Dear Gov., Call Them To Order

While in that quite, hazardous studio to feed Biafran soldiers with directives, he saw the need to say the dire truth of the defeat of the Chukwuemeka Ojukwu forces by Nigerian soldiers.

But our wise broadcaster, Mr. Okon Atakpo had no better way of communicating his feelings to his audience because if he has used the popular and generally accepted English language, his life would have gone just as the message he wanted to send would have. Just as “those who had ears will hear what the spirit tells the churches”, he found a better channel when he told the soldiers who understood him that pricey parable that “Nsasak asak ama ette ke atara aran”, and he was not to be held as the man who announced the defeat of the Biafran soldiers and called for retreat by the remnants.


I find this axiom so instructive in the current quackmire that Akwa Ibom State has found itself through inordinate ambition of just one man and her inability to stand tall to defend her name which steadily is drifting to the bad book. Her fragile peace is seriously threatened by acts of some despots and political opportunists. The situation is such that if not properly managed, the whole society of Akwa Ibom State risks being subjected to an unexpected flames which may not only send out wild smokes to the heavens, but pools of blood; God forbid! I rather stop a few second to remind Akwa Ibom people that we have never been violent and we have never been coward either.

Some “redeemers” and “saviours” of Akwa Ibom State, the saints from Ikot Ekpene senatorial district are out, threatening war because Akwa Ibom people have galvanized to change government in 2011. They are annoyed that the assassins who were alleged to go for Attah's head some times ago failed to bring home the man raw for them to use for their morning and evening meals, and the failure has led the man, who once staked his life for this state to come and endorse Senator John James Akpanudoedehe for governorship in 2011. Good reason for iration.
Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem who has not seen any good in Senator Alloysius Etuk, despite his good efforts in the senate, an Ibibio-man-senator in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, after considering himself as the best man to bid, is among poor, mean and premature minds who are declaring war on the Ibibio. It is worrisome that it is men of the learned profession who are sending discordant tunes to the growth of democracy in Akwa Ibom State. Last week, it was Barr. Ita Enang, a National Assembly member that condescended so low to criticize the emergence of contestants in the 2011 guber election in the state. Today, it is Barr Emmanuel Enoidem who is in the wagon which the likes of Chief Sunny Ibanga, an opportunistic millionaire courtesy of Ibom Airports supplies and Taxi Scheme via Gov. Akpabio's tribal grace, Hon Nse Ntuen whose credentials made good discuss in the media when the PDP insisted on a minimum of degree for her chairmanship ticket bearers, and other militants and low thinkers from the zone.
They are good men who would have governed Akwa Ibom State better than Ex Gov. Attah if they were of the same age with the man. They are good men that Akwa Ibom State never had but must throw red carpet for whenever they stormed Uyo hence forth. But they have failed to be democratic when they, during their revenge rally at Ikot Ekpene barred posters of Senator Udoedehe, Engr. Udonwa, Mr. Larry Esin and whoever is interested in the governorship in 2011 in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district and pronounce Obong Attah, whose instrumentality gave our Annang brothers the governorship seat in 2007 from entering Ikot Ekpene. That's incredible! But a question for Enoidem, ADV, Nse Ntuen, Sunny Ibanga and other mean minds like them. If Senator John James Akpanudoedehe whose political profile all of you are yet to march, and those high names above are not allowed to campaign for support in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, and their posters not seen there equally, should the people of Uyo senatorial district, Eket senatorial district, allow Gov. Godswill Akpabio to bestride their Local Governments in search of support for his do-or-die continuity song?
You make me sound like hating our digital governor whose popularity keeps me aloof in view of our poverty stricken state, but yet another question; Sir
You are campaigning bitterly as it is for equity at the sharing table, that is, since an Ibibio man have ruled for eight years, Gov. Akpabio that you called an Annang governor (no longer Akwa Ibom Governor?) should also rule for 8 years. But how about the numerical strength of the Ibibios when counted and how about the land mass when measured for developmental engagements? I don't mean other ethnic groups should not govern the state but will God be fair, just and transparent if He gives eight pieces of bread to fourteen people, and give same to eight people to eat and be filled? Is this request of an eight year tenure when the political interest of Ibibio gladiators are not protected (since we still have the likes of Obong Attah, Obong Ufot Ekaette, Sen. Udoedehe, Ambassador Sam Edem and others outside the ruling camp) the manifestation of the axiom “sik sang, sik sang abo owo itie” because I'm told that power will not visit Ibibio again until Gov. Akpabio completes two terms, Oro two terms (?). Even as the Oro are complaining of marginalization currently, should we have advocated of this change if utterances were guided, our elders respected and what belongs Caesar given to him? Sorry that I'm bothering you with these questions, but they are really necessary in the current struggle so that we won't be learned men but blind ethnic bigots.


Attempt this one sir. Do you remember when we in 1983 denied Governor Isong, an Ibibio son a second term and ceded same to your big brother, Etiebet, just because the policies of Gov. Isong attracted public outcry like what we have today in God's own state? Why did we not banish Annangs from walking the streets of Uyo then and why did the “Etang Ekak” continuity slogan, the light of the third term do-or die affair of President Obasanjo not played out then?

With due respect sir, that Obong Attah spent eight years in power is not good and logical reason for us to keep the continuity going. You have to work on good reasons and tell Akwa Ibom people these reasons and then we are ready to go down with you since one good turn, they say, deserves another.

If the truth be told there is need for change and a total overhaul of the political process in Akwa Ibom State to restore sanity and bring back the inclusive politics which has been our trade mark over the years.

I hate suppose respectable individuals ranting and venting their spleen on matters which can not be painted black. Getting fixated on a matter that the public have given their consent is rather absurd because no threat, no arsenal from Ikot Ekpene senatorial district will march the sum total of Akwa Ibom State because have we not forgotten what Cassius told Casca in the famous Shakespeare's record.

“But life being wary of these worldly bars never lack the powers to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world beside that part of tyranny that I do bear, I can shake off at will”.

Casca who in this series are the silent majority of Akwa Ibom people suffering in silence from hunger and deprivation, unemployment and insecurity, lack of funds and capital flight response: “so can we. So every bondman in his hands bears the power to cancel his captivity”.

If the saints of Ikot Ekpene senatorial district had reasoned, they would have known that in democracy, power lies with the electorates and not in armory and empty threats. But since these evil have risen in broad day light, I'm afraid danger lurks.
..To be continued