Ikono-Ini Reps member under fire over comment on 2023 zoning
…as Obong Bassey Inuaeyen applauds him for giving peace a chance
By Emmanuel Ufon
The member representing Ikono-Ini Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Mr. Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo has come under fire from the people of Ini local government area, following his recent comment on social media that he preferred his successor to emerge from the Odoro-Ikono bloc in Ini local government area.
Since 1999 when the country returned to democratic rule, representatives for Ikono-Ini Federal Constituency have been elected based on a sharing formula between the two sisters’ local government areas for eight years two terms.
From 1999 to 2007, Mrs. Ikwo Inyang, from Ikono, served in the federal house. Inyang was succeeded by Prof. Ini Udoka, from the Ini local government area, who also served two terms from 2007 to 2015, thereby completing the first circle of zoning of the seat.
The slot for the seat returned to Ikono in 2015 with Engr. Iboro Ekanem’s election.
Ekanem served one term only. Following the already established zoning arrangement between the two local government areas, it became expedient for Ikono to complete the remaining term of four years. This arrangement saw to the election of Mr Ukpong-Udo, popularly known as Macaire.
However, knowing that he will not return to serve the constituency at the green chamber for the second term in 2023, it was gathered that his push for a successor from the Odoro Ikono axis of the Ini local government area is in top gear.
Ini local government area has two major political blocs called “Odoro-Ikono” and Ini-Proper”.
It was gathered that major political office holders of Ini extraction such as the member representing Ini in the State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Bassey; former Reps member, Prof Udoka, and the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet, who is rumored to be eyeing the Reps seat in 2023, among others, are from the “In Proper”, with Odoro Ikono bloc left with nothing.
Macaire is said to be against Dr. Edet’s 2023 ambition which, according to pundits, may sail through because of her close relationship with Governor Udom Emmanuel and his wife, Martha.
The ongoing discussions about who takes the Ikono/Ini seat in 2023 would have been responsible for Macaire’s opinion he expressed recently that he would wish for a free contest and transition to Odoro-Ikono in 2023.
He wrote on his Facebook timeline four days ago: “So much restlessness about HOR seat 2023. Those for Ikono and those for Ini. Some have insisted it’s a free contest for Ikono/Ini. But at the appropriate time?, for justice, fairness and equity, I wish for a free contest and transition to odoro…”
But an elder statesman and key player of Ini politics, Obong Bassey Inuaeyen on Friday through a phone conversation with this reporter advised Macaire to stop interfering in Ini’s affairs, especially on the issue of the 2023 Ikono-Ini federal seat.
Inuaeyen, while reacting to an inquiry explained that the people of the Ini local government area are capable of speaking for themselves and would not be bothered about Macaire’s opinion.
He applauded Ukpong-Udo for giving peace a chance in between the two local government areas while calling on him to ‘finish well’ come 2023 and relax rather than deciding for the people of Ini on what to do, which the people of Ini at the appropriate time will decide for themselves as such actions could lead to dictatorship in which one person decides for the entire federal constituency.
“We won’t let one person destroy the unity that has existed between Ikono and Ini for years. Let him finish his tenure and go. We in Ini will deal with our internal issues. We are not answerable to him”, Inuaeyen said.
This reporter also gathered that the next house of assembly member, the local government chairman, and PDP chapter chairman for I have already been arranged to go to the Odoro-Ikono axis and that taking the federal seat to add to Odoro-Ikono would not augur well for the politicking of that area.
