COMMUNIQUE OF ATAI UYO POLITICAL STALWARTS’ MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 05, 2022 AT LA SIEN EVENT CENTRE, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE
CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND
Atai Uyo is made up of four (4) homogenous Local Government Areas namely: Uyo LGA, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, Uruan LGA and Nsit Atai LGA respectively. This household of 4 is referred to as Uyo Federal Constituency, in political terms. Atai Uyo Stalwarts therefore, is a body of indigenes (males and females) drawn from the four Local Government Areas that make up the Uyo Federal Constituency, regardless of their party affiliations. These Stalwarts have come together in unison to reflect on, and discuss issues of common political, social and economic interest and benefit as they affect the past, present, immediate and distant future of their common heritage – Uyo Federal Constituency,
ISSUES OF CONCERN
1. THE RECENT PAST
Atai Uyo Political Stalwarts, after deep reflection and consideration have observed the following salient issues especially in relation to political marginalization and sidelining of Uyo Federal Constituency in the recent past:
(a) That, Uyo Federal Constituency, nay; Uyo Senatorial District was schemed out of their right of producing the Deputy Governor during the 2015 -2023 political dispensation on the flimsy premise that the sitting Governor of Akwa Ibom State, H.E. Mr. Udom Emmanuel is an Ibibio man and as such, cannot be deputized by another Ibibio man. We sacrificed our right to producing Deputy Governor on the altar of peace for the benefit of Akwa Ibom people.
(b) In 2015, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko, member representing Ibesikpo Asutan was made Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in a bid to balance the political equation; however, only for 5 months. When his election was annulled unjustly, we were swindled once again, as the position was taken to Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke (the then Member who represented Nsit Ubium State Constituency, in Etinan Federal Constituency) without recourse to the fact that Etinan Federal Constituency had earlier produced Rt. Hon Anitie Etuk (Nsit Ibom) and Rt. Hon. Sam Ikon (Etinan); both of Etinan Federal Constituency, as Speakers of the House of Assembly in continuous succession; Once again, Atai Uyo demonstrated her peace loving disposition.
(c) In 2019, the Senatorial position in the Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo Senatorial District) was supposed to rotate to Uyo Federal Constituency after Sen. Bassey Albert had completed the second half (of the 8 years) for Itu /Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency in the red chambers; yet, Sen. Bassey Albert was returned back to the Senate; again our right to produce a Senator was brigandly deprived. This was backed up by calls from numerous quarters for Uyo to show understanding and maturity especially within PDP, over the travails of the party premised upon the defection of two out of the three Senators of Akwa Ibom from PDP to APC, during the period.
2. THE 2023 ELECTION IN VIEW
The 2023 election is another defining moment for every political strata and cluster. In view of the highlighted antecedents, Atai Uyo Political Stalwarts are poised to preventing exploit, marginalization and deprivation of our rights and due in the upcoming and unfolding political dispensation. For avoidance of doubt, the table here below, shows how senatorial seat in Uyo senatorial District has been occupied since 1999 till date.
S/n
NAMES
TENURE
NO OF YEARS
LGA
FED. CONST.
1.Sen. John Udoedeghe
1999 – 2003
4
uyo
uyo
2. Sen. Effiong Bob
2003 -2011
8
Nsit Ubium
Etinan
3. Sen. Ita Enang
2011 – 2015
4
Ibiono Ibom
Itu/Ibiono
4. Sen. Bassey Albert
2015 -2023
8
Ibiono Ibom
Itu/Ibiono
From the table above, it can be deduced that:
(i) Uyo Federal Constituency Occupied the Senatorial seat for only 4years
(ii) Etinan Federal Constituency occupied the Senatorial seat for 8 years
(iii) Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency, by 2023, would have occupied the Senatorial seat for 12 years.
Let it be noted that, Uyo Federal Constituency is the largest and the strongest in Uyo Senatorial District; having four Local Government Areas (compared to Etinan with Three LGAs and Itu/ Ibiono with Two LGAs). In terms of voting strength, we possess the highest voting strength, yet we have been treated unfairly without regard to our feelings.
OUR POSITION AND RESOLUTIONS
(a) Atai Uyo Political Stalwarts are peace loving, law abiding and in support of the completion agenda of H.E. Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
(b) Atai Uyo Political Stalwarts are respectful and obedient to constituted authorities including our Political, Traditional and Religious Leaders; especially, the upright in heart and conduct.
(c) Atai Uyo Political Stalwarts shall employ all legal and peaceful means in their bid to protect what rightly belongs to them as the season of next political season dawns.
(d) Atai Uyo Political Stalwarts shall work in concert with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the next Senator of Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District emerges from Uyo Federal Constituency.
(e) Atai Uyo Political Stalwarts shall, with their last energy, resist any attempt from within or without the federal constituency, aimed at taking away or jeopardizing our chances of achieving our rightful political seat or slot(s) and/ or giving away such rights to other people or places for whatever reasons or justifications.
(f) We collectively call on our leaders who are on the voyage of selling our birth rights and future for a ration of “tentative beans meal” to retrace their steps, actions, affinities and covenants and rise to support the fight to reclaim what belongs to us.
(g) Atai Uyo Political Stalwarts shall refuse to be cajoled by parochially minded persons, self- centered leaders who are out to sell, mortgage and perpetually enslave our destinies and even the future of our subsequent generations with their sugar-coated messages of peace, having the sole aim of perpetually remaining in power or securing favours, while the generality of the people suffer generational retrogression.
OUR PRAYERS
In view of the positions and resolutions articulated above, we pray as follows:
1. That the Political Leader of Uyo Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, a man known for always standing by the truth, a promoter of justice, equity and fair play, should rise in his habitual manner and speak at where and when it matters, to salvage our Federal Constituency from the hands of Political Armed Robbers who have already besieged our homes.
2. That our brother and sisters, from Etinan and Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituencies, who have in the recent past, enjoyed our support and solidarity, should rise to our support because what is good for the gander is also sauce for the goose.
3. That all the respective Political Leaders in the four Local Government areas should bury their differences and join forces to the defense of Uyo federal Constituency.
4. That our Royal Majesties, Our Royal Highnesses and all other Leaders of our traditional Institutions should make advocacy physically and spiritually for the emancipation of our home (Uyo Federal Constituency), as well as securing our rights
5. That H.E. Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, should address as matter of urgent public importance, every insinuation, agitation and aspiration nursed or perceived from places and locations other than Uyo Federal Constituency for the seat of the Senator Uyo Senatorial District in the upcoming 2023 elections; and use his good office to cause them to retrace their steps in the interest of peace, harmony and peaceful coexistence.
6. That the State Party Chairmen of the Political Parties in Akwa Ibom State, in concert with their Executive committees, should stick to the principles of zoning, justice, equity and fair play and ensure that Uyo federal Constituency gets her fair due and rights during the upcoming elections in 2023.
7. That all our sons, daughters, in-laws, friends and associates, at home and in diaspora should come together as we wage this war against political brigandage which is looming in the air.
CONCLUSION
Once again, we pledge our loyalty and support to the maintenance of peace in Uyo Federal Constituency, Uyo Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large. However, It must be noted that:
UYO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY IS NOT A SLAVE AND WE ARE NOT WILLING TO PLAY SECOND FIDDLE IN THE NEXT POLITICAL AGENDA AND DISPENSATION.
In evidence of our commitment to our resolutions and prayers, we have appended our names and signatures to this document.
