...YOUTHS FINGER ROYAL FATHERS IN N8M MESS
Indications have emerged that all is not well among stakeholders in Oro nation over the recent nomination of a former Deputy governor in the state by President Muhammadu to fill the Managing Director slot in the commission which was reserved for Akwa Ibom.
First, it was Dr. Effiong Edunam, a former Commissioner for Education in the State and currently, the President General of Oro Union.
Dr. Effiong Edunam in a comment, frowned at the alleged marginalization of Oro nation in the choice of NDDC MD. He had queried why Mr. President would push Oro aside and pick a non-indigene of the area as MD of the commission.
In a recent interview he granted newsmen as published in some news media and online platforms, Dr Edunam was quoted as saying “Oron is the largest oil producing community.
It follows that Oro is the largest oil producing community in Africa, and then for the Niger Delta, Akwa Ibom is the largest Oil producing state. It is the turn of Oron community in Akwa Ibom state, the largest oil producing community in Africa to produce the Managing director of NDDC”.
The same sentiments were shared by Comrade Otu Ita Toyo and Mr Ita Awak who are allies of Mr Umana Umana of the APC, as they lamented that APC was not fair and sincere to Oro nation.
This was immediately followed by a protest letter by the Oro Union, signed by the Secretary General Emmanuel Sam who in a statement said, “injustice will not become justice just because some hawks (royal fathers) have endorsed it”
But the last may not have been heard of a recent endorsement of Nsima Ekere’s nomination by the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers.
A youth group in the area that goes by the name ‘Oro International Youth Forum in a reply said they have dissociated themselves from a publication in the Nation Newspaper of Monday August 1, 2016 allegedly sponsored by the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers(COTR) congratulating Obong Nsima Ekere and Mr. Frank Samuel George on their appointment as Managing Director and Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom State on the Board of NDDC respectively.
In the statement signed by their President , Comrade Francis Otioro and Secretary, Comrade Ita Ating, the youths maintained that the royal fathers action was not in the best interest of the area, and described them as a sell out who have allowed money to buy their conscience.
“We view the said publication as unpatriotic, self serving and counter productive to the interest and future of Oro. We wish to emphasize that members of the COTR are not representing the interests of Oro people in this matter.
They are characteristically seeking personal gain from the collective misfortune of a people they are supposed to lead. Little wonder that the influence of traditional rulers in our communities is at its lowest ebb”.
Recalling a similar role allegedly played by the royal fathers about two years ago which pitched the youths against their action, the Oro youths in the statement said “ It would be recalled that less than two years ago, members of the same COTR reportedly collected Eight Million Naira (N8,000,000.00) from a former Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron and shamelessly traveleld to Abuja to canvass for the man’s re-appointment in total disregard for the wishes of Oro people who have been clamouring for the appointment of a qualified Oro son or daughter as Rector of the institution”
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