Date Published: 03/23/10

Dear Editor,

Re: What does Obong Victor Attah want?

The print media was recently awash with a 3-paged advertorial entitled “ What does Obong Attah want?” by persons ostensibly acting in the interest of Akwa Ibom government. There was no way the eight signatories (to the advertorial), namely retired Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, Jackson Udoh, Mrs. Helen Esuene, Godwin Ntuk Udeh, retired Captain Iniobong Ekeng, Obong Peter Atakpo, Obong Bassey Inuaeyen and Dr, Maurice Ebong would have sat down to dedicate a common purse from their personal resources to embark on such advertorial and for what (their) cause?

Having said so, one has identified that two of the signatories, namely Mrs. Helen Esuene and Obong Bassey Inuaeyen would soon declare their respective intentions to run for senatorial seats of Eket and Ikot Ekpene districts respectively. They have enlisted the support of the government. Let us wait and see.  

Mrs. Esuene was a former federal minister and now haven tested what power there is in politics, would like to go all the way for Eket senatorial seat; trying to displace Senator Lady Eme Ekaette (wife of the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs) or dampen the desire of the OOO Bishop Akpan who is Governor Akpabio’s confidant and head of the AKPF. Bassey Inuaeyen, an Ibibio, would be aiming to replace his Ibibio brother who presently represents Ikot Ekpene senatorial district; the Senator’s wife was once kidnapped but released after an alleged ransom payment. Inuaeyen would have an uphill task because the Annangs being the dominant ethnic group in Ikot Ekpene and parading the likes of former Deputy Governor Dr. Chris Ekpeyong (who has indicated his senatorial interest) have perfected wresting the space from the minority Ibibios; not minding the gentleman agreement reached that an Ibibio must be the Senator while Annang the Governor. 

Though I may not know what answer former Governor Victor Attah would give to that standing question “What does Obong Victor Attah want?” ; I hope I would be right to say that probably Attah wants right things sincerely done for the benefit of the masses. And time shall tell.

Chief Okon Nseobong Akpan

Ndoneyo, Onna LGA,

Akwa Ibom State

nseobongakpan1@yahoo.com