Oron (Akwa Ibom)- Some Oron youths in Akwa Ibom on Tuesday protested over “undue marginalisation” of Oron nation by the current administration.
The youths, numbering more than 1,000, conducted a peaceful demonstration march from Oron to Civic Centre, Oron Beach and Oya Oron Junction.
Mr Okon Enweme, the International Youth President, Essu Nlap Oro, said the protest was sequel to selection procedure of gubernatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom.
“We protested today because we do not accept the procedure of selection of guber candidate on PDP platform.
“The peaceful demonstration concerns the political situation in Akwa Ibom which the party’s primary of selecting the governorship candidate in PDP on 8th Dec. was boycotted by other 22 aspirants.
“Notwithstanding, the governor, party chairman and delegates of PDP national committee still went ahead to conduct the primary in spite of the boycott by other 22 aggrieved aspirants,’’ he said.
Enweme said that the entire Oron people condemned the act in totality.
He said that Oron youths rejected imposition of gubernatorial candidate of PDP in the state.
“They came up with a candidate at the end which many alleged that Oro nation is in support of the process which brought forth that one aspirant.
“They argued that it was not proper for the area to be denied the opportunity to produce the governor of the state in 2015 since the state was founded on a tripod stand,’’ he said.
Enweme said that the area, as one of the federal constituencies with five local government areas that formed the majority in Eket Senatorial District, should produce the next governor of the state.
Enweme said that Oron nation would take a collective decision even as the party would decide in 2015.
He said that their decision would work against its success if the party supported imposition during 2015 general elections in the state.
“We are aggrieved and not happy with the way PDP is doing things now.
“I reserve my comment as a youth president, but let me say that PDP will take decision as a family and Oron people will also take a decision as a people.
“We are pleading to Mr President to look into our problems to avoid distraction as many people are ready to defect from PDP to other Parties.
“That is why we are calling on Mr President, the leadership of the party to look at the matter critically,’’ he said.
Enweme said that since the creation of the state, Oron man had never been an acting governor, not to talk about being a governor.
“If you take a look at Oron nation you will testify that nothing is happening here. No good roads, no factories, and so on.
“It is painful as Oron is totally marginalised. That is why we are seeking for this position to see what we can use the position to bring dividends of democracy to the people.
“Though it is not going to be Oron governor, but Akwa Ibom Governor but from Oron extraction,’’ he said.
Also reacting, President General Oron Union, Mr Auqwu Enukim, said that the essence of the protest was to inform the public about the long marginaliation of the people by the current administration.
He said that Oron youths, as a nation, would not accept any imposition by an individual.
Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom Command, DSP Etim Dickson, confirmed the incident, saying adequate security officers were deployed in the area to forestall any break down of law and order.
Dickson, however, appealed to the people to be law abiding, while pressing for their requests. (NAN)
