The people of Itumbonuso Clan in Ini Local Council of Akwa Ibom have made a passionate appeal to the Peoples Democratic Party to address over what they described as political suppression and cross marginalisation of their people in the zoning of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency seat.
They have also called for micro zoning in 2023 to enable Ini people produce the next National Assembly Member in the federal constituency.
Clan Head of Itumbonuso, Chief Joshua Ise told journalists that his people despite their contributions to the development of Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency and Akwa Ibom State have continued to suffer age long political neglect which if not properly addressed may render the Maintain Peace Movement advocacy of the state government an exercise in futility.
“I call on Gov Udom Emmanuel who is a product of zoning, equity and justice to look into our situation so that we can have a political office holder in Itumbonuso clan that we can look-up to in regards to the abject poverty situation in my clan.
“My people are drinking water from dirty pon, we do not have pipe born water in this clan, no power supply at all, there is an abject poverty level here in Itumbonuso, no good road network but in other places here in Ini LGA, it is not the same, my neighboring village here, Ikpe ward 2 is like London.” He cried out.
Similarly, the village head of Nchana Ebua in Itumbonuso, Ini LGA, Eteidung Jeremiah Akpan lamented the poor situation of Itumbonuso.
Akpan said the solution to the problem of the community is to have a son of the soil in Government to represent Ikono/Ini federal constituency and bring development down to all nooks and crannies of Ikono/Ini.
According to him, “the problem of Itumbonuso is that we don’t have people in government since the regime of Sen Godswill Obot Akpabio, we don’t have representative that’s why development do not come to us, our few sons and daughters have done their best, like Ita Ukpabio.”
Furthermore, a former youth leader of the PDP from the area, Mr. Lawrence Nse, affirmed that, “the Vice Chairman of Ini LGA is from ward 1 in Ini Proper political blog together with other political office holders,
“Then if you go to Iwere ward 5 in Ini proper, the current state house of Assembly Member and Chief Whip of AKHA in person of Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Bassey, AKA Irag is from there, The immediate Past Council Chairman of Ini LGA in person of Hon. Etetem Awatim who served the council for about 6 years is also from there together with other political office holders.
“Nkari ward 4 in our zone here has many SSA’s to the Governor but here we do not have any political office holder, why is it so? When we are part of Akwa Ibom State, we call on the God of Justice to deliver Ita Ukpabio for us as he is our only hope for now.”
Nse made a special case for Ukpabio to be given a chance to represent the Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.
“Ita Ukpabio, is a top-rated industrialist, investment tycoon, management consultant, savvy businessman and a philanthropist, is the CEO of Icon Bullion Limited, Executive Director of the biggest Gold Refinery in West Africa, Republic of Ghana, Sahara Royal Gold Refinery Limited and the Chairman/President of I. T. A Investment & Business Consulting Company Limited, Ghana.
“Hello is a Law Graduate from the prestigious Ghana Institute for Management and Public Administration (GIMBA).Born five decades ago in Akwa Ibom State to Mr & Mrs. Samuel Ukpabio Inyang, he is a native of Okobedi, Itu Mbonuso in Ini Local Government Area.
“He had traversed the length and breath of the private sector, owning businesses both nationally and internationally with human capacity, wide knowledge of an organizational structure for economic revelational changes.
Ukpabio has also extended the footprints of his investment into oil, gas and mining businesses and he is currently dealing on mining of mineral resources such as precious metals, gold, diamond, etc.
“These establishments alongside its subsidiaries have generated both direct and indirect employment for hundreds of people, Nigerians in particular.He is generous to a fault and philanthropy runs in his vein, and has practically turned humanitarianism and philanthropism to simplicity with establishment of his charitable organization, Ita Ukpabio Foundation.” He explained.
