AKWA Ibom youths have warned Governor Udom Emmanuel against breaching the existing accord on micro-zoning of the governorship in the state.
The youths under the auspices of the Itu-Ibiono Federal Constituency Youth Leaders Forum called on the governor to stop breaching the accord which they said had produced past governors of the state.
Addressing a media briefing on Tuesday, spokesmen for the group, Bassey Bassey and Anietie Bassey said allowing Etinan federal constituency in Uyo which had produced Obong Isemim before would be a clear case of injustice against the Itu/ Ibiono federal constituency.
The youths recalled that in 1999 when Nsima Umo and late Ebong Okon stepped out to contest for the governorship of the state, the federal constituency, out of the spirit of micro-zoning, allowed the emergence of Obong Victor Attah as the consensus candidate of the party.
According to them, it was further agreed at a town hall meeting organised by stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party that when the governorship returns to Uyo, it would be the turn of the Itu/Ibiono federal constituency in the spirit of justice, equity and fair play.
They said, “In 1999, two prominent sons of Itu/ Ibiono Federal constituency- Obong Nsima Umoh ( Abai Ibiono) and late Obong Ebong Okon stepped out for the gubernatorial election, but through the understanding midwifed by stakeholders like Senator Anietie Okon, Chief Itak Ekarika, Chief Otu Akpan, Senator Ibok Essien, Don Etiebet and late Senator Etang Umoeyo, engendered the emergence of Obong Victor Attah as a consensus candidate of the party. On that accord, Itu/ Ibiono federal constituency was shown the reason to wait for the next turn, which is now.
“In 2014 when one of our sons from the federal constituency, Obong Bassey Akpan indicated interest to contest for the position, stakeholders in the state, including the then governor, Godswill Akpabio all impressed it on the federal constituency to allow Eket senatorial district to take a shot.”
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