The Fight To Liberate- One Man, One Stone

I wish to start by tendering an unreserved apology that Plain Talk for plain people could not make this page in the last edition for several exigencies beyond our control.

From the calls received, I have learnt to keep a date on this column especially when it is related to an unconcluded piece.

I was to conclude on the reasons high Chief Ononokpono should be let loose from the chains which bond him following his publicized questions in The Nation Newspaper. If space had granted me its grace, I would have explored the fundamental human rights which support my assertion that he was not under crime following his questions. That would not have been prejudicial in view of the fact that his case is lying before His Lordship at the magistrate court since that was my opinion, and I needed to educate (as my profession demands) any time there is need to do so. While I have other pressing details to unload, I shall not subject myself to further scrutiny on the questions but to remind us of the right to life and liberty, right to freedom of expression though with responsibility as high Chief Ononokpono did not ignore, right to use the media to propagate one’s opinion to arouse the society to think and do so creatively, and the right to fair hearing, among many more that God and nature frowns at when violated.

As I read through the reactions of civil society groups and well meaning individuals in the state, I thought as much that a little sensitization from here will liberate the minds of many from their redundancy to upholding to moral values that gave us an identity in the days of yore. However, let the sleeping dog lie for we are still with our senses and we are thinking for ourselves.

Case over…
I have no option than to practice this profession which I earlier opted for. During the tutorial, I was told that often times, many Oxen will be gored, but the truth must be told. To tell the truth, I mean nothing but the truth, most toes will be stepped on, because, as the case may be, truth, reality and echoes from the land when the necessities of man are not satisfied, could be bitter; and as pills, it can be disturbing to those involved. Don't be offended with this screed if it is, I am trying to key in and tell my story of recent from people who are aggrieved that we are attempting to go into what our fans call developmental journalism in lieu of its public relation counterpart that is the order of the day. The two are clearly different and should not be confused for each other.

Without bias to any comrade in the fourth realm of the estate, I feel most of us have left developmental journalism to its public relation counterpart at the detriment of the people, while our self willed leaders carte away our wealth to God-knows-where because we have promoted them to the status of saints when they are wolves in sheep's clothing. We are sorry; we are advocating for, and attempting to practice developmental journalism because that is what Akwa Ibom needs now..

Those who called me had different stories to tell us. Many say we are faring well because we are keying into the minds of people of Akwa Ibom State and recommended that few repositioning be made and expressed optimism that areas that have left untouched will be connected. Others, though few in number but with big earth shaking voices and large pockets rent threats of vengeance where according to them, blood will have to spill because we are according to this class, working against the powers that be. When they call they say they mean business and that already we are being followed up. That sounds absurd. Isn’t it?
When did General Sani Abacha resurrect? When did General Buhari took the gavel again? Have we sworn in Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida at Aso Rock or government house at Uyo? These are evil geniuses, and dictators that we've known and can cite at a glance (and we understand them because their vocation in the infantry forbids them to tolerate “bloody civilian” like the Plain Talker if his plainness is unpalatable to their policies and self perpetuation in power), yet these men that Nigerians wickedly nicknamed as dictators are not in Akwa Ibom. Where are these threats from?
These men, who at one time or the other strangled on the wealth of this country, left sour memories in our minds as journalists and publishers when our men were hunted like wild animals for meat and fished out, tortured, and thrown into dungeons, just because they advocated for democracy, preached against military dictatorship (now somehow democratic craziness adverse to diversity of opinion) which aura is yet to fade. After the battle was won, these same men have recuperated, dressed in cooperate attires and in gentleman's oratory, are scheming to take out the country again.

In states cross the federation, Akwa Ibom as a case study, those civilians, “bloody” as they were, who thumped media practitioners who damned threats and consequences to say the truth when the coast was not clear to do so, have benefited from the enthronement of democracy. And what do we hear, what is our recompense? That same threat of attack and clamp down because we have not hail them with the crowd when they have failed to free the electorates from the claws of poverty, hunger, starvation, insecurity, distorted values, under development and the rest. It is a pity that after 48 years of Nigerians independence and 22nd of AK state creation, that most people have not learn from the series of sad experiences they have had and take to right decisions.

What do we call democracy if we are not free to speak and have our opinion put across? What is its need if we cannot tolerate people with diverse political opinion, and where is the freedom to choose or elect our leaders if all others who can fare very well if given opportunity are shielded away from the electorates to give one man, just one man a field day? Imagine that and answer to yourself. If your answer is as good as mine, then we have committedly or omittedly worked against our freedom and self emancipation.

If it is as good as mind, we become guilty of a crime in recycling and refurbishing used horses to still keep us in perpetual lack and darkness. There is no need refurbishing and recycling them. They can't work for our well being. Saul in the Bible was refurbished but it did not work.

It is not late, we can rise to the occasion by challenging fear and where they come from in the next poll if they will spare us to live till then.
I want to conclude by paying tribute to David Augustine of Weekly Global Insight in his piece; “Yes, We will Vote for IBB”. To be continued