One of the Local government areas of Akwa Ibom State, Eastern Obolo, has condemned the joint ticket it shares with Ikot Abasi Local Government in the constituency seat of the State House of Assembly.
The leaders of Eastern Obolo said the joint ticket they share has not helped in the development of the council in any way.
The President of a socio-cultural organisation in the council “Obolo me Obolo”, Mr. Emmanuel Paul, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Uyo on Thursday.
He disclosed that the LG had enjoyed single constituency ticket in the then Cross River State and in Akwa Ibom State shortly after the creation of the state in 1987, wondering why it is now sharing a state constituency seat with Ikot Abasi LG.
“Another thing we want to mention is that as a child, our royal father here has represented us in the then Cross River State House of Assemby (Eastern Obolo) not (Eastern Obolo with Ikot Abasi).
“Hon Dan James represented only Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom State after the creation of the state. The question is how come now we are sharing a state constituency ticket with Ikot Abasi LG. Eastern Obolo deserves a single seat in the state House of Assemby” Paul said
He also appealed to Governor Udom Emmanuel to create Akwa Ibom oil producing committee Commission adding that other states in the Niger Delta region have started reaping the benefits of such a Commission.
“Our appeal is that governor Udom Emmanuel should create an oil producing community committee Commission for Akwa Ibom State. Delta State has it, other states in the Niger Delta region have theirs and they are reaping the results of it already.
“If we have an oil producing Commission that is funded by government most of the demands will now be channeled through the Commission. We need a director and a state representative in NDDC” he said.
He decried the level of marginalisation of the local government in the area of appointments by the federal government agencies and multi national companies operating in the area, saying people from other local governments come in to claim Eastern Obolo
He said, “If you go to Total Nigeria Limited, ExxonMobil, Shell Petroleum Development Company and others, you will see indigenes from other local governments claiming they are from Eastern Obolo while our land is being destroyed every day by gas flaring.”
