Asuakak, Iwaudofia fingered in marginalization attempt against Idoro Community

 

Priscilla Akpanettot 

The Chairman of Ibiono-Ibom Local Government Area, Hon. Asuakak Umoh and the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Umo Eno on Grassroots Mobilization, Aniefiok Iwaudofia have been fingered in a marginalization attempt against Idoro Community in Ibiono-Ibom Local Government Area.

According to the Idoro Community Development Association (ICODA), the duo of Asuakak Umoh and Aniefiok Iwaudofia have concluded plans to divert the Model Primary Healthcare Centre project originally and officially approved to be sited in Idoro Community by the Governor, to the latter's Village in Use Ndon.

Briefing members of the Press on Monday, October 20, 2025, the President, ICODA, Prof. Halo B. Etom expressed the Community's grievance on the development and humbly called on the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to order the immediate reversal of the alleged relocation.

Putting forward his argument, Mkpisong Halo Etom narrated that Iwaudofia's Village - Use Ndon - is surrounded by five (5) effective Healthcare facilities including Palmer Memorial Hospital in Ikot Usen, the newly constructed Mother and Child Healthcare facility at Oko-Ita and another at Use Abat, whereas, not a single health facility is situated across the length and breadth of Idoro, a Community of 9 Villages.

"...to ‎relocate this critical facility is‎ a profound act of injustice against the people of Idoro Community and the entire neglected Northern Ibiono II", he stated.

Putting the records straight in a Release signed by the Clan Head of Idoro, Eteidung Eyibio Udo AkpanObong (JP) and Heads of the 9 Villages making up the Community, the President recalled that stakeholders, led by the International President of the Ibiono-Ibom Welfare and Development Union (IWADU), Otuekong Godwin Okon and then Director of Health in‎ charge of Ibiono Ibom, conducted due diligence and unanimously approved ‎Idoro Community as the most suitable, strategic, and deserving location.

"‎This approval was endorsed by Your Excellency's administration, and the site ‎was subjected to four separate inspections by the Ministry of Health/Works".

"‎Idoro was chosen because it represents the heart of the neglected Northern‎ Ibiono-Ibom, a region housing over 100,000 citizens without access to a ‎functional healthcare facility".

"We are now confronted with the shocking report that an appointee of the Governor, the Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Mobilization, Akparawa Aniefiok Wilson Iwaudofia, and some political office holders in Ibiono Ibom have unilaterally announced the project's relocation to Use Ndon Village on grounds of motorable accessibility", he said.

"‎This alleged diversion is an outrageous act of political selfishness, as Use ‎Ndon is already surrounded by five (5) functional and motorably accessible healthcare facilities, including a General Hospital and a Specialist Hospital, all within a 0.5-1.5 kilometer radius and a mere 5 to 10 minutes' drive".

"‎In stark contrast, Idoro Community is located 18 kilometers from the nearest health facility. Our people, including pregnant women and children, face a‎ perilous minutes to 1 hour journey on motorcycles along deplorable road conditions just to reach basic aid, often dying on the way".

"‎Relocation is a Death Sentence. ‎Moving the PHC from Idoro is not merely an administrative shift, it is a decision that actively condemns thousands of rural dwellers to preventable suffering and death, in direct contradiction of the Governor's promise of equitable health distribution", the Release, signed by 29 others, stated.

They therefore demanded the immediate and public cancellation of any plan to divert the‎ Model Primary Healthcare Centre to Use Ndon or any location, other than the‎ unanimously approved site in Idoro Community, while demanding an official statement to that effect. 

They furthered that any attempt to build the Health Centre elsewhere would be met with uncompromising peaceful resistance.

"We register our collective outrage and stern protest against the alleged subversion and diversion of the project. We will not stand by as political interests override the health and welfare of an entire region especially in this very case where emergency has been declared", the Release added.

In his passionate appeal, seeking the Governor's intervention on the issue, ICODA's President stressed that northern Ibiono has been the most marginalized part of Ibiono. 

"We've never produced a Commissioner since the creation of the world, despite having three electoral Wards and so, we have no one to speak for us. The few facilities we have in Idoro are self-help attempts which we've done, having waited for the Government's help to no avail".

He therefore appealed for the Governor's kind consideration in appointing a son/daughter of the Community into the State Executive Council for the attraction of Government's attention to the area.

Supporting the President's submission, the Clan Head of Idoro, Eteidung Eyibio Udo AkpanObong buttressed that this wasn't the first time the Community was being marginalized.

"When Ibiono-Ibom was created, Idoro was the first headquarters. This same issue of access road took the headquarters out of Idoro to Oko-Ita... we didn't protest because we're peaceful". 

"We're here to let the world be aware of the injustice and deprivation planned by some people in the corridors of power against us in Idoro yet, Idoro is the food basket of Ibiono-Ibom", he said.