Attacking PDP over zoning show of ignorance – Gov Emmanuel’s aide tackles ex-CoS 

The Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Research and Documentation, Mr Essien Ndueso has tackled the former Chief of Staff to the governor and senatorial candidate for Eket Senatorial District under the Young Progressives Party, YPP, Chief Ephraim Inyangeyen over his comments on zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Inyangeyen, a member of PDP before cross-carpeting to YPP had said that PDP has no moral right to talk about zoning as it (PDP) failed to zone the presidential ticket to the South and that of gubernatorial in the state to Itu/Ibiono.

Inyangeyen a former PDP chieftain could not clinch the senatorial ticket of PDP because stakeholders in the district zoned the senatorial seat to Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency which led to the emergence of Ekong Sampson as the party’s flagbearer.

Irked by the development, Inyangeyen blasted the PDP over the zoning saying that PDP has shot itself in the foot since the governorship candidate of the party is from Etinan as against the Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency that should produce the next governor.

However, Essien Ndueso who is also the Head, Media and Publicity, Ekong Sampson Campaign Organisation in a press statement obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday said Inyangeyen’s utterance was a mere ‘display of ignorance.’

According to the press statement, “what the YPP Senatorial candidate fails to understand is the fact that Akwa Ibom South (Eket)Senatorial District is bigger than a single individual and not even an arrogant or loquacious politician with zero regards for elders and traditional institution in the district can blackmail the entire district to dance to his dictate.

“The PDP national leadership left the race for the presidential ticket opened to all because of the peculiarities in the country and Atiku Abubakar emerged. The party zoned the governorship seat in Akwa Ibom to Uyo Senatorial District and Pastor Umo Eno won. The party also zoned the Senatorial Seat for Eket to Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency and Barr Ekong Sampson won, what is so difficult to understand?

“While Akparawa Ephraim Inyang cannot deny that he was at the special meeting of stakeholders and leaders of the senatorial district earlier this year, where the unanimous decision zoning the senatorial seat for 2023 goes to Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency was reached.

“Once that decision on zoning was reached, every politician from other federal constituencies in the senatorial district, including the serving member of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Pat Ifon, opted to back out of the race. No reasonable person defies the collective decisions of his people.

“Apart from exposing his ignorance as a newcomer in the politics of Eket Senatorial District, the unwarranted outburst against the previous senators in the senatorial district shows how much disconnected from reality, Chief Ephraim Inyang has been.

“Nobody in his right frame of mind can challenge the noble efforts of former First Lady, Her Excellency Senator Helen Esuene and the incumbent Senator Akon Eyakenyi who have both performed so creditably well in human capacity development and social welfare schemes in the district. These are definitely not the same people Ephraim would glibly slam in his bid to score cheap political points.”

“Eket Senatorial District has spoken clearly that it needs a highly cerebral and well-lettered representative in the red chambers, Eket Senatorial District needs a representative with a calm disposition to speak for, and listen to the people of the district. Eket Senatorial District needs a man who has been found worthy in the legislature at both the grassroots and the state level to connect the dots and be the voice that would champion a cause that would be beneficial to the entire Eket Senatorial District and Akwa Ibom State as a whole. Eket Senatorial District needs someone who has never been sacked or disgraced out of a previous public office.” Ndueso added.