Ikot Ekpene local government in Akwa Ibom state has recounted experiences as the first council in local government democratic experiment in West Africa by British colonial administration in 1951.
Speaking during a one day anniversary symposium to commemorate the creation of the local government 74 years ago on the theme: ” Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area: The First And The Best Evolving in Strides”, the political Leader of the area and Proprietor of Ritman University Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien recalled that the council area was the first to be created by the British Colonial Administration to experiment the workability of grassroot democracy .
” Today over 774 council areas has been created by the federal government from the experiment conducted using our area 74 years ago .
” It was the first experiment by the colonial masters to test how the natives could be used for grassroot development before they moved to
Onitsha in Anambra state to create another one.
Ibokessien said the federal government has forgotten the pioneer local government area and allowed it to suffer from several forms of neglect ranging from infrastructural deficits ,lack of youths employment and other forms of developments .
” Nigerians have forgotten Ikot Ekpene as the first experiment in local government democracy in British colonized territories in West Africa. “
” When the council will be 75 next year, we will invite West African countries to come and celebrate with us in our Diamond Jubilee”
The council Chairman Hon Aniefiok Nkom disclosed that the first council chairman elected was late Chief Robert Udoka Umoinyang on 11th April, 1951 adding that the democratic experiment by the colonial masters in Ikot Ekpene 74 years ago has been sustained by the federal government.
Nkom enjoined all the councils areas carved out from the present Iot Ekpene local government area to come together to fulfill the dreams of the founding fathers.
” I therefore enjoined the two council areas created from Ikot local government area nemely : Obot Akara and Essien Udim to come together to fulfill the dreams of our founding fathers “
Presenting a paper at the symposium titled ” Ikot Ekpene : The Historical Perspective ” Justice Ekerete Ebienyi (read) gave several historical antecedents of the council and listed its past chairmen with their contributions to the developments of the area.
Ebienyi regretted that though the council was the first experiment in local government administration , it has been relegated to the background by federal government.
” The first local government election was conducted in Ikot Ekpene local government area where late Chief Robert Umoinyang emerged the winner but developments in the area does not commensurate with its pioneer status among the 774 local government areas in Nigeria “
Other paper presenters at the anniversary symposium were Prof Felicia Etim on ” Ikot Ekpene In Contemporary Times” and former Editor of National Concord Engr Nsikak who presented a paper on ” Our Ikot Ekpene, Our Future”
Essien who went down memory lane on media communication in military era recalled how the elites from the area saved him from death in the hands of the military junta as the failed to prevail on the publisher of National Concord Chief M.K.O Abiola to sack him as the Editor of the newspaper.
Essien the local administration to develop as Nnewi local government area in Anambra state which is described as “Japan ” of Africa because of industrial development.
” Ikot Ekpene local government area is known as “the raffia city” because of its skill in manufacturing of raffia products.
” I urge you to harness this economic potential and become another “Nnewi” and China of Africa in the future”