Ukelle indigenes resident in Abuja, under the aegis of Ukelle National Development Forum have written to Governor Ben Ayade over the forthcoming bye election to fill the vacant seat of Cross River North senatorial District in the National Assembly.
The senatorial seat was declared vacant following the demise of Senator Dr. Rose Oko, who died in a UK hospital, early April.
In a letter addressed to the governor, a copy of which was sent to our correspondent, the forum urged the governor to compensate Ukelle community for the years of political marginalisation by supporting their candidate, who is a native of the area.
According to the letter signed by Engr James Inaku, Covener and Alex Ebi Edim, Esq, legal adviser, the group appealed to the governor to use his position to correct the political imbalance, neglect and marginalisation that have long been meted out on the Ukelle nation.
The socio-political organization reiterated its commitment to support governor Ayade’s led administration while calling on him to use his office to “correct the injustice done on the Ukelle people (Yala ll constituency) over the years in political representation to support Chief Mrs Martina Odom, as the right candidate and loyal party chieftain to complete the remaining tenure of late Senator Rose Okoji Oko, of blessed memory.”
The group lamented the alleged disinterest on the part of both the State and Federal government to develop infrastructure in the territory, adding that since independence, nobody from the Ukelle ethnic group had been elected into the National Assembly or appointed “member of the Federal Executive Council”.
This, they stressed, was in breach of the nation’s constitution which espouses that the principle of federal character must be taken into consideration while appointing people into offices at all levels of governance.
The group maintained that continuously Ignoring the Ukelle people who are among the oldest inhabitants of Cross River North Senatoral District will be catastrophic.
The letter reads in parts, “The crux of our letter to you is centred around the vacancy so created in the Nigerian Senate. It is our collective view that this natural occurrence is a divine opportunity offered you to compensate Ukelle for their many years of political marginalisation.
“Ukelle has for too long remained at the back seat of Ogoja politics. A cursory look at the scenario shows a clear picture of the extent of marginalization we have suffered”
“Sir, this is what our lot has been in politics, treated like second class citizens in our state. You know the geographical and political structure of the entire Northern Senatorial district and indeed the state. We appeal to you to use your benevolence and good offices to correct these massive injustices which we have borne like a curse for all the years of our political experience.
“In all honesty, since the return of democracy in 1999, Cross River North has been the most disadvantaged Senatorial District among others in the State in terms of quality representation in the Senate.
“The zone only had a voice or enjoyed what others did in the Senate for only 4 years when Sen. Ben Ayade (now Governor) was in the Senate. Before and after him, the representation leaves much to be desired.
Cross River North needs a Senator with a track record of performance. A proven achiever, an experienced and exposed leader that will not loose her voice when she gets to Abuja.”
