UYO DESERVES SECOND TERM IN ASSEMBLY – Hon. Imo Ben

Hon. Imo Ben a media practitioner, public affairs commentator and politician. He is also the Chairman Grassroots Enlightenment Network. In this interview,  he speaks on the second term quest in the Uyo State Constituency, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly...

Que: Sir, politics is getting so tensed in Uyo because of the second term agitation for Uyo State Constituency in the House of Assembly which tends to be seriously resisted. What are your observations?

Ans: Well, there has never been a second term experience before in Uyo as such you don’t expect people not to be apprehensive, especially because this is a new direction they are confronting for the first time. But you must agree with me without fear of contradiction, that there has to be a first time in everything and to accept change can never come easy in politics. However, it is an unavoidable development that there must be embraced, because second term in Uyo State Constituency must happen someday, whether we like it or not. So, we cannot run away from what will eventually happen, and I believe that the so called tension is normal to usher in a new direction that will reposition Uyo through second term enlightenment. Many people are hearing of second term because of the tension and are using this as an opportunity to ask questions to be enlightened. They are beginning to understand the merits of second term. But, we must always expect resistance since it involves a political contest. So, it’s normal tension everywhere not just in Uyo. The trend will usher in something good from second term angle in the State House of Assembly. It’s not noise that wins elections. Party politics is more complex than most of them can see.

Ques: But there is the widely circulated opinion that nobody can aspire for second term in Uyo, and it seems to be generally accepted.

Ans: This is not true and you cannot say that it is generally accepted. Infact, that does not sound logical or intelligent. Why would somebody not aspire for second term in Uyo? Is there any constitutional restriction or agreement stating this? As far as the provisions of the laws permit, any eligible person can aspire, like Hon. Monday Eyo is presently doing. He is setting the pace and when pioneering something you have to dare to beat stereotypes to overcome their resistance to win. Some people are opposing this because of ignorance, so it takes some time for you to educate them on the benefits of second term to Uyo in the Assembly. Also, some are just not in support because they are bias and unpatriotic people who are concern about their selfish interest only, and not the overall benefits the second term in the State Assembly will attract to Uyo people. They are of the belief that, it must be them to start the process of second term, not Hon. Murray. Whereas, this is the ideal time to begin the second term process from Oku clan, where the first one term also began. We can’t start midway. It is not about Murray, it is about the proper thing to do for Uyo interest, and at the right time too. People are beginning to see the need for second term in Uyo. There had been no document on one term or two terms, what we have is agreement on zoning arrangement.

Ques: Will it not affect zoning sequence in Uyo?

Ans: Two terms cannot affect zoning in Uyo because every clan will enjoy the same two terms in the same existing zoning arrangement. We started with one term for each clan. It began from Oku, Etoi, Ikono to Offot. Two terms will also start from Oku in the same order. It just that instead of one term to each clan, people believe that it’s ripe now that each clan should go for two term so that Uyo State Constituency can be repositioned in the State House of Assembly. Almost all other state constituencies have gone for two terms and are producing ranking officers to secure major positions in the Legislature. Why should Uyo not be reasonable enough to aspire to play prominent roles in the Assembly’s leadership? Some people are ready to sacrifice the collective interest of Uyo local government in the Assembly to suit their self centred political agenda. Truly, if they were in the shoes of Hon. Monday, they would have used everything imaginable reason to justify the critical need for second term in the Assembly. But, because they are not the ones divinely favoured now to be in the seat of Hon. Monday Eyo, they are kicking against the collective interest of Uyo just to express their personal malice against the lawmaker’s right to contest. For other patriotic indigenes, the issue of second term is a welcomed attraction because there is no curse from our ancestors that Uyo should sit and watch other constituencies rising to the top leadership positions in the Assembly. Uyo should not be ridiculed by some self acclaimed dictators of Uyo politics. Second term is not about Monday Eyo’s interest, it is about the need to reposition to Uyo to benefit all the clans, still based on the same zoning sequence. Some are just scared that they will be too old in the next four years to contest, whereas that is wrong. Even if they cannot wait why can’t they support one of followers to contest in 2023?

Ques: Has he done well in terms of performance to attract goodwill and support for his ambition?

Ans: let me proudly say here that no Uyo State Constituency representative has done what Hon. Monday Eyo is doing. I stand to be challenged anytime and anywhere. He is the first to roll out unparalleled massive empowerment items never witnessed in Uyo. We saw cars, buses, dryers, saloon equipments, scholarship, student’s grants, financial empowerment and a lot more that space here cannot contain. It was witnessed by all those opposing him and they confessed that nothing like that had ever happened in Uyo. He has performed credibly well in the hallow chambers too. I am happy Hon. Ekere Affia, a former House of Assembly member openly challenged the congregation during the constituency briefing of Hon. Eyo to mention who had ever done what Murray did on that day and nobody stood up, instead they all praised him exceedingly.

Ques: But they are the same people battling him today?

Ans: Hon. Monday Eyo has never won his victories easily, but he keeps humbling his detractors every time he steps out to contest. As always they will swear heaven and earth that he will never win, but through divine grace he keeps pulling surprises. His life makes me believe so much that one with God is the majority. They have never given him a chance, but he keeps outsmarting their crooked schemes in ways that baffles them. The second term won’t be an exception too. He is never a desperate person because he believes in God’s providence in his life.

Ques: So what is your advice to those probably apposing him because of the pressure or influence from some notable cabals?

Ans. Well, as you know most people tend to allow others to transfer their malice for them to fan and they don’t know that if tomorrow Hon. Monday Eyo emerges victorious those you call cabals will be the first to congratulate him while they will be sidelined by the same cabals. People should support second term because it will reposition Uyo and no clan will lose out. They should not oppose Hon. Murray because of some other persons directives based on concealed personal interest which they will not expose to those blindly following them to frustrate the collective interest of Uyo in the Assembly. We have lost so many things fighting ourselves blindly and sacrificing the collective interest of Uyo, look at Keke, parks etc. all are gone!

Ques: What personal attributes do you admire in the lawmaker?

Ans: He is very humble, does not claim to know everything on earth like others do. He is very good listener to his constituents. He is by all standards a grassroots politician and supports the government of Deacon Udom Emmanuel passionately without pretences. If he goes for second term he will use the higher position to empower Uyo more than what any first time lawmaker would do. So we need second lawmaker in the Assembly and Murray is divinely positioned now to move the process forward. He is a pacesetter, he deserves second term.