Political Jobbers Setting Another Trap for Óbóng Nsima Ekere

Political Jobbers Setting Another Trap for Óbóng Nsima Ekere

By Frederick Usen

It is becoming clear that some desperate political jobbers are at work again, trying to drag Obong Nsima Ekere into yet another needless political misadventure. This time, they are name-dropping him for the 2027 Eket Senatorial seat, a position that is already settled by rotation and fairness.

President Bola Tinubu and Sen. Ekong Sampson at Presidential Villa Abuja

We have seen this script before. When Nsima was MD of NDDC, a federal agency with a budget bigger than many states combined, he was lured to abandon that powerful office to contest the governorship against an incumbent, Udom Emmanuel. The outcome was disastrous — he lost heavily and was left politically and financially drained. The same pattern of deception played out during his short stint as Deputy Governor.

Now, these vultures want history to repeat itself. But the facts are stubborn. The Eket Senate seat is not vacant for negotiation. By the agreed rotational principle, Mkpat Enin LGA is holding it for 8 years. Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, where Nsima hails from, already produced Senator Udoma Udo Udoma for 8 years in the past, and in 2027 the seat rightly remains in Mkpat Enin.

To now suggest that Ikot Abasi should take the Senate slot again, while still keeping the House of Representatives seat, is not only political greed but also an open insult to Mkpat Enin people who have waited patiently for their turn in the spirit of equity and justice. It equally amounts to an affront to the Governor, who is an in-law to Mkpat Enin, as though his people can be shortchanged without consequence.

Beyond equity, performance also matters. The serving Senator, Dr. Ekong Sampson, has proven himself to be a voice of impact both on the floor of the Senate and in community service. That is why elders and stakeholders across Akwa Ibom South unanimously endorsed him for a second term last year. His re-election enjoys overwhelming grassroots support, and no amount of political scheming will change that.

For Nsima Ekere, the choice is clear: rise above these manipulative jobbers, refuse to be dragged into another futile battle, and protect what remains of his political legacy.