A’Ibom Governorship: Oron Nation threatens to shut down oil operations

Governor Akpabio.... More trouble at home front

By Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo and Nneka Nwaneri

The Oro Nation in Akwa Ibom State comprising of five oil producing Local Government Areas is not finding funny the zone’s exclusion from the governorship race by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) .  Last month, the peopleheld peaceful protests at Oron and Lagos.

The Oron protest, which started from the Oro Development Union House, went through most of the major streets in Oron town with markets, shops and other businesses closed  by their owners for hours, to join the protest. Old men and women, Okada riders, taxi drivers and even pregnant women joined the protest. Everybody was in one accord and they were heard complaining of Oro nation being marginalised and deceived by the state government and the PDP.

The Oro Nation, the third largest ethnic group and the third leg of the tripod on which Akwa Ibom State was created and stands, said the protest was an announcement to the state government and the PDP in the state and national, that they reject in totality the result of the’ stage managed’ governorship nomination of the state where about 95 percent of the votes were allocated to the governor’s candidate, Mr Udom Emmanuel.

The ‘Save Oro Group Initiative” who initiated the protest said the Oro nation must produce the next governor of the state come 2015 despite the political permutations of the incumbent governor, Godswill Akpabio, otherwise the centre will no longer hold.

They said they have waited for 27 years since the creation of the state, supported the other two ethnic groups, Ibibio and Annang to produce governors in turn and as such will not accept or support Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as it is the Oros’ turn to produce a governor for the state.

The youth leaders from the five local government areas which make-up the Oro Nation stated emphatically that the Oro people in the state totally reject the deliberate attempt by  Governor  Akpabio and the state PDP to rob them of the opportunity to produce the next governor for the state come 2015. The group said they stand by the decision of their elders that the Oro people ‘must’ produce the next governor of the state at the expiration of the incumbent Governor, Godswill Akpabio’s tenure May 2015.

The Prime Minister of the’ Save Oro Group Initiative’, Prince Victor Uweh said the Oro people will not jettison their just demands and advised the party to do the right thing now for the sake of peace. He said the people should not be forced to go violent.

“The Oro people supported the Ibibio of Uyo Senatorial District to produce Governor Victor Attah between 1999 to 2007; supported the Annang of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to produce the incumbent governor, Godswill Akpabio,  2007 to 2015, it is logically the turn of Oro Nation to produce a governor in 2015, going by  the State’s ethnic  tripod arrangement “, Victor stated.

At Uya Juncion in Eyo Abasi community, near the compound of Mr Nelson Effiong who was given the Senatorial ticket by the PDP, the protesters announced that Oro people are not interested in a senatorial seat but in producing a governor for the state come 2015. Mr Victor Awanakak, a former Counselor in Udung Uko Local Government Area said whoever collected a senatorial ticket from PDP is on his own. He said the Oros’ interest for now is to produce a governor for the state like her other two counterparts.

He vowed that the Oro people will dump the PDP for APC if their demands are not met. “The Oro is not supporting Udom’s candidacy, we are insisting on producing a governor for the state come 2015. If PDP does not give us chance, we will pull out from PDP and fully support APC in the coming elections”, Victor said.

Over 20 placards were carried with specific messages on them some of which were: If Oro is not allowed to take the governorship, we will block all oil wells; Oro 2015 or militancy; Oro Youths are ready for war; Oro will resist any attempt to deprive Oro of 2015;Oro 2015 is non-negotiable, on the tripod we stand; Oro must be heard; Ibibio and Annang have taken their turns, 2015 is Oro turn; we will fight on until Oro 2015 is restored; Oro contribute 80 percent of the revenue of Akwa Ibom; Godswill Akpabio – give Oro her right in 2015 and PDP should do justice for Oro governorship among others.

The Oro nation also held a similar protest in Lagos. Armed with placards, banners and dressed in their native attires of red caps, uniformed wrappers, the young and old people of Oron nation last Friday morning stormed the premises of the Akwa Ibom Liaison Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.

They were there for a peaceful protest against what they called the marginalisation of the Oron people in the governorship primaries of the state.

On some of the placards was written: “Akpabio, stop forcing candidate on us”; “Akpabio, please give us the full benefits of our rights”, “Oron people say no to imposition”, “Akpabio return our mandate and don’t encourage hard feelings”, Oro nation needs 2015 governorship”, “Akpabio stop punishing us with our resources because Oron owns 80% of AkwaIbom resources and oil wells”, Akwa Ibom was created on  tripod”, “Don’t waste our resources anymore on your cronies”, “Akpabio retain the goodwill and support of all”, and “We need visionary and productive leadership devoid of greed”.

Addressing the crowd of protesters and onlookers, President of Oron Lagos Branch, Mrs Felicia Essang-Oludare, she lamented that the Oron people have been pushed aside and have not been given a fair opportunity in the affairs of the state governance and rejected the outcome of the PDP governorship primaries which was held at the AkwaIbom International Stadium on December 8.

She said it is the turn of the Oron people to occupy the governorship seat of Akwa Ibom.

She said: “We own the oil wells in the state, yet we are not regarded in a favourable competition in the state. Henceforth, we will not allow our oil to be taken anymore because it is our turn and an Oron man is waiting to occupy the governorship seat next year.

“No Oron man, no 2015, no governorship and that is our message.”

Special Adviser to Governor Goodswill Akpabio on Media in Lagos, Jackson Udom thanked the gathering for the peaceful demonstration and promised to take their message to the appropriate authorities.

Culled from The Nation newspaper