Relieve Our Plights When You Become Governor In 2023, Oro Tells OBA

The people of Oro Nation have pleaded with Senator Bassey Albert Akpan to relieve their plights as soon as he becomes the next governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2023.

The entire traditional rulers council, under the umbrella of Obio Ifong Isong Oro (OIIO), led by its Chairman, HRM Offong Effiong Matthew Unanaowo, Paramount Ruler of Urue Ofong/Oruko, while receiving the senator on a consultation visit to their area on Thursday, March 31, 2022, lamented that they have long been neglected in the scheme of things.

The royal fathers, while declaring that Senator Albert will be the next governor, placed before him the Ibaka Deep Seaport project conversion of Maritime Academy into a University, granting them an oil producing community status, among other critical concerns to them.

Speaking on behalf of the OIIO, His Excellency, Ambassador Etim Uyeh, former Rector of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic and former Commissioner for Works in Akwa Ibom State, lamented that several administrations had disappointed Oro, despite flamboyant speeches and nice stories during campaigns.

“Many things have eluded us,” he said, stressing that what happened, for instance , after the foundation laying of Ibaka Deep Seaport has been politics and that their people have long been denied economic growth.

Ambassador Uyeh charged OBA to, unlike past governments, be honest and committed to his words. “Oro has not benefitted, Oro has not gotten any dividends of democracy. You are the “Beloved Child of Oro” (Eyen Ima Oro). The Paramount ruler who gave you that title did not make a mistake. Maybe, the prophesy for Oro will materialise in your time,” he said.

Uyeh lamented that though Oro Nation has oil wells in its waters, it is still not considered an oil producing community. He added that gas has been found in Oro nation but till today, government was yet to recognise and grant Oro an oil and gas producing status.

Another area of regret for Oro Nation was the status of the Maritime Academy, which they lamented has not enjoyed state government backing to become a university.

“When you come, let us have your support to upgrade the Maritime Academy into a maritime university,” Uyeh pleaded with OBA.

They promised to talk to the delegates to vote for Senator Akpan but urged him not to forget them when he gets to Government House as Governor.

In same vein, the President General of Oron Union, Bishop Etim Ante, stressed that in the last few years, Oro people had not been treated as a worthy leg of the tripod, along with Ibibio and Annang.

Bishop Ante said Oro people have been left out of the Hilltop Mansion for over 30 years, either as governor or deputy governor, requesting that they should be considered for the number two slot.

“We are happy that some illustrious sons of Oro are with you and we are also happy that those with you are always steadfast on Oro matters. They will keep reminding you. It is absolutely necessary that you listen to us,” he added.

Before the people reeled out their challenges, OBA had told them that he understood the complexities of the Akwa Ibom situation.

“I know the peculiarities of Oro. I share in your sentiments, so I am not coming to speak too much grammar. I see myself as an Oro man,” he said.

After listing some of the projects he intends to establish in Oro Nation, Senator Albert presented them with a Compendium of success story, adding that maybe God kept him for a time like this for the emancipation of Oro people.

The senator said when he was the Commissioner for Finance and chairman of Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Projects in Akwa Ibom State, there was no nook and cranny he did not know in Akwa Ibom and in Oro in particular.

Part of his invaluable contributions to national growth, he said, included the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the resolution of a long-standing crisis between NNPC and Chevron concerning the Escravos Gas deal, which later saved Nigeria billions of dollars.

OBA mentioned his scholarship scheme for over 481 students, which produced over 20 first class and about 281 second class upper graduates.

He encouraged the traditional rulers to ask other aspirants their antecedents and what they did for the masses and their impacts, which should qualify them for governorship.

“I have the competence, experience and capacity to bring progress to Oro and Akwa Ibom State. Standing before you is a man whom God has prepared for Akwa Ibom State,” he added.

He recalled that the foundation for Ibaka Deep Seaport was laid when he was the commissioner for finance and maybe God kept it for him to come and implement it.

Earlier speakers like Ikpoto Okon Osung and Arch Bishop Andrew Uwanta assured of OBA’s love for Oro nation. “At the level we are, we have the capacity to bring dividends of democracy to Oro,” he said.

While Osung described the senator as a “totally detribalised Akwa Ibomite,” who will not disappoint Oro, Uwanta appealed to the traditional rulers to talk to their subjects who are delegates to assist in actualising equity, justice and fair play in voting for OBA during the primaries.

The Director General, Pastor Sunny Ibuot, while presenting the senator as a sellable product, added that OBA has developed local solutions to the local problems of Akwa Ibom State.

“As Commissioner of Finance, he traversed all the parts of the state, hence understands the peculiar problems of each community,” he said.

The consultation visit ended with a foundation laying ceremony for a permanent secretariat for Essu Nlap Oro.