Being a Communique issued by the COALITION OF ORO YOUTHS IN THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), on the 23rd February, 2022
Whereas the celebrated wordsmith, Prof. Wole Soyinka, once said, “the man died in all who kept quiet in the face of tyranny”
Whereas as a cross section of youths from the Oro nation and as members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), we concur that these are sombre moments in our Party and Akwa Ibom State at large.
Whereas we are unequivocal that democracy is under attack in our State and if nothing is done, could derail the focus of our Party in retaining Akwa Ibom State for the PDP and contributing to recapturing the Presidency in the 2023 General Elections.
Whereas it could be recalled that some years ago, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel was very fiercely opposed to imposition on Akwa Ibomites, and now tows the same undemocratic path, by singlehandedly and brazenly imposing an unpopular aspirant on the Party.
Whereas it is crystal clear that the PDP today in Akwa Ibom State is enmeshed in a state of an avoidable internal wrangling, miasma, schism and perplexity.
Whereas the natural cause of this in the State is the natural hatred of Akwa Ibomites and resistance to imposition and undemocratic tendencies.
Let us therefore state in the clearest terms that:
We reject despotism and tyranny and antidemocratic practices, in our great Party and Akwa Ibom State at large.
We affirm that putting government resources at the disposal of one aspirant is undemocratic, evil and a disservice to the people of Akwa Ibom State.
We wish to state that the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources is suffering executive neglect as the Commissioner has abandoned his brief to junket around the state and country, trying to sell his sudden and sour aspiration.
With the Governor’s totalitarian choice of successor and ongoing forced adoption and endorsement of his aspirant in the Oro nation, he is foreclosing the chance for the Oro people to assess which of the aspirants has a better deal for them.
Related: 2023: We Don’t Want Dictatorship In Akwa Ibom – Ray Ekpu
May we therefore say for the records that:
Since the outgoing Chief Executive didn’t consider our plights worthy of his attention during his last seven years on the Governor’s Seat, we were expecting that when gubernatorial aspirants from our great Party come to consult us as Oro people, we would have seized the opportunity to ask each of them the following questions:
1. Oro nation’s Oil Bearing Status
2. The Location of Ibaka/Ibom Deep Seaport
3. The fate of Enwang-Etebi, Nung Eta-Atabong, and Uyo-Nsit Atai-Oron abandoned roads
4. The justification for the perennial neglect of Oyubia-Oduonim-Eyubiasang Road with a spur to Uda
5. Why Oro nation with five LGAs is given only a paltry two commissioners out of twenty available portfolios.
6. That Oro deserve a shot as the Deputy Governor
7. A formula that guarantees the Oro nation will also produce a Governor for Akwa Ibom State
To wit, the Governor is further alienating the Oro people and all lovers of justice, by forcing the Oro people; their traditional rulers, officers of the Party, elected and appointed Political Office holders, to adopt his choice, without first of all consulting with them or giving them a chance to make demands of the incoming government.
In light of the foregoing, we rose from our meeting with the following resolutions:
1. That the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, South South and at the national level should step in to restore confidence in the Party, restore internal democracy, provide a level playing field for all aspirants and ensure that the Party is once again a platform where everyone has a sense of belonging.
2. That the Governor’s aspirant should resign forthwith from the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources, as his office is an executive portfolio which demands undistracted attention.
3. That we should borrow wisdom from Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State who once said that “Akwa Ibom State is a young State with an old man’s mentality” and begin to act in a way which shows progress away from that mindset.
4. That the Governor should stop trying to bury the Oro question by giving Oro Stakeholders the atmosphere to interact with all aspirants without threatening their offices or survival stipends.
5. That as youths who are prepared to contribute our quota to the development of our dear State, we respectfully ask for space to grow because in nature, growth is forward not backwards.
6. That the next Governor of our State should not be one elected on the basis of narrow interests, sentiments or sympathy, but someone who is ready for transformative governance, with a clear cut agenda developed from hands on interaction with people of the State.
7. That the next Governor should be younger, more vibrant, a true democrat at home with his people, with upwardly mobile ideas, youth friendly, one who understands the man on the streets, one who knows the core economic and sociopolitical issues in the State and who can feel the pulse of his people, and is equipped with 21st century solutions to 21st century problems.
8. And that we the people should be allowed to choose this Governor from scratch without intimidation, coercion and manipulation by the malevolent hunger policy of government.
Long live Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria
Long live the Peoples Democratic Party
Long live the Oro Nation
Signed by the under listed for and on behalf of Concerned Oro Youths in PDP:
Comrade Victor Onomo
Pastor Michael Uyeh
Mr. Isaac Mefo
Mrs Ekamma Uyah
Mr. Bassey Iniabasi
Miss Mary Ekpo
Mr. Bassey Effiong
Mr. Henshaw Assi
Mr. Luke Bassey
Mr. John Johnson
CC:
Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem; Secretary to the State Government
PDP State Chairman
Hon. Godwin Okponung; PDP Vice Chairman Eket Senatorial District
Dr. Akon Eyakenyi; Senator, Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District
Hon. Nse Ekpenyong; MP, House of Representatives
Bishop Etim Ante, President General, Oron Union
Chief Okon Osung; Ikpoto Oro
Chief Jerry Okpo; Akpaha Oro
Chief Etim Okpoyo; Former Deputy Governor
All State House of Assembly Members from Oro Federal Constituency
Dr. Etanguno Owowo, Chairman, Oron Think Tank
Comrade Akan Uwe; President, Oron Union Youth Wing
All PDP Chapter Chairmen in Oro Federal Constituency
All PDP Ward Chairmen in Oro Federal Constituency
