By Emmanuel offiong
The last has not been heard on the latest crisis brewing in Itu Local Government Area following the aftermath of the failed attempt by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Housing; Mr. Akan Okon, to impose his crony, one Victor Edem Akpan alias vikolo, as the Youth Council Chairman of Itu Chapter of the Akwa Ibom State Youth Council.
Trouble started when the Member representing Itu state Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Prince Idongesit Ituen drew the attention of Governor Udom Emmanuel to the fact that, the youths of Itu were not comfortable with the choice of the said Victor Akpan as the chairman of the Itu Chapter of the youth council.
Governor Emmanuel, our government house source revealed - instructed Mr. Akan Okon, who unilateraly handpicked Mr. Victor Akpan from Prince Idongesit Ituen's ward 8, to go back and consult with Prince Ituen and other stakeholders and resolve the controversy.
Our Source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that, Prince Ituen insisted that Victor Akpan is not a popular choice and he was therefore rejected, leading to the emergence of the more popular Comrade Idongesit Bassey Tom, from the same ward 8, in Itu Local Government Area.
This twist did not go down well with Mr. Akan Okon, who in his disappointment with Governor Udom Emmanuel mobilized his proxies and sponsored media attacks on Prince Ituen, with some hirelings going online to blast Prince Idongesit Ituen a fraudster, blackmailer and calling him all manner of names.
Reacting to an online news item titled,"you are a pathological and congenital traitor, liar and blackmailer - constituent blasts Idongesit Ituen."
A youth activist from Itu, Comrade Unyimeobong Essien dismissed the report as a failed attempt to malign the integrity or tarnish the reputation of the Itu born lawmaker.
Mr. Essien told our reporter that it was clear even to the blind that Mr. Akan Okon and his disgruntled cohorts who are desperate to build political structure for his pet governorship project, deployed some cheap blackmailers to spread damaging lies against the highly respected and principled Itu lawmaker.
Other sources also confided in our reporter that, Mr. Victor Akpan lost out because, Itu people see him as a cursed fellow.
One Etim Bassey revealed that that every one from Afaha Ube Itam (the village where Victor Akpan hails from, in Itu) are aware that his late father who was a native doctor cursed and disowned him until his death because of his rebellious and criminal tendencies.
Mr. Bassey also disclosed that, he was previously arrested and remanded for gunrunning and during that period, he lost 2 of his children and said such person with a dark background should not lead the youths of Itu.
Every attempt to get the Itu born lawmaker speak to us on the issue, could not materialized as the person who picked his call said he was busy attending a meetings and committee functions, Prince Ituen is the Chairman House Committee on works and Transport.
Meanwhile, a socio political group Itu Mandate Group (IMG) has slammed Mr. Akan Okon, fingering him as the big masquerade behind the serial blackmail unleashed on Idongesit Ituen.
In a rejoinder signed by the President of the group, lambasted Akan Okon to desist from his subversive tactics and focus on his job as a commissioner or risk being resisted by the good people of Itu.
IMG pledged their total support to Governor Udom Emmanuel, until 2023 and while pledging to re-elect him in 2019, advised Akan Okon to suspend his subtle campaign for Governorship until 2023, when it will be the turn of Uyo Senatorial District to produce the governor.
The IMG However passed a vote of confidence on Prince idongesit Ituen and charged him to ignore the antics of disgruntled people and continue representing Itu people effectively.
The group congratulated Prince Idongesit Ituen on the Constituency road maintainance project, and for sponsoring the Akwa Ibom State Road Traffic Management Bill, which just passed the second reading and the Successful conclusion of the Akwa Ibom Community Shield (the biggest football competition in the state), which was sponsored by him, and many other achievements which we will celebrate in another outing.
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