOR member and immediate past senator representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. Rt. Hon. Ikwo Nyong Inyang, former SA to the speaker House of Representative and a two term House of Representative member. Dr. Clement Bassey, former chairman of Ikono, two term house of Assembly member and a former commissioner. Dr. Emmanuel Akpanobong, former House of Assembly member. Cosmos Ibanga, Dr. Ebebe Ukpong, former chairman of council, former member of national board and former commissioner respectively. This is the kind of opposition that PDP in Ikono is up against. They are a host of others but I decided to mention only few.
In PDP, the likes of Engr Edet Umotong, feels not appreciated as he is accused of being APC member courtesy of blackmail by Barr Godswill Umoh. Obong Emmanuel Ukpong Udo aka Macaire doesn't understand his offence for financing and standing firmly with the party.
If the threat on Ikono people is real, definitely his exit from politics to professional calling is a matter of time.
Hon Kelly Okon is believed to be the political strategist within and beyond Ikono who runs a "PDP bar" which used to be a convoke of PDP across the state. The bar now is a shadow of itself laying credent to the fact that the rumour about his days in PDP might be well numbered.
It is on record that he is related to Ikwo Minimah of APC, Engr Samuel Ekpenyong, Hon Luke Eshiet, Engr Idongesit Umoren, Dr. Usen Akpan, Idongesit Jimmy, Friday Akpan, Barr. Nsima Akang have been left out.
Mike Eneh, a staunch PDP member from ward one also feels neglected.
Kenny Inyang Ekah, Taliban leader of Ikono feels oxtrasized by Barr Umoh. Inem Inyangette, foremost youth leader in Ikono is aggrieved of what is becoming of PDP in Ikono, blaming the ungodly situation on methods of appointments.
It is established that if Rt Hon Victor Udofia doesn't make the primaries over his ambition to the National Assembly, he will likely collapse his structure and join anyone who will pick governorship ticket in APC.
It is high time the umbrella party looked critically into the politics of Ikono LGA with a view of resolving timeless neglect, hatred, jealousy and self imposed.
No comments:
Post a Comment