Ekarika’s remark on zoning raises credibility issues for Udoedehe’s 2011 governorship aspiration

Senator Udoedehe

By Nse Peter

Dr. Udoma Bob Ekarika, the son-in-law to former governor Victor Attah joins the Akwa Ibom zoning debate with a paid one-page advertorial in this week edition of Weekly Insight newspaper where he made a case for the zoning of the 2015 governorship position in Akwa Ibom State, to Eket Senatorial District.

“The governorship seat to Eket Senatorial District in 2015 is sacrosanct,” says Udoma Ekarika who was the campaign manager to Senator John Akpan Udoedehe, the 2011 ACN governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom.

Ekarika argues that “Uyo Senatorial District fired the first shot with the emergence of Obong Victor Attah, follow by Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District with Gov. Godswill Akpabio, and that by 2015 the governor of Akwa Ibom should come from Eket Senatorial District for justice, peace, equity and fair-play.”

Ekarika’s position differs, however, with that of Udoedehe, the man he (Ekarika) wanted to replace Gov. Akpabio with, in 2011. Udoedehe who is from Uyo in Uyo Senatorial District holds the passionate opinion that “there has never been zoning in Akwa Ibom”.

A political analyst in Uyo, Mr. Bassey Idut told THINK AKWA IBOM! that Ekarika’s remarks on zoning may put a question mark on the 2011 governorship campaign of Senator Udoedehe.

Bassey Idut: “I bet you with what he (Ekarika) has just said about zoning, a lot people will ask questions; I mean people will like to know if truly this man believes in zoning, why did he team up with others to attempt to truncate Akpabio’s reign? Why did he want to replace Gov. Akpabio with Udoedehe who is from Uyo Senatorial District?

“Obong Attah, is described by his son-in-law, Udoma Ekarika as a beneficiary of zoning, and yet it was the same Attah who lifted up Senator Udoedehe’s hand before the mammoth crowd at Uyo Sports stadium to publicly indicate his preference for Udoedehe in 2011 governorship election,” says Idut. “The current governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio is from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, and you are telling the people of this state that he (Akpabio) is there as a two-term governor because of zoning, yet you are the very person who wanted to remove Akpabio at all cost, to replace him in 2011 with someone from Uyo Senatorial District!”

“Even as at the time of this interview, Udoma Ekarika is still backing Frank Okon as part of their grand plan to remove Governor Akpabio…. I am not sure any sane person will take Udoma Ekarika serious; he is already a tainted medium, so any message from him may as well be tainted.”