“You have written your name in gold,” Eket politician praises Speaker Sam Ikon for rejecting zoning in Akwa Ibom

The president of Akwa Ibom Democratic Project (AKDP), Mr. Enobong Ikoiwak has commended the speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Sam Ikon for speaking against the agitation for the zoning of the 2015 governorship position in the state.

Mr. Sam Ikon last Tuesday reportedly told Akwa Ibom people to forget the idea of zoning or rotation of the governorship position in the state in 2015, for the state to unite and move forward.

Ikon was quoted in several national and local media as saying, “I am a fan of effectiveness, efficiency and capacity because today in this state, the governor has come to show that even if somebody is not from your state, he can still touch your life.”

“At the federal level, we have a president that is from the South-south, what have you seen that is so special about the South-south. So it is not a function of where somebody comes from. You must leave primordial issues, it does not make sense.”

The speaker described zoning as being ‘a tarnished arrangement’, and said if Akwa Ibom State must move forward, the people must look out for efficiency, effectiveness and leaders who have the capacity to deliver.

In a telephone interview with THINK AKWA IBOM! later on Friday night, the President of AKDP, Enobong Ikoiwak happily welcomed the speaker’s remarks as a ‘great boost for democratic progress’ in the state of Akwa Ibom. AKDP is a known formidable grassroots political group within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State.

“I have a message for him; Mr. Speaker, for not just standing up for what is right, but for doing it at a time that it matters most, I want to tell you that you have just written your name in gold. Akwa Ibom people are true lovers of democracy and they will forever remain grateful to you.”

“Besides the historical facts which prove that zoning has never really been in practice in the past governorship elections in Akwa Ibom State, some of us in Eket feel insulted when few people cry out so much about zoning as if Eket Senatorial District can’t produce political leaders with broad appeal across the entire Akwa Ibom State,” says Ikoiwak who ironically hails from Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom which is the main area clamouring for zoning for 2015 election. 

While cautioning Akwa Ibom people to watch out for ‘under-performing and selfish politicians’ who may wish to sneak into power in the state through zoning, Ikoiwak appealed to politicians in the state to take a cue from Speaker Sam Ikon by taking a stand against zoning.