ESD: Why Hon. Ephraim Inyangeyen Takes the Lead

By Ubong Ekanem

 Eket Senatorial District has been on pins and needles politically in recent times while the discourse on which of the three Federal Constituencies in the district should produce the next Senator to the oil rich area from 2023 heightens.

Looking at the state of the area, one should never be swayed by the desultory claims and perfunctory actions by few persons who'd rather make attempts to foil another disaster to the people against the popular demand for competence and excellence. The District has, for a good number of times, been pushed to the back seats as a result of poor representation and lack of a people centred leader - leading from within.

I would rather rely strongly on obvious record of achievements, experience and love for the people  in this piece to offer my modest views in this worthy debate especially to remind our people on the need to reflect deeply and cautiously in the choice between a competent and credible candidate as opposed to a zonal one; on the need to look beyond this primitive and primordial zoning cliché that has bedeviled our democracy and divided rather than unite us, but rather look for a credible, competent and experienced candidate to deliver the goodies of democracy.

 Competence is  a cluster of related abilities, commitments, knowledge, and skills that enable a person to act effectively in a job or situation. Competence indicates sufficiency of knowledge and skills that enable someone to act in a wide variety of situations.

Governance follows election, if after all the politicking and elections, a zone prevails and produces a candidate who is incompetent but elected based on zoning, then unfortunately the whole senatorial district has to bear the reward of such incompetence, face the associated challenges and possible reversal of the achievements and modernization witnessed so far (if there was). We all share a common collegiate cause which is the ultimate development of our Senatorial District  and a better life for our people.

Yes, our democracy is not as mature and our diversity as some would argue doesn’t permit us to overlook this unwritten arrangement, but ultimately, we as a people must look beyond this archaic design in our collective interest. For me, I would rather have a competent class room teacher teach my children in school as opposed to a teacher who is from my constituency or would anyone refuse a competent and experienced medical doctor to deliver his pregnant wife of a child just because he is not from a certain area? These are the salient issues we as a people must reflect upon as we approach this election, competence rather than zoning.

 As Commissioner for Works and then, Chief of Staff, Ephraim Inyangeyen has sustained a balanced interest for and relationship with his people while bringing to bear ideas that has necessitated the level of development witnessed in the district and across the state. The primary issue here is service to the people. We must be careful to ensure that the challenges currently being faced by other districts which have towed the path of "zoning over competence" and are now groaning as they experience the difference between a competent leader and an incompetent one who was elected based on zoning.

It is high time we developed immunity against this virus of prejudice and discrimination and jettison the elitist arrangement that has not advanced our national development. We must stop denying candidates with the required ability the opportunity of impacting the society positively. Yes our plurality calls for a delicate balancing, but it is difficult to see how a serious society that wishes to really develop will continue to elevate zoning over merit and elect people based on sentiment as opposed to competence. All these years, we have continued to rely on zoning, yet no real change has taken place in our socioeconomic life as a people, we cannot continue doing the same thing all the time and expect a different result.

The above submission forms my conviction and my resolve to support, canvass for and rally round for Hon. Ephraim Inyangenyen putting ESD first and placing aside my political affiliation, sentiments or bias as he stands out as the most competent and experienced for the job.