A socio- political group, Eastern Ibibio Peoples Association, has again drummed support for the zoning of gubernatorial seat to Itu/Ibiono Ibom federal constituency to produce the next governor of Akwa Ibom state come 2023.
The group made the appeal in Eket local government area, Akwa Ibom state during an advocacy visit to the executive members of Afigh Iwaad Ekid – a foremost youth association in the state on Monday.
The leader of the Eastern Ibibio Peoples Association, Barr Eteyen Archibong, who led exco members of the association told members of Afigh Iwaad Ekid that the people of the four local government areas that constituted the association have been neglected and deprived of development projects by successive regimes in the state.
He said the agenda of the Udom Emmanuel-led government has excluded the people of Ibiono Ibom, Ikono, Itu and Itu local government areas.
He bemoaned the level of attacks on the people of the areas by invaders from Abia and Cross River states.
“As we speak, the people of Ini, Ibiono Ibom and Itu local government areas are counting their losses due to continuous attacks by the people of Abia and Cross River states yet, the government seems not to care. We collect all the bullets as border local government areas, but, when the time to share comes, nobody remembers us.
“That’s the plight of the Eastern Ibibio people. WeE have come to you, to appeal, to seek your support. We are not violent, we are not fighting. We are simply saying that our brothers in Uyo and Etinan federal constituencies having tasted the office before, should allow the people of Itu/Ibiono Ibom federal constituency the opportunity to also taste,” he said.
He noted that Afigh Iwaad Ekid has over the years evolved into a strong, formidable and influential pressure group in the state. And lauded the current leadership of the organisation for sustaining the legacies of its predecessors
Responding, the International president of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Comrade Etiene Bob, commended members of the Eastern Ibibio Peoples Association for their discipline and peaceful manner with which they were conducting their advocacy.
He mentioned that Afigh Iwaad Ekid was the umbrella body of youths in Eket , Onna, Esit Eket and Ibeno local government areas.
He said the people in the area having suffered years of neglect and deprivation in the hands of oil companies operating in the area were in a better position to understand issues of neglect, and political marginalisation.
