Nsit Atai political zoning: Separating facts from fiction
Nsit Atai Local Government Area is a monolingual enclave with triad ethnicity and about sixty-seven (67) villages. These ethnic groups are known not to be the same in terms of population; of course, the population is one of the deciding factors in politics.
Before now, Nsit Atai Local Government Area with over a million population had been known for and have recorded several issues of political violence due to lack of direction and non-existence of internal political arrangements (zoning) in the political system of the Area.
As recorded in history, the politics of Nsit Atai had before the zoning came to existence been characterized by violence resulting in bloodshed, destruction of properties, litigation and various forms of unwholesome acts which severely affected the development of the area, and as well made Nsit Atai people to be noted and rated as controversial, violent, uncontrollable, militants and uncompromising set of people.
As a ‘ONE-CLAN’ Local Government Area, Nsit Atai is grouped into three (3) major Groups of Villages which are; AFAHA (with the largest population), IBIAIKOT (second largest population) and IBEDU.
THE GENESIS OF ZONING
To correct and put an end to the bad impression, and equally to restore Nsit Atai to the limelight of responsible and intelligent people of high repute which they were known for, the then leaders under the aegis of ‘NSIT ATAI ELITE FORUM’ came together, brainstormed, and found it necessary to zoned elective political positions among the respective political blocs existing in the Area. The initiative came on board in the year 2000, during the reign of Obong (Hon.) Inyang Ekpe, the then State Assembly Lawmaker who represented the Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. And in 2001, a sixteen (16) Man-Committee headed by Hon. (Chief) Engr. Atauyo Ekwere was constituted and inaugurated by the then political leader, late Otuekong (Maj. Gen.) Edet Akpan (rtd). The sole responsibilities of the Committee were; to find out the possible cause(s) of election violence within the LGA with a view of making recommendations on how this can be addressed; to fashion out possible zoning of political positions taking into cognizance the geopolitical spread of group sensitivity of the people, and to recommend possible ways of enforcing the implementation of the principles of zoning when adopted.
The Committee headed by Hon. (Chief) Engr. Atauyo Ekwere as Chairman also had, Lt. Col. Edet Ekoi (Afaha) – Vice Chairman; Mr. Matthew Koffi Okono (Ibiaikot) – Secretary; and Chief Kingsley Udoh (Ibedu) – Welfare Officer. Others who served in the Committee as members were; Sir. C. E. Nyong (Ibiaikot), Obong (Dr) Akpan Ukpak (Ibedu), Hon. Inyang Ekpe (Afaha), Obong Jackson Akpaiso (Ibiaikot), Mr. Joseph Joshua (Afaha), Mr. Edet George (Afaha), Mr. Bassey James Udo (Afaha), and Mr. Bassey Esu Abiama (Ibedu).
Representatives of political parties in the committee including; Alliance for Democracy (AD), and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) were; Akparawa Uduak Okon, Mr. Uko Brownson, Mr. Emmanuel Effiong and Mr. Udeme Nelson Edem.
Members of the committee were men with proven integrity and sterling leadership qualities who had the interest of Nsit Atai at heart. Men who were determined and committed to ensure peace and unity in Nsit Atai LGA.
CREATION OF GEO-POLITICAL ZONES
The Committee immediately swung into duty. After several meetings, visitations and consultations to personalities, TRC, Groups, Council, Wards and Political Parties; the Committee arrived that Nsit Atai, ‘a Clan’ Local Government (as currently recognized by the Governments of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria), with three (3) Groups of Villages including Afaha, Ibiaikot and Ibedu, be divided into six (6) respective geopolitical zones, in equal status considering the population and number of Villages in each Group of Villages.
The Geopolitical zones are; Afaha Atai, Ndisiak Afaha, Itak Afaha, Ibiaikot Essien Itiaba, Ibiaikot Atai, and Ibedu.
ZONED POSITION
Political positions approved for zoning in Nsit Atai as recommended by the committee were; Local Government Chairmanship position, Vice Chairmanship position, and State House of Assembly position.
THE ZONING FORMULA
The zoning arrangement recommended by the Committee was adopted and had been implemented over the years, precisely since 2001. As recommended by the Committee, it stated that “elective positions including Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship seat be rotate among the six (6) Political blocs of Afaha Atai, Ndisiak Afaha, Itak Afaha, Ibiaikot Essien Itiaba, Ibiaikot Atai, and Ibedu, while the House of Assembly seat should rotate among the three (3) groups of villages of Afaha, Ibiaikot, and Ibedu.
CHAIRMANSHIP/VICE CHAIRMANSHIP
The implementation of the zoning arrangements began when Obong Darby Udoh (from Ibedu extraction) emerged as the Executive Chairman of Nsit Atai. Then, the Vice Chairman was selected from Itak Afaha.
Hon. Prince Ibanga Bassey Akpan (late) from Itak Afaha took over from Obong Darby Udoh, while the Vice Chairmanship seat then, moved to Ibiaikot Atai.
Rt. Hon. Mark Esset (from Ibiaikot Atai) took over as Chairman, while the late Hon. Smart Ben (from Ndisiak Afaha) served as Vice Chairmanship.
In 2017, Rt. Hon. Emem Ibanga (from Ndisiak Afaha) took over the mantle of leadership of the Council as Chairman, while Hon. Idorenyin Inyang (from Ibiaikot Essien Itiaba) served in that administration as Vice Chairman. They transited to the next Government in 2020, both as Chairman and Vice-Chairman. According to the PDP, they were re-elected based on the fact that, Rt. Hon. Mark Esset was re-elected and returned for a second term.
ZONING OF STATE ASSEMBLY SEAT
As stated earlier; “the State House of Assembly seat usually rotates among the three (3) Groups of Villages” (Afaha, Ibiaikot, and Ibedu), not within the 6 Political blocs (Afaha Atai, Ndisiak Afaha, Itak Afaha, Ibiaikot Essien Itiaba, Ibiaikot Atai, and Ibedu) as claimed by the Lady Emem Ibanga who is nurturing ambition for state house against the zoning of the area.
For instance; the zoning of State House of Assembly seat in Nsit Atai LGA started with Ibiaikot in 2003 when Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong (Tempo) was elected to represent the Constituency. He served between 2003 to 2007 and handed over to Rt. Hon. Obong Darby Udoh from Ibedu Group of Villages.
Hon. (Mrs.) Sarah Elijah (from Afaha group) who was elected in 2011 took over from her predecessor (Obong Udoh Darby) and rounded up the first round of the sharing formula in 2015.
Rt. Hon. Mark Esset (from Ibiaikot Group of Villages) began the second round of the sharing arrangement when he was elected to represent Nsit Atai State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in 2015.
In 2019, he was re-elected for a second term, and his tenure will elapse in 2023. Automatically, the reelected Mr. Mark Esset brought into existence ‘a two-term tenure’ initiative, while abolishing the ‘single term’ arrangement which had been in existence since 2001.
However, the position of the State Assembly seat rightly favors IBEDU Group of Villages come 2023, considering the internal arrangement and sharing formula of elective political offices in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
These sharing arrangements have existed in Nsit Atai over the years, and have brought fairness, equity, and justice as well as peace amongst the people of the Area.
It’s not new that some ‘greedy’ and ‘power drunk’ political elements have tried using their political strength to put off the arrangement to satisfy their selfish gain. 2023 elections will be no exception. But it’s so disappointed to observe that after being favored by the same sharing arrangement, some politicians will work hard and even harder to truncate the particular zoning arrangement that propelled them to positions/level they’re today. This is visibly seen, as some desperate political office holders are currently campaigning, seeking for the arrangement to be abolished.
For instance; the current Executive Chairman, Mrs. Emem Emmanuel Ibanga was a product of the zoning arrangement both in 2017 because the position was solely zoned to Ndisiak Afaha. She was also favored again in 2020, due to the abolition of the ‘single term’ arrangement by Hon. Mark Esset. But currently, she’s moving against the arrangement that propelled her to where she is today.
Finally, it’s on the note that the zoning arrangement which was documented had been/is serving as an official guide for elective office seekers and political parties present in Nsit Atai LGA.
The effective implementation of the arrangement since 2003 has given the people of the Area a direction politically, and it is no longer a flashpoint of political violence among LGAs of the State. So, it’s advisable to maintain the existing formula to sustain the peace and unity currently enjoyed amongst the people of the Area.
Nsit Atai People shouldn’t be allowed to be misled by some disgruntled elements and self-centered politicians whose missions are to create an ember of disunity and war in the Area.
