2015: Oro to present one candidate for governorship race

Elders and youths of Oro national ethnic group, on Tuesday in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, said they would present a single candidate out of over 20 aspirants in the governorship race in 2015.

They said the aspirants had been asked to come up with a single aspirant among themselves and present the individual to the people of Oro for endorsement.

Chairman of Oro Think Tank and former Nigerian Ambassador to Greece, Etim Uyeh, berated Governor Godswill Akpabio, for picking and massively funding an Ibibio man in the person of the Secretary to Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, to succeed him.

Uyeh said Oro had built up structure that would enable them actualise their ambition, adding that the Oro ethnic nationality was the third largest ethnic group in the state.

He stated that it was a pity that Oro having helped Annang on two occasions, once in Cross River and the other in Akwa Ibom to produce governors, could turn around to frustrate the Oros’ effort in producing its first ever governor in 2015.

Speaking during a community briefing in Oron on the topic, “Oro Think Tank, Akwa Ibom Governor of Oro Extraction, 2015”, Uyeh said, “The Akwa Ibom 2015 governorship seat is our right. It is a battle we are going to fight to a logical end. If we lose this chance, it will take Oro nation 40 years before they can talk about producing a governor.”

A former commissioner for Health, Dr. Effiong Edunam, said the Oro people would ward off all forms of violence, which were embedded in the politics of the state and structure to produce a governor.

He stated that the people would not be intimidated by threats to destroy their lives and property. He added that the people were ready for the battle.

He said, “We know there have been many threats to life and property of our people. Our vehicles, houses, and offices have been marked for attacks.

“In Akwa Ibom State, violence has been embedded in our politics and structure. We cannot be deterred by this violence and stop fighting our cause. We believe in our cause, and we cannot fold our arms and allow people to swindle us of our rights because of threats to our lives and property.”