Who Really Thinks for Mkpat Enin?: Zoning, Second Term and Sundry Matters.
It’s another season of politics in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area as it is now certain that LG polls holds in October, 2020.
Since the breaking of news or rumours that the current Local Government Chairman, Hon. Ekanem Brown, is interested in a second term in office, there has been serious political locomotion in the area and the issue of zoning has been the central theme for discussions, as many believe that Mkpat Enin enjoys strict adherence to zoning.
Of a truth the zoning argument has of course made a lot of landslide victory in the past because as recent as 2015 the then House of Assembly member, Hon. Otobong Ndem was prevented from returning for a second tenure, just as Hon. Udo Sam Umoattan was prevented from getting a second tenure in office in 2003 at the expiration of his tenure as the Local Government Chairman between 1999 to 2003.
But who really thinks for Mkpat Enin? Because the political decisions made by her seemed to be very intelligent.
Zoning, in politically applied definition is an unwritten agreement for a rotation of political position from one geographical area to the other, most times for the sake of preventing the more politically and numerically advantaged areas from emasculating the minority areas by arrogantly perpetuating themselves in power. It is majorly to maintain peace.
But most of the current narratives of zoning are half-truths. Truth is that it is evident that in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, no area is currently at disadvantage in the zoning equation, as Chairmanship zoning has gone round the four clans, unlike when Hon.
Udo Sam Umoatan wanted second term. So Hon. Ekanem Brown is favoured as the first person to begin the second round of zoning, according to PDP arrangement, to begin a consolidated zoning system, which every clan shall also enjoy.
But again, who really thinks for Mkpat Enin? Because it seems there is something new to think about. Shall Mkpat Enin continue to operate a zoning whose benefit is not beyond ” it is our turn, we are next in line,” thing? Should zoning be for come-chop, handover and retire home?
Of course, zoning is definitely good, but Mkpat Enin must certainly think ahead and look at cementing zoning to make it more beneficial to the people, because the current one term zoning doesn’t seem to offer more to the people than the fact that a benefitting clan would have the “our person is there mentality”.But when we talk about the political and developmental advancement of the area, the current one term zoning system has very little to offer.
The point is simple, for example, a section of the media in this state earlier this year rated Hon. Ekanem Brown as being amongst the 3 best performing Local Government Chairmen in Akwa Ibom State. If the other two chairmen so rated alongside him advance for a second term in office (as they are currently vying for) and Hon.
Ekanem Brown retires home to his private life, the other Chairmen advances politically and get access to power in Akwa Ibom state than the new chap that Mkpat Enin will elect, who will simply come and float, buy a jeep, build a house in village and Uyo (that is if they see the money) and leave after 3 years to retirement like many of our heroes past who served the zoning and retired home.
But again, who really thinks for Mkpat Enin? Because it seems there is something new to think about.
Today, RT. Hon. Barr. Dr. Ekong Sampson remains the only recognized name and force from Mkpat Enin in Akwa Ibom state politically, because by providence God helped him to go for second term in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, an opportunity he maximized to climb the political ladder and serve in several positions in the State Executive Council. What if we had up to four political ‘elephants’ up there, like Nsit Ubium has, wouldn’t be taken home more political dividends?
I think Ekong Sampson felt he still had a lot to offer, so he aspired for reelection not for greed, and truly most of his life-touching projects he did were in his second tenure. He thereafter became a Commissioner, just as majority of his colleagues.
Methinks, that whoever thinks for Mkpat Enin should step up, from the myopic description of zoning which only means ROTATE to what I call zoning for political advancement for the greater good. There is another example very close to us. Today, from the gate to sitting room to the kitchen of Rt. Hon. Francis Charles Uduyok, who hails from Eastern Obolo LGA, you will see Mkpat Enin politicians perambulating the whole place in search of what to eat, drink and put in the pocket.
This beloved, cherished, celebrated, powerful Francis Uduyok served as a Local Government Chairman for two terms, he is currently serving as House of Representative member the second term. In his first term as a Local Government Chairman, he served alongside our Hon. Mfon Nkanteen, in his second term he served alongside Hon. Ephraim Akpan.
With all due respect to the two former Chairmen of Mkpat Enin LGA, truth is, put them together, they cant speak for Mkpat Enin either in Akwa Ibom State or in Nigeria. Whereas, Francis Uduyok is now a member of the National Executive Council of PDP. He also represents the South-South caucus of House of Reps in PDPs NEC and he is the Chairman of the South-South caucus in the green chambers.
Please, Who really thinks for Mkpat Enin?
I see no problems if Mkpat Enin begins to operate a two term zoning both in House of Assembly and Chairmanship, otherwise the next 50 years, we will remain politically feeble, eating from the crumbs of political power blocks in other places.
But who really thinks for Mkpat Enin?
Please, can we begin to think about collective advancement as a people? Should Mkpat Enin people be more comfortable to beg at the gates of Political heavyweights whose people pushed them up there through second term that we dread?
Let’s note that over twenty five current Local Government Chairmen are seeking second tenure, but their people are not crucifying them on facebook, neither have they done better in terms of performance. It is only Mkpat Enin people that are spitting on their own for simply seeking re-election, despite the fact that the fellow has not performed poorly, and he is highly respected and rated amongst his colleagues across the state. He should be allowed to grow.
I make no attempt to think for those who think for Mkpat Enin, but since every area has produced a Chairman, the current one term zoning system has very little to offer anymore, if we are really sincere with the political and developmental advancement of the area.
Two terms political office holding can never mean or be described as truncating of zoning, especially since every one has tasted the seat. Ikpa Ikono will definitely takeover when Ukpum Minya (Ekanem Brown) is done.
Those who think for Mkpat Enin should take a second look at this matter beyond the myopic arguments, we should look at the pros and cons of this rule and go practice that is making Mkpat Enin to perpetually produce political novices in the system.
Actually from the look of things, Mkpat Enin thinkers need to put up their thinking cap and work.
*But who really thinks for Mkpat Enin?*
