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By Emmanuel Sampson
As Nigerian battles the many dangers of insecurity in the country, the Chairman House committee on Public Accounts in the 7th Assembly, who doubles as Chairman Akwa Ibom policy Advocacy committee (AIPAC), has called on everyone to make the needed sacrifices and work for unity and progress towards the development of Niger Delta region, and Nigeria in general.
The lawmaker made the appeal, Wednesday, September 16th at Eket Council Hall during a public hearing, on the Theme; Insecurity in Akwa Ibom State: Issues, Actors and solutions, organised by Akwa Ibom Policy Advisory Committee in collaboration with Niger Delta Dialogue, sponsored by European Union.
Dr. Ido said, that the South-South Zone
of Nigeria (generally referred to as the Niger Delta Region) is currently in the
vortex of protracted instability as crisis of regime legitimacy, political ostracism
and social marginalization, fuel armed rebellion is what is keeping the region in complete fiasco when it comes to visible development.
She said “psycho-cultural factors that generate and sustain this crisis have been the
subject of extensive debate by scholars, civil society organizations and
governmental Agencies. The escalation of this tragic condition has
transformed the Niger Delta into a volatile space exploited by multiple local
and international clandestine actors.
It is on this note that The Niger Delta Dialogue in Collaboration with the
European Union and the Pan-Niger Deita Forum (PANDEF) initiated a research
project targeting Security Sector Threat Assessment with the specific objective,
of identifying security Issues and key players relevant to addressing them in
each of the locations in the six South-South states of the Niger Delta.”
Ido described actors in the security armed to be Politicians, Militias
and Security agents, Cultists, Kidnappers, Pirates, Traffickers and Traditional
Rulers, she further explained, insecurity to be Inter-ethnic agitation,
Gang violence, Cultism, Kidnapping, Sea piracy, Human/Drug Trafticking, Land disputes, etc.
On his part, the Chairman on the occasion, Dr. Imowo Udobia, call on government to strengthened traditional institutions as they play key roles in maintaining peace and unity in the country, he added that the purpose of the public hearing was to see ways they can tackles insecurity in the country.
Dr. Udobia pointed out that poverty, poor/non-social investment, and unemployment as some of the causes of insecurity in our societies and pleaded with the government to take some urgent necessary actions.
Speaking Paramount Ruler of Eket, His Royal Majesty Obong E. C. D. Abia who was represented by his wife, Her Royal Majesty Obonganwan Mandu Abia, lamented lack of synergy between the traditional rulers and the government, adding that, it makes traditional rulers be afraid of carrying out their task as they’re supposed to.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion include the lead presenter from the University of Uyo, Dr. Etim Frank, the DPO of Eket, CSP Sunday P. Digha, the Community women leader and State Leader of PANDEF, Obonganwan Edith Ettete, the Chairman National Association of Nigeria Students Joint Campus Committee (Akwa Ibom Axis), Comr. Edidiong Uko, the National Co-ordinator, Oron Professionals’ Forum, Elder Ante O. Ante, the National President ONAF, Comr. Ita Ante of Oron Forum, Mr. Donald Gabriel Udoh of Civil Society Organization, Chief Eteudo Ikot a clan head from Esit Eket who represented the Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket, Barr. Lawrence Umoren who represented the member Representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency, Mr. Inioubong Ntiaba of Grass Root Trust Onna , and Mr. Samuel Jack, amongst others.
