Oron Federal Constituency Warns against ‘Anointing’, Imposition of Candidates in 2023

The delegates from Oron Federal Constituency have warned those they describe as ‘godfathers and political profiteers’ not to foist any preferred senatorial aspirant on them in Eket Senatorial District to which they belong.

They gave this warning when Ephriam Inyaneyen the generally accepted senatorial aspirant went on a consultative visit to the Peoples Democratic Party leadership and delegates in the federal constituency on his final lap of consultation to the federal constituency yesterday.

While making bare his intentions to the delegates and party leadership from Okobo and Uruefoong Oruko local government areas, the people vowed that contrary to what used to be the norm in previous years where political godfathers chose, anointed, or imposed whomever they liked on them, 2023 will be a different ball game.

the former Commissioner for Works Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen,

The two local council areas complete the rounds of consultation in the Oron federal constituency by the senatorial aspirant who is the former Chief of Staff to Governor Udom Emmanuel. Three others already visited were Mbo, Udung Uko and Oron local government areas.

The delegates and party leaders after jaw jawing resolved to henceforth insist on capacity, competence and antecedents of whoever is seeking to represent them at the National Assembly instead of the cheap excuses of the past bothering on zoning.

According to the people of Oron federal constituency, they arrived at this position because of the poor trend of senatorial representation that has brought nothing tangible to the people in terms of dividends of democracy that other senatorial districts in the state have been enjoying.

“After a careful study and review of our stake in the National Assembly, except the memorable years of Senator Udo Udoma, we haven’t been proud of anything again. Godfathers, for their selfish interest, had capitalized on the excuse of zoning to plant their stooges who lacked the needed qualities to speak for us up there.

“Sometimes we wonder if it is only Uyo and Ikot Ekpene that sent senators to the National Assembly. Those are the only senatorial districts in the State one can be proud of because of the quality noise they have been making and what has been tickling down in consequence. The summary is that in 2023, we must know whom we vote for and why. That is why the emergence of a name like Akparawa Inyangeyen in whose capacity we trust offers hope in 2023.”

Earlier, while addressing the delegates from Okobo and Urueffong Oruko at their different chapter offices, Akparawa Inyangeyen said his reason to join the race in 2023 was driven by personal conviction and ambition that God has blessed him with what it takes to change the narratives and he was coming out by himself without being sent by anybody so that he will be accountable to the people and God.

“I have decided to come out by myself out of my personal conviction that, with a sense of humility, God has blessed me with what it takes to bring about a new trajectory of discourse in senatorial representation in Eket Senatorial District in 2023. Each election season that passes by, Eket Senatorial district is always soaked in complaints and nothing but complaints. The faults have been ours because of our past mistake or failure to ask and insist on what is right and shall serve the collective aspirations of the senatorial district.

“Now, the tides have changed. We must begin to ask whoever wants to represent us what he or she is going to do there; if such a person has the capacity and competence to bring results. Let it be sounded that the season when a cabal held secret meetings and anoint or adopt and chose who should represent us has passed. That anointing oil has finished. Whoever wants to go to the Senate in 2023 should come out and interface with the people and participate in a fair contest, rather than wait for anointing oil. That’s why I have come. Don’t adopt or anoint me. I come to seek your mandate. It is not my right but a privilege that you hold the power to grant. And I will never disappoint you”, Inyangeyen promised.

Most of the delegates who spoke with LENS Online agreed that Inyaneyen’s capacity have been tested and thus enjoys additional advantage since the three federal constituencies in the Senatorial district have all taken turns meaning any of the federating units could start.