Okon Eket is one out of the three geopolitical zones that make up Eket Local Government Area. The remaining two are Eket Urban and Eket Central.

Now that the elections are done and dusted and different interest groups have started lobbying and scrambling for positions in the renewed second term mandate of Mr Integrity,  what are the positions that have been graciously zoned to our area to give us that sense of belonging ?

We are all living witnesses to how we lost the position of the state lawmaker offered to us through zoning  on a platter of gold due to greed,  selfishness,  ego and primordial sentiments.Without mincing words, we were the ones that shot ourselves in the foot irrespective of the fact that the other two zones stood firmly with us.

Candidly speaking,  we were the architects of our own misfortunes and now we bemoan our fate . I am not trying to wake up the sleeping dog but the bitter truth must always be told in simple and clear terms. We decided to go for the crumbs that fall from the master’s  table rather than the main delicious dish itself.

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Sometimes,  in the innermost recesses of my mind,  I used to contemplate why fate has always dealt a huge blow on us anytime we are on the threshold of history.   What did our founding fathers do to deserve this kind of unfair treatment and perpetual  playing of second fiddle syndrome? Must we always be subservient to others?
Why do we always play divide and rule type of politics?  We are always on a self destruct mission anytime we have good things starring us in the face. Indeed,  more questions than answers.

In the outgone first term administration of our amiable state helmsman,  out of the twelve special assistants positions zoned to Eket,  Okon was only given one slot and no one cares a hoot to ask for a redress of this imbalance in this new and emerging dispensation.

Instead of standing up and forge a common front to ask of our legitimate dues,  we are now busy running from pillar to post blackmailing and engaging in backstabbing and mudslinging of our fellow kinsmen. He who destroys others in order to succeed must always have failure awaiting him at the sentinel of his own success,  so an adage goes.

It is high time we retraced our steps in being our own  enemies of progress and work conscientiously for the overall good and well-being of the zone. This is the time to take our destinies in our hands or we will be relegated to the background as always, when the chips are finally down.

It always  tickles my fancy when I  hear this spurious argument that since Okon was given a Commissioner slot in the last dispensation,  Okon had no right to have  demanded  for anything worthwhile  again.

The appointment of a Commissioner is the sole prerogative of the state executive and has nothing to do with the even distribution and sharing of other political portfolios.

During the era of the self acclaimed Uncommon Transformer at the Hilltop Mansion,  he appointed two Commissioners from the same village in Eket,  heaven did not fall and no one raised any eyebrows.

 We should be seen to have that sense of belonging especially in this second term so as to calm frayed nerves. Our history will soon not be forgotten in a hurry  judging from what transpired in the just concluded national polls.

Okon Eket people have stood by the umbrella party since inception  for the past two decades through thick and thin and what can they really point to as their own dividends of democracy and show of unalloyed loyalty and unflinching support ?

I want to be educated on the benefits of civil rule to our people. Is it the sub motor park at Ikot Okudom Bridge Head or the Cassava Farm along Nduo Eduo – Ikot Okudom road?

Most of the dilapidated roads in our domains are begging for government attention which are not really forthcoming. The other day,  Okon youths ably led by Comrade Vincent Henry had to turn workers of ” Julius Berger ” company by filling pot holes in some dark spots when the situation was becoming unbearable and the roads becoming inaccessible and impassable.

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The political leaders of Okon extraction should wake up from their slumber and political hibernation to negotiate our future with the powers that be as a people created by the same God. We can no longer afford to sit on the fence be passive and non committal to our own yearnings and aspirations. We must take our proper place in the scheme of things. The era of playing second fiddle has long gone with the winds .

We are sending this passionate appeal to Gov Udom Emmanuel and his team to tell us what lies await for us in a clear and unmistakable term in this his second coming  ?

Our pragmatic and ebullient  Governor should not also forget to immortalise the first civilian Governor of the then Cross River State,  Dr Clement Isong by rewarding the contract for the construction of Okon – Ikot Udo Essang road to open up the area.

By so doing,  the spirit of his pioneer predecessor and fellow elder kinsman will be dancing and rejoicing in his grave with the likes of  Chief M K O Abiola as Abuja International Stadium has just been renamed after the late business mogul by the Federal Government.

Oh Okon Eket people,  the time to act is now. Time and Tide wait for no one. A stitch in time,  they always say,  saves nine

Emmanuel Paragon Mbong