Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
By Saviour Ekpe
The people of Itu local government area have begun putting on enduring structures for the actualization of governorship slot zoned to Uyo Senatorial District according to political calculation and permutation.
Inaugurating a political platform under the aegis of Itu Peoples’ Forum (IPF), the Pro-Chancellor of Obong University and former Commissioner for Education in the then Cross River State, Prof. Efanga James Usua who was the Chairman on the occasion charged the people to develop what he termed as group interest if they want to succeed in their ambition, “I cannot stop anybody from vying for any political office but while doing that, you should have group interest at the back of your mind. Group interest should matter in this forum”.
He called on all to be prepared to subject themselves to group interest whenever that comes to the fore. The academic par excellence called on Itu people in particular and Akwa Ibom, in general, to unite as the only tool that can engender progress, growth and development of a people.
Earlier in his acceptance speech, the chairman of Itu Peoples’ Forum Hon. (Prince) Akanimoh Usanga pledged the commitment and sincerity of executive of the forum to the ideals and philosophy of the group and urged all Itu sons and daughters join hands for the rebuilding of a new Itu, which according to him will culminate to the new Itu local government area.
He stressed that the group neither have any political alliance nor own by any individual but the entire Itu people and will defend Itu people and all that they represent in all aspect of human endeavours, “The Forum is a socio-cultural organization. Having observed with dismay the political, social, moral, environmental, economical situation of the L.G.A thought it wise to bring together Patriotic sons and daughters of Itu with sincere and unbiased disposition or propensity irrespective of Political Parties, Religions and Social affiliations… Let me add that this forum is not owned by any individual or political party, rather it is owned by all sons and daughters of Itu, as a platform to accomplish specific goals and ideologies”.
The Chairman explained that the Aims and Objectives of the group, which according to him not limited to but include, “Adequate sensitization and education of Itu people on the importance of Unity, Cohesion, Sincerity and selflessness; As the people, to live a life devoid of sectional Disparity, Nepotism, Division, Rancor, Disrespect and Pulldown syndrome; To vigorously pursue and ensure the unification of Itu people at home and the Diaspora for peace, Harmony, Justice, Equity and sustainable development; To encourage, support and ensure that Itu indigenes with a genuine interest of the people at heart seeking elective and appointive political offices in all tiers of Government realized their aspirations”.
Hon. Usanga used the event to call on past Executive Chairmen and Councilors while listed out over 100 names of those he described as permanent members of the forum to include: 1. Sen. Anietie Okon, 2. Prof. Efanga James Usua, 3.HRM Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang-Paramount Ruler Itu, 4. Barr. Etietim Onuk, 5. Hon. Akan Okon, 6.Rt. Hon. Ekaette Ebong Okon, 7. Rt. Hon. Dr. Henry Archibong 8. Hon. Kufre Edidem 9. Hon. Idongesit Ntuen, 10. Hon. Barr. Kennedy Ekong 11. Barr. Godwin Awah 12. Dr. Joseph J. Akpan, 13. Dr. Nsima Akpan Edet 14. Mr. Bassey Offiong Bassey 15. Mr. James Edet, 16 Barr. Akanimo Asuquo 17 Magistrate Godwin Edet Etim, 18 Mr. Nathaniel Bassey, 19. Hon. Bassey Offiong Udo 20. Engr. Akaninyene Udi 21.Mr. Nse willie 22.Chief Effiong Essien, 23. Justice Aniekan Eton 24.Mr. Effiong Akpan, 25a. HRH Etebom Donald Uboh – Clan Head of Itam, b. HRH Edidem Ubong Okokon – Clan of Oku Iboko, c. HRH – Clan Head of Itu, d. HRH – Clan Head of Mbiabo, 26. Mr. James B. Iniema 27.Engr. Bassey Ekanem (Basse Engineering Construction ltd), 28. Mr. Soni Anyang 29. Mr. John Nta 30. Pharm. Edet Eniang 31. Mr. Raphael Edem, 32. Barr. Raphael G. Etim 33. Hon. Godwin Ndon 34. Mr. Efiok Bassey Etim, 35. Mr. Michael James Etim, 36. Pst. Usen Ebong, 37. Mr. Francis Asuquo Dan, 38. Prof. Etuk Ekanem, 39. Engr. Akan Okon, 40. Otuekong Dr. Ime Ekop Ebong, 41. Mr. Monday Idiong, 42. Idongesit Ekpaya, 43. Barr. Idorenyin Umana, 44. Obonganwan Eduok, 45. Mr. Daniel Ekong 46. Mr. Victor Okon – PDP Chapter Chairman, Itu, 47. Mr. Imoh Okon Etuk – Apc Chapter Chairman 48. Obonganwan Grace Ekong, 49. Dr. Godwin Okon Daniel, 50.Mr. Edet Usen, 51.Hon. Effiong Ebong, 51. Dr. Effiong Udugho 52. Hon. Ntuho Akpan, 53.Hon. Moses Nyong, 54.Hon. Ita Uwah, 55. Hon. Uduak Udoh 56. Hon. Imoh Effiong, 57. Mrs. Margaret H. Ekanem, 58. Engr. Edem Okon Eyo, 59. Mr. Imo Bassey Enang, 60. Dr. Bassey B. Okon, 61. Mr. Akan Udo Bassey, 62. Mr. Bassey Mfon Awah, 63. Etebom Aniefiok Andy, 64. Prince Ekpekpe Atakpa, 65. Hon. Sunny Etuk, 66. Hon. Grace Edim Inyang, 67. Mr. Okon Udo Bassey, 68 Bishop Utip, 69. Hon. Philip Obed Etim, 70. Mr. Augustin William Okon, 71. Hon. Gregory Ekpo Etim, 72. Obonganwan Christiana Udosen, 73 Dr. Ime Etim Ekong, 74. Dr. Iniubong Ansa, 75. Dr. Ekong Demson, 76. Mr. Sunday Udosen, 77. All PDP Ward Chairmen in Itu L.G.A. 78 All Apc Ward Chairmen in Itu L.G.A., 79. Elder Anthong Ibanga, 80. Dr. Monday Akpakpan, 81. Hon. Godwin Edet Akpan, 82. Hon. Enefiok Udoh, 83. Hon. Innocent Johnson, 84. Mr. Sunday Uyire, 85. Mr. Anietie Ukpe, 86. Mrs. Margaret Archibong, 87. Obonganwan Blessing Bassey, 88. Hon. Akan Essien, 89. Mrs. Francisca Otu Bassey, 90. Mr. Victor Jacob, 91. Mr. Victor Nyong, 92. Prince Felix Udoh, 93. Mr. Archibong Ebong Okon, 94. Charles Ndanyongmong, 95. Hon. Barr. Bassey Bassey, 96. Mr. Gregory Okon Udo, 97. Mr. David Johnson, 98. Barr. Harrison Ataideh, 99. Mr. Jeremiah Emah, 100. Mr. Samuel Essien, 101. Hon. Mrs. Emem Ekpanya, 102. Mfon Eyibio Ekop, 103. Joseph James Akpan, 104. Uwem Ita Udo, 105. Prince Okon Enwan, 106. Asuquo Ekpe Usen, 107. George Utip. He solicited for support for the body to build a befitting secretariat at Mbak Atai; buses to enhance mobilization ad transportation and enough funds for media and publicity of the forum.
Executive Committee members as inaugurated were: Hon. (Prince) Akanimõ Usaña – Chairman, Elder Asukwõ Ekanem – Deputy Chairman, Apostle Ekpenyoñ Emiom – Assistant General Secretary, Prince Itaboñ Ntukidem – Treasurer, Mr Anthony Edem – Director of Contact and Mobilisation, Akparawa Enwoño-Abasi Ituen – Public Relations Officer and Akparawa-nwan Mabel Ekanem – Director, Media.
Others include Barrister Edet Ntukidem – Legal Adviser, Hon. Õffiõñ Essien – Director, Legal Affairs, Princess Aniema Ubõ – Women Leader, Akparawa Ibaña Nsubõñ – Assistant Legal Adviser, Reverend Armstrong Courage – Clergy, Mr Solomon Nte – Assistant Clergy, Mr Nsikan Etim Edem – Director, Economic Affairs, Prince Akan Ime Udõ – Youth Leader, Mr Edet Udõfia – Director, Chieftaincy and Cultural Affairs, Mr Udeme Godwin Etuk – Financial Secretary and Chief Umõren Akpakpan – Welfare Officer.
Also sworn in were: Mr Emmanuel S. Udõh – Assistant Treasurer, Mr Emem Okon Essien – Organising Secretary, Mr Edima Udõudõh – Assistant Organising Secretary, Mrs Uduak Asukwõ – Assistant Women Leader, Mr Asukwõ Eyo Eniañ – Director of Sports and Social Affairs, Mr Pius Obot – Deputy Director, Economic Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Okon William – Assistant Director of Sports and Social Affairs, Mr Donatus Effiong Edet – Assistant Director, Students Affairs, Mr Kennedy Ekõng Edet – Assistant Youth Leader, Chief Isaiah Archibong Udõh – Deputy Director, Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Joseph Ekwan – Deputy Director, Inter-Party Affairs, Mr Ubon Edet Ikpañ – Director, Protocol, Mr Patrick Ekpenyong – Assistant Director, Protocol, Mr Michael Õduõñõ – Auditor General, Mr Archibong Essien Ekere – Assistant Auditor, Mrs Comfort Christopher – Intra-Party Affairs, Mr Eyibio Etim Okon – Provost General and Mr Peter Edet Udõh – Assistant Provost General, among others.
The event featured the inauguration of the EXCO by a Commissioner of Oath, Barr. Harrison Ataideh and proclamation of the existence of the group by the Chairman on the occasion.
