Stakeholders in Bakassi call for proper delineation of wards before forthcoming council polls

As political activities gathers momentum in Cross River State following the announcement of time table for Local Government elections by the chairman of Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), Dr. Ekong Boco scheduled from September 26, 2024, the people of Bakassi Local Government Area have demanded for proper identification of new wards in the area before the local council polls.

They expressed their opinion through the immediate past chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, Hon. (Chief) Iyadim Amboni Iyadim who made the remark while addressing an aspirant in the forth coming elections Mr. Effiong E. Okon, a former member of Bakassi Executive Council who consulted him for validation over the weekend in Calabar.

Iyadim who told the aspirant that he is also in the race aspiring to return for a second term, likened seeking political office to a football match where anything can happen in the field of play as power belongs to God who gives it to whoever He chooses. He referenced Ecclesiastes 9:11 “That the race is not to swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happened to them all.”

He said that his second coming is to complete some people oriented projects he initiated but could not complete in his first tenure due to paucity of funds accruing to the council at that time.

And doubling down, he appealed for a rejig of Law No. 7 2007 of the Cross River State House of Assembly which created after the return of former Bakassi Local Government Area Headquarters from Abana to Ikang, created Ikot Effiom and delineated some wards from Akpabuyo Local Government Area to form electoral wards in present Bakassi Local Government Area.

It would be recalled that new wards namely (1) Eneyo North (2) Edet Nsa ward and (3) Effangha Offiod ward were created in New Bakassi (1) Ikang South, (2) Ikang Central (3) Ikang North to give Bakassi Local Government Area ten (10) wards to facilitate electioneering which is still a bone of contention between electoral process in both Akpabuyo Local Government Area and the new Bakassi Local Government Area.

Iyadim while fielding questions from newsmen at the occasion, called for the needful to be done by the relevant government agencies to remedy the situation before the forthcoming local government elections in the area.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)