Akwa Ibom:The Battle of Minorities
The creation of Akwa Ibom State has led to emergence of minorities within minority. But after two terms of Governor Victor Attah, an Ibibio, will Annangs or Oron zone enjoy a taste of power? Asks Efem Nkanga in Uyo
Akwa Ibom State is hinged on a tripod ethnic groups, comprising of the Ibibios, Annangs and the Oron divisions. Over time, the Ibibios who are in the majority have held sway in practically every area of governance, while the Annangs and Oron people in the minority have had to play second fiddle in the scheme of things.
For the minorities in Akwa Ibom, the creation of the state almost 17 years ago has put them in the back burner, making mincemeat of the bond that existed between the founding fathers who agitated for the creation of the state. Those who fought for the creation of the state were a mixture of Ibibios, Annangs and Oron divisions. The creation of the state has brought out ethnicity which was non existent before the Ibibios, ethnic group have been in the forefront, leaving the Annangs and the Oron's yearning for a piece of the action.
Governor Victor success at the polls for a second term of office was said to be brokered on a gentleman agreement that the Annangs will support Attah so that come 2007, an Annang man will man affairs at the hilltop.
The ''Afe Annang'', the supreme body of Annang people in its first summit this year had in a communique called for an Annang man to be elected governor in 2007 for the promotion of peace, unity and rapid development in the state.
Top politicians in the state who are of Annang extraction are of the opinion that 2007 will definitely be the year of the Annangs in the rulership structure of the state. To them that is the only way the perceived marginalization and injustice meted to the minorities will be cleansed.
A top politician of Annang extraction in the state, who does not want his name in print, in an interview reiterated that the Ibibio man is not better than the Annang man. "the Annang man in his estimation is a warrior and a defender of the people of the state.
In war times, the Annang man comes out with his cutlass to defend the Ibibios, so the Annang man as a warrior, has all the ingredients needed to rule the state. He concluded by declaring that come 2007 there will be no vacancy at the hilltop for any Ibibio man except the Annang man.
He accused Attah of working subtly against the interest of the minority. He added that the only ministerial slot of the state was given to an Ibibio as well as the position of secretary to the state government. To him this is just a means of ensuring that the Ibibios forever dominate the Annang, but Hon. Barrister Godswill Akpabio, the state commissioner for local government and chieftancy affairs, an Annang man, disagrees that Attah has fueled the marginalization of the minorities.
He declares that "minorities have never fared better in any other administration than they are currently being treated in the administration of Attah." He admitted that in the past in Akwa Ibom people complain of marginalization and there were instances, where staff and employees of certain extraction were booted out of office because they were from the minority.
According to Akpabio, Attah by his exposure happens to be an Ibibio. Akwa Ibom man who has faced minority status outside having livid in Kaduna and elsewhere and his experiences outside he's brought to bear on the governance of the state to the extent that he's involved every sector, tribe and ethnic group in a such away as to generate harmony.
Hon Akpabio reiterated that in Attah's cabinet, the deputy governor is an Annang man, while the Speaker is an Oron man. Apart from this, key ministeries like that of works is presently manned by an Annang man in a bid to give everyone a sense of belonging and brotherhood.
In another reaction, Attah's special adviser on political and legislative affairs, Hon. Udo Ekpenyong reiterated that Obong Attah has "succeeded in giving the state a pan Akwa Ibom image"
He stated that there was no more ethnic conflicts in the state as both the minorities and majorities speak in one voice and act like one man in the state.
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