Udom's administration versus Otoro-Ubo Clan

Since 2015, when Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel became Akwa Ibom State Governor, publc commentators, critics, human rights activists and social writers across Nigeria have been brainstorming on the stagnated status of Ikot Ekpene traditional institution despite its long history as the political capital of Annang ethnic nationality. Although, the town attracted the colonial interest for experimenting local government system snce 1951, its traditional structure has ever remained ridiculously retroggressive weighed down by some internal forces. In order to effect judicious and fair representative governance across the 31 local government areas of the state, since its creation in 1987, successive political leaderships have been established on a simple tripod-three senatorial districts-to create equitable and unbiased representation among the different geo-ethnic diversities.
New local government areas have been created from the original ones, to bring sustainable development nearer to the grassroots. Each administration from the existing tripodal structure brings in varying policy measures that suit its capacity and political philosophy. The strength of actualizing certain projects in the state is derived from the accrued internally generated revenues and the allocations from its natural resources. By implication, these allocations and revenues, which include the tax-payers' sweat, for the sake of transparency and accountability, must impact the infrastructural and general economic lifestyle of the people of the state. Ethnic politics must not be allowed to influence sectorial developments. The ethnic background of any leader in the state must not be allowed to influence employment opportunities, contract awards, admissions into academic institutions or promotions in any office. The establishment or location of institutional structures in any part of the state should be done with fairplay and on merit, rather than building on selfishness, greed, nepotism, hatred and divisiveness. The spirit of unity should be the guiding post in our struggle for greatness and relevance.
Unfortunately, since the present democratic dispensation took the centre stage in 1999, allegations of moral fraud and social miscarriage by our leaders have marred
our corporate identity as a people. Our dignity as a people chosen and ordained by Akwa Abasi Ibom has diminished. Our social values have decayed and, our hopes have shattered on the altar of inter-ethnic disharmony and mutual suspicion among our leaders and elders creating an uncertain future for the upcoming generations.
Weapons of character assasination and uncalculated blackmail are used at alarming proportions. We are not united as a people defined by a common identity-language, cultural heritage and lifestyle. We don't promote our brother's talents and socio-economic attributes. Our pride as intellectually-rich and as a land of cultural fortunes is fading out.
Akwa Ibom State has 31 local government areas. These local government areas are further divided into clans and, for political reasons, into wards and units. The more local government areas, the more clans, wards or units we have, the more development we take to the local communities. It is therefore, the responsibility of every administration to ensure that meaningful developments are drawn to the grassroots by encouraging the creation of local or rather, traditional governance structure to stimulate positive development in the local communities. This gives a sense of belonging and impact of dividends of governance.
When Mr. Udom Emmanuel assumed the mantle of leadership in 2015 as the democratically-elected governor of Akwa Ibom State, he promised to restructure the traditional institutions in the state, irrespective of the senatorial district. Hopes were high and expectations were geared towards embracing a new era of traditional revolution in the state. He made state-wide consultations with royal stakeholders to achieve his envisaged goals in the restructuring project, which included, creating of new clans and villages and making the state's Traditional Rulers Council a model in traditional matters.
But perhaps, surrounded with selfish and greedy advisers and mistrusted cabinet, Mr. Udom's steps allegedly lost their focus and steered towards only his ethnic home. He hurriedly created more clans and villages within the Ibibio land. All of them have been issued certificate of recognition and inaugurated as functional clans without reservations. Sons and daughters of Ibibio extraction stood with their son ( His Excellency) and lobbied to ensure that the restructuring project of the place traditional institution was fully achieved.
But back to Ikot Ekpene, the story takes a different shape. Otoro-Ubo clan, the
third clan in the place, after Amanyam and Urban clans, had been created for many years now. Elections for clanheadship of the place was credibly conducted and the winner emerged quite on merit but the fate of the clan remains uncertain till today. The clanhead-elect, Doctor Ime S. Ekpo, has been expecting the hour of his certification, recognition and turbaning, to assume the royal leadership of his clan.
It is believed that some negative forces in Udom's government, specifically, from Ikot Ekpene extraction, may have been playing behind the screen, against the actualization of this envisaged goal, diametrically opposed to how the Ibibio sons and daughters lobbied to achieve a common goal, for sensible traditional development in their place.