The Oro Mandate Group, a front line socio-political group from the third largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State, has described Senator Godswill Akpabio’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (PAC) as a “plea bargain” with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The group says it has watched with great curiosity and dismay, the ongoing intrigues surrounding the purported defection of the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district, Senator Godswill Akpabio, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a release signed by the group’s President, Eteyen Ukpong and made available to INDEPENDENT in Uyo on Wednesday, the group alleged a political deal between Akpabio and the EFCC, of which the Senator agreed to defect to APC, to assist the party win the 2019 governorship election by supporting the Managing Director of the NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere, who was once his Deputy Governor, which he tried to impeach out of office while he was governor of the state, had been struck.
“In all of these political calculations and intrigues, we will like to ask one simple question: Where lies the interest of Oro nation, comprising of the five very large and richly endowed local governments namely Oron, Mbo, Udung Uko, Urue Offong/Oruko and Okobo LGAs in the political calculation of the APC in the unfolding APC political dynamics ahead of 2019?
“It will be good to recall that our founding fathers at the creation of the state in 1987 had agreed and laid a curse that since Akwa Ibom stands on a tripod, the Governorship seat MUST always in the interest of unity, equity and harmonious coexistence be zoned to rotate on the basis of the three major ethnic groups in the state; the Ibibio (Akpan), Annang (Udo) and Oro (EtokUdo).
The group, which lamented over what it described as marginalization of the minority in the state, said “It is very saddening that since the creation of the state, Oro nation has continued to be marginalised in the political scheme of things despite her many sacrifices and contribution to the growth and development of Akwa Ibom and the federation at large.
“No one can deny that Oro alone generates over 80 percent of oil revenue accruing to Akwa Ibom and also substantially contributes greatly to the revenue accruable from oil to the federation account, yet the area has little or nothing to show for in terms of infrastructural development or political appointments befitting her contribution,” the release read.
The group therefore called on the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and President Muhammadu Buhari to look into predicament of the Oro people and address this age-long injustice against the Oron nation, if the party is desirous of winning the 2019 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.
Read more https://independent.ng/akpabios-defection-to-apc-based-on-plea-bargain-with-buhari-efcc-oro-group/
