Former Gov Emmanuel Urged To Caution Caution Enoidem To Allow Peace Reign In Etim Ekpo LGA
By Emmanuel Uffot
Ahead of October 26 Local Government poll in Akwa Ibom State, a socio- political group in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Maintain Peace For Etim Ekpo (MP4EE) has urged immediate past governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel, to prevail on Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, the immediate past National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to maintain peace in Etim Ekpo.
Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem
The MP4EE, which was floated to serve as frontline movement for rotation of next chairmanship position to Uruk clan in Etim Ekpo, in accordance with the tradition of zoning in the area, made their position known in a statement released by the group’s Publicity secretary, Comrade Solomon Udobong. The Group in their statement disclosed that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) had, a few days ago, embarked on a trip to Lagos, along with his age-long Personal Assistant, Gideon Uwa, for the purpose of seeking assistance from the former Governor to facilitate his ( Enoidem) aide to become the next chairman of Etim Ekpo local government council.
The MP4EE also in their statement alleged that on returning to Uyo, Enoidem vowed to make sure that. the state governor”s insistence on sacrosanct of zoning, which favours Uruk clan, would not stand.
Officials at the foundation laying ceremony
The group also stated that “Enoidem is about assembling counselorship aspirants through some rubber-stamp elders in Etim Ekpo to endorse his PA for chairmanship on the impression that Udom had assured him of sealing the deal”.
The group further asserted that “the scheming by Enoidem is part of his strategy to maintain grip of his political structure in order to use same in bargaining with the governor ‘s second term ambition, which could also enable him to stop the governor from standing on the way of his ( Barrister Enoidem) 2031 governorship ambition.”
With reference to the former governor, the statement said: “Mr. Udom Emmanuel should advise Enoidem, who is International Coordinator of Maintain Peace Movement to maintain Peace in Etim Ekpo the same way he did in 2023 General Elections in Akwa Ibom State, which he played a role by ensuring proper zoning of the governorship.
The statement then queried: “How can Enoidem claim to have succeeded in maintaining peace in Akwa Ibom when he has been a factor to crisis that has been bedeviling Etim Ekpo?
“Can someone claim to be coordinating peace at international level when his own country home has no peace because of selfish political ambition of one person who wants to dictate to people all the time?
“As a thorough breed professional that Udom Emmanuel has been, he should encourage Enoidem to relax a little on politics and pay more attention to his professional calling in the legal profession.
“By focusing more on his legal practice without being distracted by petty politics of always wanting his personal interest to always subsume the wishes of the majority of people, Enoidem can be able to groom his mentees in the legal profession to excel to national and international limelight, just as Udom Emmanuel has had those he mentored in the banking industry.
According to MP4EE, by attempting to drag the former governor into the local politics of Etim Ekpo, the SAN was indirectly initiating an act that might cause friction between Governor Eno and his predecessor Emmanuel.
“By attempting to drag the former governor into the local politics of Etim Ekpo, to work against the directive of Governor Umo Eno, the current party leader in Akwa Ibom, Enoidem is trying to cause friction in the lovely relationship between the former governor and his successor.
“By trying to bring Udom Emmanuel to assist in killing the laid down zoning arrangement in Etim Ekpo, Enoidem is attempting to fight against the directive of Governor Umo Eno, which places serious emphasis on peace, justice and equity to be enhanced in Akwa Ibom through adherence to zoning formulae in the respective Local Government Areas in the forth coming elections.
The Group in their statement therefore urged the former Governor to use his position now as a statesman and caution Barrister Enoidem to refrain from his act which is capable of causing serious crisis in the local government area towards and during the forthcoming election: “Mr Udom Emmanuel, please tell Emmanuel Enoidem to let Etim Ekpo people breathe peace by allowing the next chairmanship position to go to Uruk clan for the interest of peace and equity!
“Please, tell Enoidem to develop his PA of over 20 years outside sharing money.
“Let Uruk clan have their own chance to produce Etim Ekpo local government council chairman for a second time like the other four clans have so far occupied the office of the chairman for two times.”
It could be recalled that the Group had earlier forwarded their position based on this same issue of zoning to Governor Eno, pleading with him to intervene and call Barrister Enoidem to order.
