The political crisis rocking ITU Local government has generated so much tension in the state,and one can not but conclude that the Local government is under attack,and this is bad for the development of the area. It is most regrettable that a once peaceful local government, with so much natural resources, infact one of the oldest local government in Akwa Ibom State,could currently stay without a ” Government”.

From the look of things ,it has pass a conflict stage,up to a crisis stage,as a result of an incompatibility of interest between Political actors,who are struggling to hold unto power and party structures (PDP) at the Local Government level ,with influence on the state for political reasons.

From 2014,a new level of political theories were propounded in Itu PDP,more worst than it was ,which caused the Exodus of so many political bulldozers in Itu from PDP to other parties,some popular names,of which I will not mention here,but those that have played the politics of Akwa Ibom State,and influence the party politics in Itu can draw up their list and see my thought here as a fact.

Sometimes I am tempted to think that one of the factors that is causing this political crisis currently rocking Itu is the fact that Itu Local government does not have a political leader. I know some people might begin to wonder what mythological approach will make me conclude that,a local government under political attacks by people who are standing as middle men between the State government and the Local government does not have a leader.

There is this belief that Senator Anietie Okon is the political leader for Itu Local government, but what theory really was used to propound this ,and how did the people arrived at this conclusion?. Those who have followed the politics of Itu are familiar with the name Elder Udo Ekop Udo Usoro, who was chosen by the stakeholders,as the political leader for Itu. Since his exit from PDP,the vacuum for leadership of the party was created,hence the acclaimed.

The PDP in Itu according some people,was more interesting a party when Elder Usoro was sailing the ship,because the issues of impositions, injustice, was not as it is now. There was inclusiveness in politicking, elders of the party were carried along,stakeholders in their wards,were given their due respect of choosing officials of the party in their various wards,and their respect were intact.

Elder Usoro left PDP because the party was said to have initially brought Obong Umana Okon Umana to the market for people to buy,later the product taken off the market,by this time he had already diffuse the innovation and decided to stand by his earlier word to the people,as a man of one word and action which he was known for. Then came the call for loyalty, hence his Exodus.

The coming of Governor Udom Emmanuel as the Governor ,with his relationship with the Commissioner of Housing and Special duties Mr Akan Okon,brought in another political theory ,because the Commissioner started calling meetings of stakeholders at Senator Okon’s home at Mbiatok Itam,which resulted in an occasion where the Governor himself made an address at same.

Why did the stakeholder and elders of the party not come out and choose a political leader after elder Usoro?

The case of imposition became worst,when the wrestlers in this fight Senator Anietie Okon,Prince Idongesit Ituen,Mr Akan Okon,Mr Effiong Ebong,decided to form a cabal,invaded peoples ward,selected party officials,make political decision that brought insult to some elders of the party,who forced some to either retire from active politics,defect to another party ,or remain in the party and wish for a” restructuring”.

Before now, it was a conspiracy of silence, but the dirty fight became open few months ago,where the internet space,newspapers could not but flooded with articles upon articles of attack and counter attacks,by writers with sympathy with Mr Akan Okon and Prince Idongesit Ituen,defining it as a ” break in cabal conspiracy”,even a blind man could see and feel the hatred in between.

The very first article I read was attacking Prince Idongesit,credited to one Mr Victor from his ward,ward8,who is believed was Mr Akan Okon”s right hand man for the Youth caucus leader’s position and councils intrigues. One wonders why Mr Akan Okon could invade Prince Idongesit Ituen’s ward to impose a candidate.

On considering the above,the word imposition came to me and I said ” So Imposition is fighting back and Mr Akan Okon and Prince Idongesit Ituen are running Amok”,as theory of a second term by Prince Idongesit Ituen is said to be strongly oppose by the Okon’s cabal,once allies in the conspiracy.

After the article of the said Victor came,which was like a missiles lunched,the supporters of Prince Ituen concluded that Mr Akan Okon was behind the attack on Prince Idongesit Ituen. Then came different solidarity attacks and counter attacks,gradually the tension went away,rolling into the local administration and the fraud scandal, were the Chairman of the Council Mrs Esara was indicted of corruption and misappropriation of the Local government funds.

Three members of the Itu transition Committee had petitioned the council chairman before the House of Assembly over fraud,this some people believed was sponsored by Prince Idongesit Ituen ,to oust the Chairman, whose loyalty was with the Okon’s family at Mbiatok Itam.

There was also fraud scandal that brought in Senator Okon,who the chairman was said to be servicing with the, Local government funds, the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Martha Udom,who the scandal defined that the local government funds was used to settle bills on her behave,but till today,no press release from the office of the first lady,exonerating her from the scandal.

Fast forwarding it to the worst period in the history of Itu,where other Local government areas have a committee set to hold power in the local government, till an election is conducted,but Itu has none at the moment.

After Mrs Esera was sacked by the Governor, not too long came the dissolution of the entire local government transition committee in the State,for new structures, though same old wine have been return,while Itu case is pending.

Looking at the whole power play as it regard the suspension of the inauguration of Itu local government transition committee, it is really a very shameful thing ,that the political actors in Itu are more interested in controlling the political structure at the local government, than the smooth running of the local government for the benefit of the people.

What I don’t really understand is why the Governor suspended the inauguration of the Transition committee in Itu,and what theory of pressure could inform his decision,and who manipulated Itu list.

Is Governor Udom Under pressure?

After the list was out,some supporters of Prince Idongesit Ituen were flooding the internet with picture of the new Transition Chairman Pastor Fortune Umoh, giving the impression that he Prince Ituen has succeeded in installing a transition committee chairman for Itu.

This may not have gone well with the Okon’s cabal,shortly the news of the suspension of the inauguration. But from the list,it is very clear that it did not originate from one cabal, and should not have resulted to this shameful act of political intolerance. Aside the Chairman, whose name may not have been sent by either Senator Anietie Okon or Mr Akan Okon ,of the joint stock,from the Secretary down,except two members alone ,are of the Okon’s stock.

Why the much ado?

I don’t know the pressure the Governor is on by these political actors,but Itu Local government needs a ” Government”.

Senator Anietie Okon was known for playing national politics, while the likes of Prince Idongesit Ituen have been there with the ” Locals”,but his suddenly interest in the local government, which he never cared about is indeed a serious cause for concern.

As for Mr Akan Okon,he may not have played the politics of Itu Local government long enough to understand the political language of ” please and thank you” . It is not enough controlling the Local from the State influence, but the real people who makes things happens at the grassroot.

I pray the Governor will use the wisdom of Solomon to put a structure in Itu, solve this lingering political crisis,because he is the Leader of the party now in the State,without taking sides,no matter the influence from Senator Anietie Okon or Prince Idongesit Ituen.

Because the Local government is bigger than any person or group of persons,or even some whose impact as political Leaders from various theories,have not been felt by the Itu people, because anything outside that,he may win other Local government come 2019,but lose in Itu.

Putting these actors side by side,asking around, consulting with the elders and stakeholders of party who may have been pushed out of the party by the imposition these political actors brought,now creating a cabal this Local government does not want,and can not survive with.

I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. ~Charles de Gaulle

By Gloria Ekong

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