By ETIM ETIM
On October 1, 1996, Gen. Sani Abacha announced the creation of Ibesikpo-Asutan LGA among many others across the country, in a bold move designed to strengthen the third level government in the federation. I send my best wishes to the Chairman, councilors, leaders and stakeholders of Ibesikpo-Asutan LGA, my land of birth, on the occasion of its 30th anniversary on October 1, 2026. Before Abacha’s pronouncement, Asutan clan was part of the defunct Ekpe Atai LGA which was a combination of Nsit Attai and Asutan; while Ibesikpo was part of Uyo LGA. But on October 1, Gen. Abacha carved out Asutan from Ekpe Atai and merged it with Ibeskpo clan to form the new local government area. The late Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok (rtd) played important roles in the creation of Ibesikpo-Asutan LGA.
But there were many others who also agitated for the new LGA. Dr. Ita Udosen, APC Zonal Secretary recalls that when he was a member of the first Akwa Ibom House of Assembly between 1991 and 1993, he had joined a few prominent persons from Ibesikpo clan to call for the creation of Ibesikpo LGA from Uyo LGA. For him, the LGA should be further split into two (Ibesikpo and Asutan LGAs) whenever new LGAs are created. I wonder when that would be.
In addition to the 30th anniversary, Council Chairman, Evang. Edidiong Inyang is also marking his second year in office on October 7. A series of events that include thanksgiving, projects commissioning and a reception have been lined up to mark the two occasions. Briefing stakeholders of the local government last week, the chairman said he has done a lot in two years and thanked Gov. Umo Eno for supporting and inspiring him. He asked the people to stay united and continue to support the governor.
In the last 30 years, the LGA has had ten elected chairmen. The first elected chairman was Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong, a former university lecturer, who is now the chairman of the Governing Council of Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi. Elected on the platform of United Nigeria Center Party (UNCP), Dr. Ukpong was in office for only 11 months between 1997 and 1998. He took over from an interim administrator who was not even from the local government. But in those 14 months, he laid the foundation in infrastructure; electricity; health; education and many other areas. Dr. Ukpong brought electricity to local government, completing the work started by Senator John James Akpanudoedehe when he was the chairman of Uyo LGA. The then Military Administrator, Navy Commander Joseph Adeusi gave the local government N600, 000 to with which Ukpong completed the electricity project. Those were the days of small beginnings.
‘’Our monthly allocation in those days was about N1.5 million; but salaries and other obligations took well above N1.6 million; and IGR was zero’’, Ukpong told me in a recent interview, noting that he had to borrow N150,000 from a bank to make up for the shortfall. The chairman’s salary then was N12, 000 a month, far better than the N7, 000 he was getting as a university lecturer. One of the councilors that served with Dr. Ukpong then was Hon. Akan Williams from Itoko village, in Ibesikpo Ward 5. He is now a professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry and Vice Chancellor of Ritman University. He’s recently been elected International President of Lutheran High School, Obot Idim, Old Students’ Association. But, how many other former councilors have gone further to upgrade themselves outside politics?
Prof. Williams’ accomplishment is a proof that there is life outside politics. I recently asked Prof. Williams what motivated him to go into academia instead of continuing in politics. He smiled broadly as is his wont: ‘’I was a teacher at Holy Trinity College, Mbiakong, from 1992 to 1997. The arrangement in Ibesikpo Ward 5 favoured my village to produce a Councilor. It was my village’s turn. I had to resign my appointment as a teacher for election as councilor. But it was short-lived…only 13 months. When Gen. Abacha died, the political arrangement collapsed. I had to move. I like the academia; I like to impart knowledge’’, he said.
I spoke with Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong to have a good sense of how far things were in those early days, and how far we have come as a community since 1996. On assumption of office in 1997, Dr. Ukpong received a master plan for the physical development of the LGA. The master plan was commissioned by the interim administrator; but it was not paid for, and this was part of the debts Ukpong inherited. To augment the council’s revenue, Ukpong identified some dormant oil wells in the community, and with that information, he went to RMAFC in Abuja. With that, the allocation for the LGA shot up to N3 million monthly, but by the time the windfall arrived, Ukpong and his other 773 colleagues have been kicked out of office by the pronouncement of Gen. Abdulsalami in June 1998 due to the death of Gen Abacha.
But in the 13 months he served, Ukpong was able to renovate the health centre; launched the first medical outreach in the state in which medical doctors from the US participated; convened the first primary school teachers’ summit and gave cash award to some of the best teachers as identified by NUT; instituted a bursary scheme for students in tertiary institutions; started an entrepreneurship scheme for the youths; and launched a medical scheme christened’’ The Village Doctor’’. After Dr. Ukpong, other elected chairmen were (not in any particular order): Ini Ekpenyong; Joe Udounwa (my classmate in primary school); Uwem Ita Etuk; Chris Essien; Ekpe James (now late); Sylvester George; Akon Michael and the incumbent, Evang. Edidiong Inyang.
Another illustrious son of the LGA, Maj. Gen. Solomon Udounwa (rtd), served in the Nigerian Army for 32 years until his retirement in 2023. An alumnus of United States War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, he held several key appointments in command, staff, diplomatic and instructional capacities. In 2024, Gen. Udounwa published his memoir. It is quite an interesting volume. This is his own account of the history of our LGA in his book: ‘’Nung Udoe, my village, is one of the 41 villages within the Ibesikpo clan. Oral history traces the Ibesikpo clan’s origin to a shared ancestral line with Uruan people, predating the colonial era. This lineage leads back to Chief Asikpo Nnakanda, from Usakedet, a rural community near the Nigeria-Cameroonian border. Chief Asikpo’s two prominent sons, Uruan and Ibesikpo, were among his many children. While Uruan pursued fishing, Ibesikpo embraced farming and hunting. Seeking fertile land for cultivation and virgin forests for hunting, Ibesikpo migrated westward with some siblings, settling in the area where the 41 villages now stand. One of Ibesikpo’s brothers, Asutan, became the founder of the neighboring Asutan Ekpe Clan’’.
Ibesikpo-Asutan brims with well accomplished men and women in all spheres of human endeavour. I salute former governor Obong (Arc) Victor Attah; the late Chief Eyo Effiong Okon (Eyo Uyo); Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok, former Chief of Air Staff and former Minister of Aviation; Prof. Donald Ekong, former VC of UNIPORT and former VC of UniUyo; Mrs Mfon Usoro, former DG of NIMASA and current Chairperson of Ibom Deep Sea Port Technical Implementation Committee; Obong Rita Akpan, former SSG and former Minister of Women Affairs; former DIG Nkanga; Prof. Ndaeyo Uko, former editor at The Guardian and Daily Times, now a professor of Narrative Journalism, among many other.
This is wishing our people a happy celebrations as we look forward to another 30 years of progress, peace and brotherhood.
ETIM ETIM is a veteran journalist and PR professional with over 35 years of cognate experience.
He is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Policy & Politics (www.policyandpolitics.com.ng), an online newspaper dedicated to insightful analysis of Nigerian news and world’s report. He is also a columnist with BusinessDay and The Cable and is a regular contributor to other newspapers.
Contact: +234802 3159969 (WhatsApp Only)
