By Marshal Abia
Mbo Local Government Area has been one of the most peaceful Local
Government Areas in Oro nation and by extension Akwa Ibom State if not
Nigeria.
In terms of political awareness, the people of the area
are so conscious and active. Educationally, Mbo has no good second.
Research reveals. Talk about our occupation, we are predominantly
fishermen with dignity.
The generality of it is that Mbo is oil rich and
the people are capable to cater for their immediate needs without even
aligning with politics and the intrigues therein.
This simple
introduction goes a long way to portray the good people of Mbo as being
unarguably independent in whatever standard.
"All men are
political animals, hence whoever that is not politically oriented is a
beast". Therefore, the people of Mbo are not "beast" because they are
active participants in the game of local and national politics.
Mbo before now rotates political offices amongst the five communities;
Ebughu, Efiat, Enwang, Uda and Udesi. It all started when Hon. Mfon
Asuquo from Enwang took the first slot in the House of Assembly,
followed by Rt. Hon Nse Ekpenyong
from Ebughu. These honourable men were in the House for just one term
respectively.
But when it was the turn of Uda to have their fair share
of the sharing formula, Hon. Alice Ekpenyong and her collaborators
decided to jettison the long standing and ever cherished single term
arrangement which would have afforded all the communities opportunity to
represent Mbo by now.
The power of a woman should never be
underestimated. They claimed it was the turned of Oro nation to be
Speaker having been cajoled by the then Governor Akpabio that only a
second timer would be favoured.
Some stakeholders if not all couldn't
asked some basic questions before they were being deceived in a hurry
probably because of parochial interest of the unforseen.
The ugly
development ushered in Hon. Alice Ekpenyong into the 5th Assembly for
the second time and she became first in the history of Mbo. There and
then, the principle of rotation fell apart and the grace of power
sharing departed.
Holistically, or should I say surprisingly? she went
to House of Assembly only to be made "Chief Whip" and not the publicised
Speaker of a failed promised the innocent Mbo people were told. I am a
happy man, I didn't support her, my Ebughu Ward 1, Okobo Ebughu unit 001
largely supported Princess Ann Eyo though our stakeholders played the
normal hijacking to have their way.
Now, Udesi has taken their turn in the person of Hon. Samuel Ufuo
who's performance is far more superlative and outstanding than that of
Alice Ekpenyong who was given a second chance.
How do we reconcile this
by persuading Udesi not to go for second term? Will they accept a single
term? What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
Enwang
and Ebughu had only single term respectively. Uda started the
ill-conceived second term interest and now Udesi is in the House.... the
chips are down.
Stakeholders who made it possible for Alice's
reelection are still alive. I am advocating they summoned an enlarged
meeting of Mbo Stakeholders to seek a redress as 2019 election is still
in the offing.
Should we go back to single term? Or should we continue
with the two terms as already started by Uda? Should our stakeholders
refuse to heed to this clarion advocacy, I dare say Mbo will be in
serious political quagmire.
Whatever decision we take now, the
result would be obtained in the future no matter how long it may tarry.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed... A stitch in time saves nine.
Take it or leave it..... I have spoken as a stakeholder!
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