“what is good for the goose is also good for the gander” -Hon. Titus
By our Correspondent
Political Stakeholders in Etinan Local Government Area have unanimously endorsed and adopted Hon. Uko Friday Umoh as their preferred candidate for Executive Chairmanship position in the October 2024 Council polls to be conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) in Akwa Ibom State.
Acting under the aegis of Iman Continuity Mandate (ICM), the Stakeholders at the meeting held on Tuesday in Etinan said they arrived at their resolution based on Hon. Uko Umoh’s track record of superlative achievement in less than seven months in office as Transition Chairman of the area as well as justice and equity.
In a post-adoption Press Briefing, the ICM’s Director-In-Chief, Obong (Hon) Emmanuel Titus, who is also a former Supervisor for Education and Council Secretary, Etinan LGA, while speaking on behalf of the group said the adoption of Uko Umoh came after a thorough and painstaking consultation across various political interests in the area. Obong Titus said that the Iman Continuity Mandate is a platform for critical political Stakeholders with membership drawn from all the Wards and units in Etinan LGA.
He said “Today, we the political Stakeholders have come together to adopt Hon. Uko Friday Umoh as our preferred and sole candidate for the Etinan Chairmanship position in the forthcoming local government election. The reasons for our action are not far-fetched.
“Number one, we have the tradition in Etinan Local Government Area that a performing Transition or Caretaker Chairman would always transit into the substantive position as Executive Chairman.
That was how Rt. Hon (Surv) Aniedi King of blessed memory, emerged as Executive Chairman, after serving as Caretaker Chairman. By then, Chairmanship was zoned to the Southern part of Etinan.
The same arrangement saw to the emergence of Rt. Hon Isantim Kenneth Okon from Northern Iman Ward 1 as Executive Chairman and he served for two elected terms. He also served as Caretaker Chairman, totalling seven years. Incidentally, I was in that government as the Honourable Supervisor for Education and later, Council Secretary.
That was when Chairmanship position was zoned to the Northern part of Etinan.
“When Chairmanship was zoned to the Southern part of Etinan again, we had Hon (Surv) Cletus Ekpo emerged as Executive Chairman and he served two elected terms after serving as Caretaker Chairman, totalling seven years.
Now, Chairmanship has been zoned back to the Northern part of Etinan and we have Hon. Uko Friday Umoh who is currently the Transition Chairman from Northern Iman Ward II. And, the consensus across the whole of Etinan Local Government Area today is that he is performing extraordinarily well”
Outlining a brief detail on the performance of the Transition Chairman, Obong Titus continued “The leadership and the entire traditional institution in Etinan said they have felt the impact of Uko Umoh’s administration within a very short time in office. There’s massive grading of roads across all the Wards in Etinan.
Many abandoned projects in Etinan Local Government area are having the attention of the local government. They are being rehabilitated. Few months ago, the Hon. Uko Umoh-led Council administration sponsored free JAMB registration for indigent candidates of Etinan Local Government Area. These are just to mention but a few of Hon. Uko Umoh’s achievements within this period”.
Speaking on what he termed as equity and justice, the former Council Secretary said “To further promote the peace and unity currently being enjoyed in Etinan Local Government Area, there’s also the need to consider fairness, justice and equity.
“Northern Iman Ward II has never produced an elected Chairman of Etinan before. So, it can only be fair that his ward which has never produced a substantive Chairman before should be given this opportunity especially now that the Ward has produced a performing Transition Chairman. There’s no basis whatsoever for the laid down principle and template to be truncated. After all, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Hon. Uko is also entitled to seven years as Chairman provided he performs well as he is currently performing.
“It is therefore on these grounds that we have come together today, after due and painstaking consultations, to unanimously endorse Hon. Uko Umoh and also adopt him as our preferred and sole candidate for the Chairmanship position in the forthcoming Council election”
ICM also commended the governor of Akwa Ibom State for his sterling achievements within his one year in office and thanked him for insisting on zoning of offices in the state’s polity.
“Let me most specially, on behalf of Iman Continuity Mandate, commend the governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno for his sterling achievements within his first year in office. I must say that the governor has surpassed several expectations.
His Excellency must also be specially appreciated for his unrelenting stance on the zoning principles in the politics of our dear state. The Governor has sent a signal that himself being a product of zoning, such a peace-promoting principle must be maintained.
In the same vein, Iman Continuity Mandate wishes to also declare that since there is an existing template of two terms for all the governors elected in the state from 1999 till date; His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno also deserves a second term. Therefore, we have also endorsed him today for a second term, beginning from May, 2027″.
Uko Umoh is the fittest in the race for The Executive Chairmanship of Etinan LGA. He is favoured by Zoning, Capacity to deliver dividends of Democracy, as well as, Popularity to win the election on ground. Iman Ibom eyem Uko Umoh!