…..demands N50m damages.
….appeals for Eno’s intervention.
By Emmanuel Abi Couson
As activities hots up for the October 2024 local government election in Akwa ibom state, an aggrieved community Ibiakot Central (Zone A) in Nsit Atai local government area of the state have dragged the Political leaders of the local government to court challenging the political marginalization of their zone from governance .
They alleged their zone has been denied representation in elected offices in Nsit Atai from chairmanship to House of Assembly for 25 years now and demanded compensation of 50 million Naira for damages of marginalizing the Ibiakot Central ( Zoning A) for the past 25 years
The plaintiffs, Hon Emmanuel Jack Bassey and Elder Sampson Sampson, representing the Ibiakot Central Development Association and Ibiaikot Zone A, had filed a suit challenging the legality and validity of the 2001 zoning report that Otuekong Raphael Bassey, Rt Hon (Elder) Mark Esset, Prince Aniefiok Attah, Rt Hon Lady Emem Ibanga, Elder Lawrence Udosen, and Monday Charlie Akpan are using to allegedly oppress them.
The people of Ibiaikot Zone A, expressed their frustrations during their enlarged meeting held yesterday at Idiaba civic center which was monitored by Correspondents.
Addressing the gathering, the Former Councilor who represented Eastern Nsit Ward 10 from 2017 to 2020, Hon Victor Udo Etim said the purported zoning report of 2001 have been severally abused and violated from 2019 and 2020 elections which invalidate the document.
He maintained that Nsit Atai Zoning actually started in 1999 when Ibiaikot Zone A resisted attempt by Late General Edet Akpan to monopolize Nsit Atai by trying to have House Assembly member and Chairman of council from Afaha leaving Ibiakot with nothing.
According to Hon Etim, “that attempt was the only reason the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) couldn’t produce chairman where All Peoples Party (APP) produced Otuekong Raphael Bassey who started zoning in 1999. He said that shortly after the election, consultation for zoning started which led to the 2001 report that excluded Ibiakot zone A from the arrangement as a punishment for supporting Otuekong Raphael Bassey of then APP.
” The crisis made most members of the zoning committee refused to sign the report that didn’t capture the interest of all zones. It was only 7 out of 16 member committee that signed the report”.
He explained that when zoning came back to Ibiaikot, Elder Mark Esset from Ibiaikot Zone C, took turn, and now that chairmanship zoning has returned to Ibiaikot, it should be zone A that has never tasted any elected office not zone B being Essien Itiaba.
He further explained that it was because of the three family zoning in Ibiakot that zone A agreed for zone B being Essien Itiaba to produce the current Paramount Ruler of Nsit Atai as by traditional arrangements, the most senior village head becomes Group Head and eventually Clan head and Paramount Ruler.
The former lawmaker maintained that as at time to select Paramount Ruler, the most senior village head in Ibiakot was Chief David Udo Udo from Ibiaikot zone A which Otuekong Raphael Bassey pleaded that since zone A has had a Paramount Ruler before, Late Chief Etim Udo Ekwere, that zone B being Essien Itiaba should be considered, and it was granted. That’s how Chief Okon Peter Effiong from Essien Itiaba become the current Paramount Ruler of Nsit Atai who is equally supporting injustice today.
He called on the political leader , Otuekong Raphael Bassey to return the same favour to Ibiaikot Zone A by allowing them the chairmanship since he had taken the Essen Itiaba turn in 1999.
The plaintiffs in a suit number HET/25/2024 pending in the high court is seeking the court declaration of villages that constitute Ibiakot Central (Zone A) being recognized by the law of Akwa Ibom State and Nsit Atai traditional law to be accorded all rights and privileges accorded all other villages and persons in the local government area in all aspects.
A declaration that the purported Zoning formula of Political Offices entered into on 10th October, 2001 and adopted by Defendants in Zoning Offices of the Chairman and House of Assembly in Nsit Atai Local Government Area is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.
An order of court setting aside the purported Zoning formula of Political Offices entered into on 10th October, 2001 and adopted by Defendants in Zoning Offices of the Chairman and House of Assembly member in Nsit Atai Local Government Area forthwith.
A declaration that Ibiakot Central (Zone A) is one of the recognized geopolitical Zones in Nsit Atai Local Government Area and that qualified people of Ibiakot Central ( Zone A) are entitled to hold office as the Chairman and House of Assembly member in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
An order of court restraining the Defendants from considering or selecting any person from Ibiakot Essien Itiaba geopolitical Zones to contest election in to the political Offices of the Chairman of Nsit Atai Local Government Council in the forthcoming 2024 local government elections in Akwa Ibom State.
And a compensation of 50 million Naira fine damage for marginalizing the Ibiakot Central ( Zoning A) for the past 24 years.
