By
Joseph Atainyang
A
social critic from Akwa Ibom State, Mr Etifit Nkereuwem has said the state is
enduring in tripodal injustice and unfairness for its 30 years of existence.
Etifit
Nkereuwem in his goodwill message to celebrate with the people of the State as
they marked the 30th year since creation, articulated his stance that the
geographical enclave was created based on ethnic understanding of the three
major ethnic groups of Ibibio, Annang and Oro.
Comrade
Nkereuwem recalled that to recognize the tripod and to achieve cohesion,
justice and peaceful coexistence, the Royal fathers cum political leaders of
the State had agreed that the sharing and distribution of important positions:
Governor, deputy Governor, Speaker and the ruling party's Chairmanship post be
done in a way that it cuts across the three.
He
observed that the principle had been upheld since inception until 2007 when the
Godswill Akpabio led government jettisoned it in favour of senatorial principle
which he said was deliberately adopted to exclude the Oro people, (the third
largest ethnic group) from the affairs of the State.
Drawing
inspiration from Peter Torsh's 'Everyone is crying for Peace' in which the
music legend noted that "everyone was crying for justice and equal
right" as such was a good template for "peace in any given
society", Etifit Nkereuwem raised five questions for the democratic leaders
of the State.
Accordingly,
Nkereuwem sought to know whether it was fair that Oro has been denied the
opportunity to govern the State; whether it was a crime to be a minority; and
whether the zoning of the 2015 governorship position to Eket Senatorial
District was a deliberate attempt by the majority to subvert the minority.
He
also enquired whether the neglect, deprivation and marginalization of Oro from
the 'strong room of power in the State' was a "reward for her
contributions to the country's foreign earning and benefits accrueable to the
State from oil derivation"; and whether the senatorial formular of sharing
political positions guaranteed the best interest for all.
Using
the forum to wish the State and its people well, Mr. Nkereuwem who expressed
strong believe that Oro shall rise again, called on well meaning citizens of
the State to support the Oro race to rise to its feet.
He
said, "We have noted with displeasure and dismay that, of the three major
ethnic nationalities in the State, only Oro has not been given the opportunity
to preside over the State in her 30 years of existence. This is totally
unacceptable and unfair.
"We
therefore call on all well meaning Akwa Ibomites to support this just and fair
demand cum agitation of Oro people for the benefit of humanity."
Meanwhile,
Chief Enefiok Ekefre, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the
State had called on political gladiators of the State to consider shifting
power to the Oro people.
Ekefre
who made the position in an interview recently, pointed out that it was unfair
for a people who contribute at least 70 percent of the State wealth to be
excluded from active involvement in the management of its funds.
Stressing
that Oro has the best brains and dependable human intellectual capital capable
of running the office of a Governor, Chief Ekerfre had maintained that if not
for any reason, an Oro man must be allowed to steer the ship of the State for
comparative reason.
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