Akwa Ibom 2015 poll: As the storms gather...

There is an interesting development in Akwa Ibom State. The governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, appears to be determined to redress the age-long political imbalance that has subsumed other minority ethnic tribes under the weight of the Ibibio majority rule, leaving the others with deep sense of exclusion. It is not surprising to many who have followed keenly the politics of Akpabio in the last eight years. Himself as a minority from the second largest Anang tribe, was a beneficiary of a political consensus that has for the first time alter the equations that had for so long put the Ibibio largest ethnic group at a dominant position politically.
As politics heats up towards the next general election, there is a renewed clamour by the Oro ethnic group, the third largest in the state for equity and fairness, especially with respect to who should produce the next governor of Akwa Ibom. The principle of zoning as a way to create a sense of belonging to minorities in particular is not new to Akwa Ibom. Leaders in the state appear to agree that zoning might just be what is needed to douse sectional restiveness. The argument of the zoning proponent is hinged on the fact that, from when the state was created, Uyo Senatorial District had been at the helm of affairs. This is understandably so because, the Ibiobio deployed their numerical strength at each
turn to deliver one of their own.
The first indigeneous governor, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, was from Uyo district. He was followed by the first elected civilian governor Obong Akpan Isemin (Ibibio from Uyo Senatorial District). Two years into his tenure, Isemin’s term of office was however, cut short by the Abacha palace coup. In 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic rule, it was given among stakeholders that since Isemin did not complete his tenure, Uyo Senatorial District ought to be given another slot to complete its term, and Obong Victor Attah (Ibiobio from Uyo district) was elected to fill the slot. By the time Attah’s ended its two terms of eight years, Akwa Ibomites were unanimously resolved that power should rotate to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in 2007. It was that consensus that produced Akpabio, an Anag man from Ikot Ekpene.  and to Eket in 2015
The seeming conviction by Akpabio that Eket senatorial district is where to shop for candidate in 2015 is not lost on the Oro people who have since taking pragmatic steps to put its house in order before the election proper. The reason being that even though, they are the largest tribe in Eket, the advocate of Ibiobio hegemony are already at work to return power to the same tribe through the back door. The ploy is to support a candidate within the Ibiobio fold in Eket.
Last year December, the Oron Union held its annual conference as it has done each year since its founding in 1934. Members of the Oron Council of Traditional Rulers (COTR), the B.O.T of the OU, sons and daughters of Oro from all works of life travelled from far and wide to attend last year’s conference, probably more than in previous years. The reason for the last year’s record turnout had everything to do with the 2015 governorship election, which the Oron nation believes should be zoned to them
The Oron nation is the third largest of the five distinct ethnic groups that occupy the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State. The Ibibios are the largest with 14 local government areas, the Anangs are the second largest with eight local government areas, the Oron occupies five local government areas, the Ekid people occupy two local government areas while the Eastern Obolo’s and Ibeno people occupy one local government area each. The Oron clan that forms part of the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District and occupy five of the districts 12 local government areas and are the largest ethnic group in that Senatorial district, believe the next governor of Akwa Ibom State should be an Oron person.
The 2013 general conference of the Oron clan was therefore a very important gathering for the Oron people. As a result of this, all governorship aspirants of Oron extraction were invited to last year’s conference, and were formerly introduced to the Oron people and given an opportunity to address the conference. In attendance were Mr Anofiok Okpo, a relatively new entrant, Chief Effiong Abia, a civil servant and current Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Otu Ita Otoyo the former State Chairman of the PDP, Rev. Justice Ebito, also relatively unknown politician.
Only last week, another group of elders from Akwa Ibom South Senatorial  district, whose membership cut across business, religion and political spheres, drawn from 12 local government areas, paraded their first 11. The group led by Chief Nduese Essien, Ambassador Etim Uye and Obong Amatte Ntuk, who are supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition in the state acknowledged Akpabio’s zoning effort saying it will bring sense of belonging and engender lasting peace. They were quick however to announce that the Eket senatorial district was endowed with intelligent, pragmatic and erudite candidates for the 2015 gubernatorial poll.
Names like Larry Esin, Justice Nya Ebitto, Chis Abasi Eyo, Okon Iyanam and Effiong Abia from Oron federal constituency were mentioned. While Nsima Ekere, Patrick Ekpotu were also paraded from Ikot Abasi federal constituency were equally mentioned. Both Ekere and Abia are staff of Akpabio who many see as the anointed ones. But then, being an anointed political son is not all that is needed. The two gentlemen still carry the negative burden of an administration that is considered to be ruthless to oppositions . Many especially from the Ibibio have vowed to work to ensure that a surrogate of the administration will be denied their support. That in itself is a drawback that may also affect the electoral fortune of the two in the days ahead.
Even then, Akpabio’s body language at the moment does not necessarily suggest an inclination towards a particular candidate. The governor is interested in any candidate that can leverage on the infrastructural foundation his administration has laid and translate it into an attraction for industries and wealth for the state. At the moment, Akpabio is interested in a unifying candidate that will not ruffle feathers by questioning the past but would be forward looking. The type that can galvanise support within and outside for the development of the state in order to sustain the leadership position Akwa Ibom had attained within the region.
Apart from Esin, there are others within the Eket Senatorial District rumoured to be jostling for the seat. One of such is Senator Ekaette Eme Ufot, who is currently representing Akwa Ibom South at the Senate. Ekaette, a pharmacist made a foray into politics in 2007 in circumstances many believed were meant to compensate the then retiring Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Obong Ufot Ekaette. Apart from being an Ibibio woman, Senator Ekaette’s gubernatorial ambition remains at the level of speculation as there are no concrete structures on ground to support such. It is also doubtful if Akwa Ibom is prepared to set the pace for a first female governor.
Archibong writes from Uyo