Okon Iyanam, Michael Onofiok join forces …Sue for Ibibio, Annang, Oron unity

Okon Iyanam

Engr. Michael Okpo Onofiok

As preparations heat up ahead of the 2015 general elections, politicians especially guber aspirants are beginning to sue for unity of three most popular ethnic groups, Ibibio, Annang and Oron in Akwa Ibom State. One of the aspirants, Eng. Michael Okpo Onofiok and a marine expert who also known as an apostle of unity and industrialization has been a lone voice crying and preaching for peace and unity of the groups in the state.

This was contained in his recent broadcast on social media, which says “Ibibio, Annang and Oron: We must avoid to be held accountable for holding the gang-plank for our children to walk into the boat of slavery and embark on a voyage beyond the emphasis of the prevailing unemployment, poverty and hunger into neo-colonialism and perpetual slavery.” Let’s come together and move Akwa Ibom forward”.

Adding his voice to this clarion call, Okon Iyanam responded thus: “I agree with this, Mike. I have always believed that our disunity has been deliberately contrived to disfavour the majority and to fuel the greed of the connected few. Tribe is scarcely the concern of the ordinary Akwa Ibom man. Bread is. Therefore, our emphasis must be on ways and means of enabling the ordinary people to advance their purpose in life. Personally, I am committed to any and all action(s) that will bury the ethnic dimensions of our struggle in order to free our energies for positive engagement in this state. Well done, eti-udung. Yak Abasi ala ma ovu!”

Responding to Iyanam’s comment, Onofiok said, “Thanks O.K boy, we should drum this truth through the ears of all Akwa Ibom people, that we're all of one root-stock and same mutual origin. The unfortunate sentiments of ethnic balance in the sharing of the common wealth of the state and political offices was introduced by some greedy elements who stealthily circumvented the management and organizational framework of the government to enrich their pockets and become king-kongs in their respective domains. This primitive accumulation of wealth and weird display of extravagance has eaten deep into the cores of the society over time and the younger generations now, does not only see political offices as the only speed lane to riches but also, the position to fight oppression. This awful trend has to be completely discouraged and buried. Uso, yak Abasi Ala ma ovu.