2019: SSG Speaks on Mbo House of Assembly Seat

BY ANIETIE ESU

The Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, has stated that the second term tenure of Hon.(Mrs ) Alice Ekpenyong as member representing Mbo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly was an "exception"and not the Mbo people agreed rule of a single term for the seat.

Dr Ekuwem, who stated this on Sunday in Uyo, explained that Mbo people were made to allow Mrs Ekpenyong went for a second term because of the former Governor Godswill Akpabio's promise of making her a Speaker of the State House of Assembly in 2011, a promise which was not fulfilled.

He recalled that in 2010 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) State House of Assembly Primaries for Mbo, conducted in the headquarters of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command in Ikot Akpan Abia, he alongside other stakeholders of Mbo queued behind Chief Effiong Johnson who challenged Alice Ekpenyong's bid for a second term, but regretted that some people queued behind Ekpenyong.

Ekuwem said he took the decision to support Chief Johnson in particular and Udesi community in general, in spite of the fact that he (Ekuwem ) and Mrs Ekpenyong are from Uda community, noting that his decision was in obedience of and in compliance with Mbo People's agreement for one term per community, otherwise called "one -one water".

According to him, Chief Johnson, a former Chairman of Mbo Local Government Area from Udesi community could not have challenged Mrs Ekpenyong in the PDP State House of Assembly primaries, if it has been two two terms, "two two waters " per community as erroneously canvassed by some people now.

"There are 5 communities in Mbo, viz: Ebughu, Effiat, Enwang, Uda and Udesi.Before Udesi House Membership turn, Enwang, Ebughu and Uda communities had had their respectives representatives in the House of Assembly. That of the 3 communities who had their presence in the House, 2 communities, viz:Enwang and Ebughu complied with the one -one water Mbo agreement.But Uda community did not. Uda went for two terms. This was partly due to the unkept promise of the then Governor to make a Speaker out of the two term House Member from Mbo State Constituency.

"So, the "two water" House Member from Uda community was an EXCEPTION and not the Mbo People agreed RULE.The norms as agreed by Mbo people was one term. So that two terms was an EXCEPTION to the norm. Two out of three is a majority", Dr Ekuwem quipped.
The State Chief Scribe further stated that Mbo people had agreed that the two elective offices of House of Assembly Member and Chairman of the Local Government Council should be rotated among the 5 communities on a one -one term basis.

He advised Mbo people to remain law-abiding and wait for the outcome of the soon-to-be convened Mbo PDP stakeholders meeting, to take a decision on the House of Assembly seat come 2019, the way it was done during the quest for Local Government Council Chairmanship which currently has Enwang son as the Chairman of the Council.

The State Chief Scribe urged aspirants in particular and Mbo people in general to go about their consultation peacefully and maturely and eschew threats of violence and any acts that can lead to breach of the prevailing peace in Mbo.