Mr.
Effiong Eyo Snr , from Udung Uko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State,
voluntarily retired from the Nigerian army after serving the Nigerian nation
for 20 years. Today, he is very much
into business and politics. In this interview with THINK AKWA IBOM!, Eyo, a PDP
member, gives reasons why the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015 must come
from the Oro people within the Eket Senatorial District
 |
| Mr. Eyo Effiong Snr |
By Nse Peter
In
the world over, political debate has always been, and remains a part of
democracy. How do you welcome the zoning debate in Akwa Ibom State?
Political debate should be embraced in Akwa Ibom
State because in modern democracy, every citizen needs to know what a candidate
can offer before casting his or her vote.
So,
it can be assumed that you personally consider the zoning debate as being
healthy for Akwa Ibom State?
Yes, I consider the zoning debate very healthy in a
place like Akwa Ibom where we have other minority ethnic groups. If there is no
zoning, some people will feel marginalised.
What's
your position on the zoning debate?
The people of Oro nation are agitating for Oro
governorship come 2015 because since the creation of the state, an Oro man has
never been elected or appointed (governor). I think as a matter of right, an
Oro man should be allowed to lead Akwa Ibom come 2015 for the sake of peace in
the state.
When
you say an Oro man should be allowed to lead Akwa Ibom State in 2015, it
appears you are no longer looking at the whole of Eket Senatorial District in
the zoning debate?
If I travel to China today they will address me as
an African. If I’m in Ghana I will be addressed as a Nigerian. In Nigeria, I’m
known as Akwa Ibomite. Now, coming down to the issue of Eket Senatorial
District, Oro nation has five LGAs out of the 12 LGAs in the district, which
makes Oro the largest in Eket Senatorial District. If in the Senatorial
District, Eket that is next to Oro in terms of size has produced Late Dr.
Clement Isong and Late Brigadier General U.J Esuene as governors in both
military and civil (regimes), and presently someone from Eket is occupying the
senate seat, I think it is right for an Oro man to be considered this time.
But
by introducing and promoting the Oro interest this early when there's no sign
that Eket Senatorial District has won the zoning debate, you may be
complicating matters for the senatorial district?
I don't think so. Even the birds in the sky know and
are singing every morning that an Oro man is going to be the next governor come
2015.
What
are the names of the possible governorship candidates from Oro?
Oro is not just agitating for governorship because
it is our right; we are agitating because we strongly believe we can sustain
the good works of Governor Akpabio in the state. Many Oro sons have shown their
interests to contest but we are going to pick one person and present him to the
state. Because if he (the governor from Oro) fails, Oro has failed. We are a
proud people.
So,
who are the possible candidates from Oro?
Like I said before, dozens of them have indicated
their aspirations to be our next governor. I am not in a position to mention
any person's name for now until it's time. The time shall tell.
What's
your response to people who are asking, ‘where was zoning when Larry Esin
contested the PDP primaries in 2007?’
Larry Esin was denied the opportunity of winning the
ticket because of zoning. An Oro man was the PDP state chairman who had all the
powers to pick Larry but he respected the zoning system.
Yeah,
but at least he was allowed to contest the primaries? So, don't you think
politicians from other zones should be allowed too to contest the PDP primaries
for 2015 governorship election?
In PDP, zoning is not documented but it is being
recognised and followed. We are not going to stop any person from other
senatorial districts from contesting, but I believe that the state PDP
officials know the right thing to do.
Mr.
Robinson Uwak who represents the Oron Federal Constituency is doing wonderfully
well at the National Assembly and will likely need more terms to do much
better. Would you support his re-election into the House of Reps in 2015?
Actually the young man is representing Oro very well
in Abuja, he has been able to fight and win a case for Oro nation. But he is
not going to stay beyond 2015. Oro Nation is made up of Mbo, Oron, Okobo, Udung
Uko and Urue-Offong Oruko LGAs. Hon. Uwak is from Okobo LGA which had produced
five MPs for Oro in the past. He came on board to redeem the image of his
brother Hon Linus Umoh. Udung Uko man is likely to succeed him in 2015 because Udung
Uko is only LGA in Oro which has not been elected to represent Oro nation in
the National Assembly.
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