The people of Obubra and Etung Local government areas have come out in solidarity with the member representing Obubra Etung Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba, following recent public criticism that he is unpopular among his constituents while discrediting his style of representation.
The people who trooped out in their numbers, representing different groups, staged a solidarity walk tagged “1 Million Man March For Mike Etaba” which kicked off from Ofudua Primary school to Apiapum in Obubra Local government area.
According to the organiser of the 1 million man March, Hon. Etaba Etaba, the event was not a campaign nor was it organised by the legislator but rather a coming together of different groups and organisations who felt that Hon. Mike Etaba had done well and deserved to be re-elected.
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“There have been a whole lot of media misrepresentation against Hon Mike Etaba, discrediting him and claiming that he is not popular and not accepted by his people.”
“The people have said ‘NO, politics is local and the MP has done so much for us’, that is why you have seen them come out in their numbers and turning the supposed 1 million man march to over 2 million man march in solidarity,” he said.
Although Hon. Mike Etaba is currently serving a third term in the House of Representatives and is seeking a fourth term, some political pundits have argued that the people of Etung should be given the opportunity to occupy the legislative seat after Obubra has held it for 12 years.
However, Hon. Mary Eba, Mr Ntui Esija and other attendees from Etung LGA argued that Etung had earlier spent 4 tenures in the house of representatives, spanning a period of 16 years, under Hon. Ebuta Tangban (1999-2003) and John Owan Enoh (2003-2015).
They also argued that Etung LGA already has a serving minister and Secretary to the state government, hence allowing them to run for the federal house while leaving Obubra empty would be a disservice to the people of Obubra.
Although there has been a total declaration for the re-election of Hon. Mike Etaba, there have been rumours from different quarters of some aspirants for the Obubra/Etung seat from Etung and Obubra warming up to join the race come 2027.
