¶By Prince Bassey, UYO
Worried by the recent mudslinging against Mrs Elsie Esara, the Transition Committee Chairman of Itu Local Government Council, Traders in the local government area under the aegis of Itam Market All Traders Association have unanimously passed an overwhelming vote of confidence on the Transition Chairman and also declared their total support for Governor Udom Emmanuel’s reelection come 2019.
Briefing Traders on Tuesday, the Market BoT Chairman, Elder Godwin Edem, said Mrs Esara has recorded massive strides in her 10-month tenure as Transition Chairman.
Enumerating on the achievements of the Transition Chairman in respect to the market, Elder Edem said it was worrisome that allegations of financial misappropriation could be leveled against a super performing Chairman in the mold of Mrs Elsie Esara.
"We have been trading in this market for over 20 years and all the traders will agree with me that no other Chairman of Itu Local Government Council has put so much interest in Itam Market as the current Transition Chairman.
"The allegations against her holds no water, we are excited with the developmental strides so far recorded by her.
We urge all those propounding allegations and petitioning the House of Assembly against Esara to desist from this character assassination.
"We plead with Governor Udom Emmanuel to allow Mrs Elsie Esara to continue with the good works she has been doing in this local government. We want to appreciate the Governor for appointing our amiable son, Mr Akan Okon as Commissioner for Housing and Special Duties.
In 2019, the over 10,000 traders in this market will overwhelming vote Governor Udom Emmanuel to succeed himself", he added.
Speaking further, Elder Godwin Edem appealed to the State House of Assembly to pardon the Transition Chairman for refusing to honour their invitations and subsequently instituting a legal action against the Assembly.
"We know she has erred in taking the House of Assembly to court. We know that the Leadership of the House ably led by Rt Hon (Barr) Onofiok Luke will forgive her. We want the House to conduct their own investigations because we know Esara did not embezzle any money", he said in an emotion laden voice.
He highlighted the projects initiated by the Transition Committee Chairman in the market to include a Health Centre, Police Post, Fire Service as well as instituting a ticket free day for the Traders in the popular market.
Also speaking, the President, Women in Agriculture Initiative, Amb (Mrs) Sophia Christopher Akpan applauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for appointing Mrs Elsie Esara as the Transition Committee Chairman and specifically harped on the empowerment of 180 women in Itu Local Government Area by the Council boss to venture into large scale farming which according to her is in tandem with the Governor's agricultural policy.
She equally commended the wife of the Governor, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel for touching the lives of the women, youth and children of Akwa Ibom State through the Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Programme (FEYReP).
"Elsie is a good woman. It is worrisome that the men are aggrieved with her good works. I don't know if they're jealous because it is a woman that is the Transition Chairman", she jokingly said.
Adding his voice, a former Ward Chairman in the area, Elder Udeme Ukana averred thus: "We have seen the different administrations come and go.
Mark Joe came and deceived traders in this market for six years. It is only the blind that cannot see what Mrs Esara is doing in this market. She has taken away shame from our faces".
He further urged the people to embrace peace, unity and togetherness as nothing tangible or positive can be achieved through strive and disunity, adding that stakeholders in the area are working hard to bring peace and unity to Itu Local Government Area.
The President, Igbo Community in Akwa Ibom who also doubles as the Chairman, Igbo Traders in Itam Market, Elder Emmanuel Chukwu said the Igbo Community in the market can attest to Mrs Esara's impeccable character after seeing the neglect the market has suffered from previous administrations of the Council.
Those who also spoke included Mr Christopher Clement Akpan, Chairman, Christian Region Committee, Mr Emmanuel Justin Ekong, Chairman, Sanitation Committee among others.
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