Umoette: Eket Should Produce Next Akwa-Ibom Governor

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A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Robert Umoette, spoke with Ademola Adeyemo, on the zoning system in the state and the build up to the 2015 general election. Excerpts:

What do you say to a recent statement credited to Chief Don Etiebet, disowning the position of the Akwa Ibom PDP on the zoning of governorship slot to Eket Senatorial District?

Chief Etiebet is a respected personality within and outside Akwa Ibom and I personally respect him a lot. However, I disagree with his assertions in that report concerning zoning and he should not drag the presidency into the matter. I will say such a comment on the pages of the newspapers does not dignify the PDP, considering that the party's constitution recognises zoning and it has been applied since 1999. This principle should not be abandoned. No one should drag the presidency into the affairs of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, because the presidency has its own challenges that it is trying to address and the presidency is not known to support injustice.

I will advise the aggrieved as elders of the party to take it easy, come together and resolve the matter behind closed-doors. I am aware of the capacity and capability of the elders to resolve the issue. Akwa Ibom should solve Akwa Ibom matters. It is wrong to say that Governor Godswill Apkabio has pocketed the party in the state it. These crises are about the 2015 gubernatorial election and who succeeds Akpabio. But that is no reason we should set the house on fire with our remarks. In Akwa Ibom State, the people decide who they want based on the zoning principle.

Chief Etiebet also alleged that Akpabio was not carrying party elders along and had pocket the PDP in the state in order to determine his successor, in addition to dismissing zoning?

Now, I will like to shed some light on that. As an elder in the party, I believe that he knows the fact that there has always been zoning in the state. Zoning has been an integral part of Akwa Ibom politics. You will recall that in the 1999 election, it was resolved that Uyo should produce the governor and Obong Victor Attah from Uyo Senatorial District became the governor.

And towards the completion of his tenure, Obong Attah, as the leader of the party in 2005, decided with the executive of the party and elders that governorship position should be zoned to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district and since the Annang constitute the majority, an Annang man, in the person of Akpabio became the governor. So, it is only right, fair and just to allow the third leg of the tripod that is Eket, Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district to produce the next governor in the state.

It does not mean that anybody who is not from Eket should not contest, but the position of the party is that the governorship position has been zoned to Eket Senatorial district. You can see that the whole crisis is all about the fear that the governor might anoint a successor in the 2015 election. I think all the party leaders in the state should not disrupt the peace in the party. Governor Akpabio should think seriously about the process that produced him as governor and allow the people to choose their candidate from Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. This is very vital in the overall interest of the party in the state.

Does the opposition stand a chance in Akwa Ibom?

If the party fields the wrong and unpopular candidate, a man rejected by the people, if it is not serious about promoting equity and justice, the party will lose if it fields such a candidate. And that is why we are calling for transparency and open ballot system in the conduct of the party’s primaries for the governorship election. The process for selecting the candidate should be transparent and the policy of inclusiveness must be practiced. This will afford the people the opportunity to pick the candidate of their choice.

There was a petition by a group in the state that PDP could not hold congresses in the state in 2012. Is that true?

The state chapter of the party has responded to that, and it stated that the primaries were televised and those who are currently writing petitions were part of it. We should work as a united party. Like I said, the whole crisis is about 2015. They believe that the governor has anointed a candidate, but the fact is that the governor cannot but tow the part of justice by looking at the circumstances that produced him even when his predecessor did not want him. Therefore, having done so much, he should not think of imposition; he should listen to the people. Akwa Ibom needs a young person to lead the state.

What is your overview of the security in the state?

The state has been very peaceful and everyone goes about his or her daily activities without fear of attack. Unfortunately, in the build-up to the 2011 elections, there were some attacks, kidnappings and assassinations. The whole thing came to a stop and recently people have started raising the alarm that violence might rare its ugly head again as the elections are approaching, especially with the recent murder of a politician who is a strong member of the PDP in Abak, Albert Ukpanah. That is what we are talking about. I will implore all politicians in the state to fear God, knowing that they cannot create life. They must make deliberate effort to promote peace and see life as very sacred. Politics must be carried out without bitterness.

What’s your take on the Boko Haram’s insurgency?

It has been close to a month since the children were abducted and since then, there have been series of attacks and other kidnappings. It is terrible and grossly unacceptable. It is very unfortunate and this is almost going out of control. The federal government should take the fight to the insurgents right now. No efforts must be spared. We must hit them wherever they are such that they will be forced to embrace peace. There should be no sacred cow, if there is anybody who has been linked with them, such a person must be brought to book. There should be no sacred cow. These people must be stopped immediately because they constitute international embarrassment and eroding the power of the state.

We also need international collaboration from the United States and the UK, in the areas of intelligence and military hardware. They will give direction on how to tackle the menace. I am happy about their readiness to assist and this should start immediately. Also, the government of Cameroun, Niger and Chad should live up to their neighbourly responsibilities by assisting Nigeria instead of providing covert support to these criminal elements. Government should also look at the urgent need to build proper border line to make it less porous and ensure that immigration and other security agencies do their jobs effectively along the border posts