Category: Opinion

By Orok Ebak

The claims by Dr. Valentine Ntui’s media team regarding the political representation of Awi Ward are nothing more than tales by the moonlight. First, the statement that Hon. Innocent Iterim is from Uyanga is entirely false. He is not, and never has been, from Uyanga. His supposed association with the ward is a fabrication designed to mislead the public.

The notion that Barr. Patrick Abakum was elected to office as Akamkpa Chairman is another falsehood. Abakum was never elected but served as an administrator for a brief period. The media team can fact-check this, as no records will support their erroneous claim.

Power in Akamkpa has always been shared between the Ejagham bloc and Dusanga Iyong Iyong, a fact that Dr. Valentine Ntui is well aware of. It is local politics, and it is natural for people to follow the established norms of political rotation.

The challenge now falls on Dr. Ntui’s media team to clearly state when this so-called power rotation was ever done on a ward basis. If this were the case, Awi Ward would have benefited. Instead, they seem to vanish into oblivion whenever key political positions are shared within the Ejagham bloc.

Dr. Ntui’s media team is simply crying wolf. The betrayal of their own people during the last election—allowing Akamkpa Urban to secure the position—is solely their responsibility. They cannot now rewrite history to claim marginalization after failing to act when it mattered.

The narratives being pushed are not rooted in facts but in self-interest. Awi Ward has not been marginalized in the way Dr. Ntui’s team suggests; rather, their current position is the result of political miscalculations and betrayals from within. Which is not even true.

The rotation of political offices has always followed a logical sequence in Akamkpa, ensuring that each bloc has its turn. What Dr. Ntui’s team must address is why their ward did not benefit during these rotations which is a big fat lie. Blaming others for their own failures is not the solution over their ignorance is very sad.

Since Dr. Valentine Ntui and his media team are not good students of history, the possibility of their misfiring is now evidence. For the record, Awi Ward have been represented in 1999 in the Cross River State House of Assembly in the person of Hon. Victor Okon – House of Assembly 1999. (The form he filled captured Awi Ward).

Power dynamics in Akamkpa are based on history and consensus, not on arbitrary decisions by individuals or media teams. The claim that Awi Ward has been systematically denied power is a distortion of the truth.

It is time for Dr. Ntui and his team to accept responsibility for their past actions rather than trying to scapegoat other wards or the system itself. Political victories are earned, not handed out based on cries of unfairness.

In conclusion, the claims from Dr. Ntui’s media team are nothing more than tales by the moonlight, devoid of substance or facts. The people of Akamkpa deserve leadership that respects historical norms, not one that distorts them for personal gain.

By Orok Ebak

The recent open letter to His Excellency, Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, alleging that Awi Ward has been politically marginalized in Akamkpa 1 State Constituency, is misguided and lacks a sound understanding of the political dynamics in the area. The hurriedly packaged claims fail to acknowledge the historical and established principles governing political representation within the constituency, which have always been based on ethnicity, not on ward divisions.

In Akamkpa 1, politics has historically followed the lines of ethnicity, with representation and key positions divided between the Ejagham and Dusanga Iyong Iyong ethnic groups. As such, whatever is zoned to the Ejagham ethnic group is shared among the wards within this group, and similarly, what goes to the Dusanga Iyong Iyong is distributed accordingly. Awi Ward, as part of the Ejagham ethnic bloc, cannot claim marginalization when the principle of ethnic rotation has consistently been followed.

It is also worth reminding the proponents of this marginalization narrative that Uyanga Ward, a part of the Dusanga Iyong Iyong ethnic group, was strongly opposed from participating in the most recent State House of Assembly election. This was because it was widely recognized as Ejagham’s turn to produce a candidate and a House member to take over from Rt. Hon. Matthew Olory. If this principle was firmly adhered to during the elections, it begs the question: what has suddenly changed that some would now attempt to alter the narrative in favour of Awi Ward?

Read Also: Open Letter to His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu: Political Marginalization of Awi Ward in Akamkpa 1 State Constituency

For anyone to wake up and allege that Uyanga Ward has been unjustly favoured without presenting the full history of political office distribution within Akamkpa 1 is to exhibit a gross misunderstanding of the facts. If Awi Ward has not produced political office holders within the Ejagham bloc, it should channel its complaint to other Ejagam political wards (Akamkpa-Urban, and Mbarakom) under it’s own bloc, not Uyanga ward, which falls under a different ethnic category. It is essential to remember that Uyanga Ward has often faced political challenges of its own, notably when Iko Ward held both the chairmanship and a state house seat sequentially, leaving Uyanga with no significant political offices, we  did not complain knowing too well that Iko ward is of Dusanga Iyong Iyong ethnic bloc, and such should be the understanding of Awi ward, having other Ejagham persons  as the present  State house of Assembly members in constituency 1 and 2.

Furthermore, the assertion that Hon. Iterim is from Uyanga Ward is not only incorrect but reveals a lack of attention to detail in the argument. The name does not even remotely reflect any connection to the Dusanga Iyong Iyong ethnic group. Such a fabrication serves only to expose the desperate attempt to sway public opinion with unfounded claims and to gain political favour for Awi Ward at the expense of the truth.

Mr. Ekib Edet Okpa, the author of the letter, should understand that political positions are often shared based on fairness and timing. His attempt to invoke undue sentiment and present an argument against the well-established zoning principles is disingenuous and misleading. Reminding the Governor that he himself is a product of zoning is not only an insult but also an ill-informed insinuation that disregards the governor’s competence and the overwhelming support he received during the election.

If we were to categorize political offices within Akamkpa 1, it becomes evident that the wards under Ejagham, such as Akamkpa Urban, Mbarakom, and Awi, have received fair representation. Similarly, the Dusanga Iyong Iyong ethnic group, represented by Uyanga and Iko Wards, has also seen its share of political appointments. This balance between the two ethnic blocs has been respected over the years, and any claims to the contrary are baseless.

As it currently stands, it is Uyanga’s turn to produce the next Local Government Chairman, as per the rotational system between the two ethnic blocs. To disrupt this arrangement would be to ignore the principles of equity and fairness that have governed Akamkpa 1 politics for decades. Therefore, any claims by Awi Ward of marginalization should be seen as an attempt to disrupt this balance for personal gain.

In conclusion, while we respect the concerns of Awi Ward, it is important to correct the narrative and reaffirm that the political structure of Akamkpa 1 is based on ethnic rotation, not on ward divisions. The suggestion that Awi Ward has been marginalized is not supported by the facts, and any attempt to skew this narrative only serves to undermine the unity and cohesion of the constituency.

Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu has always demonstrated a commitment to fairness and inclusivity. We trust that he will continue to uphold these principles and ensure that the established political framework in Akamkpa 1 remains intact, providing fair representation to all ethnic groups.