Clamour To Revive ATAM Congres Thickens, Ex Sect, Utum Eteng Under Pressure

By Bassey BASSEY 

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, moves are gathering momentum among influential political stakeholders from the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts of Cross River State to revive the ATAM Congress as a united political umbrella group for mobilising the people of the two senatorial districts and protecting their political interests.

The renewed push, according to findings by THE BEAGLE NEWS, is being driven by concerns over what some stakeholders described as the perceived marginalisation of the Central and Northern districts under the administration of Governor Bassey Otu, as well as growing calls for a united political front ahead of future governorship contests.

The stakeholders are also said to be concerned about the possibility of external influence in the choice of candidates and political zoning arrangements, particularly ahead of the 2027 and 2032 political cycles.

The ATAM Congress was founded in 2005 by prominent politicians, with Utum Eteng serving as its secretary at the time. The movement, which traces its roots to the administration of former Governor Donald Duke, was established to advance the interests of the ATAM people amid concerns over their perceived marginalisation in the state's political configuration.

Investigations revealed that some influential stakeholders from the Central and Northern senatorial zones are dissatisfied with what they perceive as the treatment of their sons and daughters under the present administration, arguing that some political actors who contributed to the emergence of the government have been relegated to the background.

One of the stakeholders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that commissioners and other appointees from the region serving in the present administration are not being given sufficient room to operate.

"Commissioners from the region serving in the present administration are treated as second class citizens, except for a few who are seen as "favoured ones". Others merely exist. They do not function, have no imprest, approvals or budgetary allocations to implement projects," the stakeholder disclosed.

Stakeholders also expressed concern over political developments in Cross River Central, Ikom, Obubra and Yala, particularly disputes surrounding zoning and the allocation of tickets for the House of Assembly and House of Representatives. We also want to guard against the unfolding political scenarios in Cross River Central Senatorial race from repeating again

Some of the stakeholders further stated that several "ATAM" politicians who played prominent roles in bringing the present administration to power have been sidelined, while politicians from the southern part of the state had assumed greater influence in government.

They claimed that several key appointments and major contracts have gone to people from outside the region, leaving ATAM stakeholders with what one of them described as "the crumbs from the master's table."

Another major source of concern, according to the stakeholders, is the perceived marginalisation of some influential political actors during the processes that produced council chairmen, current party executives and candidates who emerged from recent party primaries.

A founding member of the defunct ATAM Congress, Chief Agbor Monjok, confirmed that moves were underway to revive the organisation, arguing that its return had become necessary because of what he described as the political predicament facing the people.

Monjok said he could not recall a period in the state's political history when ATAM people have been so marginalised and relegated to the background, despite what he described as "their significant contribution to the emergence of the present administration."

He noted that many people from the region voted massively for Governor Bassey Otu against the PDP candidate in the 2023 governorship election, Professor Sandy Onor.

According to him, prominent political figures from the region, including former Governor Ben Ayade, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, Utum Eteng, Cletus Obun, former opposition voice, Okoi Obono-Obla, Alphonsus Eba, Esq, Dr Alex Egbona and members of the Ireck's political structure, have all been sidelined.

He further lamented that some ATAM people currently occupying positions of authority were merely visible within the corridors of power without wielding meaningful influence.

Another former member of the ATAM Congress, Comrade Emmanuel Ikpi, who hails from Yakurr Local Government Area, disclosed that some stakeholders have held a series of meetings in Ikom to fine tune plans for the revival of the organisation. Ikpi said an interim leadership would soon be announced.

"We have concluded arrangements to revive the Congress to fight for our interest. You can see, we don't have any stake in this administration. And if we continue to keep quiet, most of our political bigwigs will be eclipsed by 2031. So, we have to take our destiny into our hands.

"Already, we have been networking with some political parties, including members of the ruling APC who are not happy with the present government. A good number of them have been attending our meetings discreetly.

"So, we are hoping to unveil the Congress by the end of this month, August. Once we roll out, there will be no stopping us. Last year, we tried to inaugurate the Congress, but some of our sons and daughters in government prevailed on us, saying the government was too young to start fighting.

"Now everybody has seen the handwriting on the wall. Certainly, we are all on the same boat. We have been getting calls in support of moves to bring back the Congress," Ikpi said.

Meanwhile, further investigations by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that some political parties and influential stakeholders have been lobbying the former secretary of the ATAM Congress, Utum Eteng, who currently serves as Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Legal Matters, to resign his position and take up the leadership of the proposed revived Congress.

Sources said, in recent times, there has been increased political activity around Eteng's office and residence, with members of the PDP, NDC and ADC reportedly paying solidarity visits to him and urging him to lead the new political platform.

However, efforts to obtain Eteng's reaction to the development were unsuccessful as calls placed to him were not returned.

Eteng had, in a previous interview with THE BEAGLE NEWS, maintained that he remained "part and parcel of Otu's administration" and would, therefore, not pull down a house he had helped to build.

 THE BEAGLE NEWS