Gov. Bassey Otu
By Anietie Akpan
After 25 Years of Marginalization, an appeal has gone out to the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu and the political class to zone the next Chairmanship position of Ikom Local Government Area ((LGA) of the state to Olulumo ward.
The appeal came from a group, the “Opinion Voice For Ikom Leadership,” saying the zoning of the Chairmanship position has become a necessity as that is the only Ward in Ikom that has been so marginalized in terms of appointments and elective positions.
The Opinion Voice For Ikom Leadership is a pressure, non-governmental organisation resident in Ikom – Cross River State with over 800 members drawn across the eleven wards of Ikom.
A statement signed by its Chairman Pastor Tony Bassey, Secretary, Mr. Njor Collins Adekpe and eight others said, “after painstakingly and unbiased opinion poll across the wards and from members of the public for over six months, we focused our findings on the most preferred ward for the next elective local government elections for Ikom local government Council.
“Out of 11 wards, eight wards have benefited or produced elected chairmen, while three wards namely: Akparabong, Olulumo, and Ofutop have not benefited nor produced”.
However, the group argued that currently , “It is on record that Akparabong has an elected member of the State Assembly, a Commissioner and the Secretary of lkom Urban currently — while Ofutop Ward 1 has the State Deputy Chairman for APC and a Senior Special Adviser to the State Governor.
“But Olulumo Ward is yet to benefit or produce an elected Chairman for Ikom Local Government since 1999. This, to our opinion and with over 87 percent of those we sort their opinion, suggested and said strongly that Olulumo is now the most preferred Ward to produce the next chairman of Ikom”.
In view of this, the group resolved that, “on behalf of the entire members of Opinion Voice of lkom Leadership, therefore have voted and zoned the next lkom Council Chairman to Olulumo Ward.
“This is our position and the position of the majority in lkom that Olulumo Ward should produce the next lkom Council Chairman in the interest of equity and fairness” .
The group maintained that Olulumo Ward has always been on the part of the state government supporting her programmes and the Ward has always been a team player supporting others to emerge hence it is expedient that the government, the party and the political stakeholders should zone the Ikom Chairmanship position to Olulumo Ward for the interest of equity, fairness, love and harmony.