Ononokpono's Questions: Curse or Remedy?

From the piece I wrote in this column last week, I had series of reactions from a cross section of readers. They had one experience or the other to share with me. Some challenged me to probe more deeply on the subject I was writing about that I will be surprised at what that particular reader termed as “clanish politics” as far as the subject of my discussion at that piece was concern. One that is of great note is a reminder to what l've already known just as you equally know. It has intrinsic value as far as what I'm writing about today is concern. The reader sends me a text which read thus through in part: “How can your pen be your trouble… Plain Talk is for Plain People and not for pretenders, hence they hate the truth. Edmun Burke says: “All that it takes for evil men to take over the society and poison it is for righteous men to do nothing…”
I beg to present the next quotation by this pastor friend and to dedicate it to my object of discuss today, the revered high chief Ononokpono, a fearless arbiter of truth. He said: “Others are compromising or standing aloof. But you and few others are not only doing something, but presenting undeniable fact which posterity would never forget you and his protection (God) is over you.”
I decided to dedicate the above encomium on Chief Ononokpono because I lacked the courage to ask fifteen questions and offer five suggestions which he asked which would have taken this state far from here positively. These questions asked are the questions we need to work with the government to provide answers to; and if we can do it, then we would have spared ourselves the stress of praying with black and black at Ibom Hall each time the sordid deal is carried out. Do you remember that I said in the last writing that we don't need to pray again for these problems to be solved as we need to be sincere and be introspective in our search for the solutions? Kidnapping is a political problem and cannot be solved with spiritual remedy. Chief Ononokpono is the first to start the process of solving the problem of kidnapping, assassination, political killings etc. Before me, he (Ononokpono) is a hero. If he was the governor of Akwa Ibom state, He would have fought for resource control like Obong Attah did to President Obasanjo. He has a spirit which cannot be intimidated or cowed to accepting what is not ideal. In the face of tyranny and stiff opposition, chief Ononokpono have damn evil and speak as one of the wise men Mr. Burke spoke of. While people who would have worked with governor Akpabio to do an inward search of the inner caucus or wherever the cancer comes from are thumping up the governor, that all is well in Zion, sponsoring various unholy advertorials to hunt those who are not of their camp while the masses suffer, it is satisfying to note that all hope is not lost. We still have people with sense of reasoning intact. And because he has done so, and because wise men are beginning to ask questions, these dastard monstrosities will be jarred off our once peaceful coast.
Unfortunately, for daring to question and advise the government, the high chief is cooling his feet in prison custody. Before I declare him the messiah like Jesus Christ (yes messiah is one who rescues,) let me ask the government to take a second look at the salient questions and have a rethink over the embarrassment meted on Chief Ononokpono. The masses seem to be solidly behind Ononokpono. Those questions asked, in my honest estimation, would have long been asked to authorities concern if we have had a House of Assembly that has not mortgage its conscience. If we have had a House of Assembly that is vibrant, peoples friendly and with listening ears, if we have had a House that is concern about the interest of the common men in the street of Akwa Ibom who goes and sleeps in shanties with their empty stomachs, these questions would now have been asked and answered. There is no politics about safety and societal survival.
We have been (un)fortunate to have a legislature that finds delight in passing vote of confidence on the executive when there is hunger, unemployment and poverty, insecurity and siege threatening the peace of Akwa Ibom state. We have them scoring the government 99% in service delivery when structures are repainted, painted and commissioned for mass media digest.
They find it difficult to question why N300 billion was invested in re-fixing federal roads in Akwa Ibom state and the federal government only refunded less than N10b.
To Be Continued