Prof. Etok Ekanem
1. A couple of weeks ago, my friend, Comrade Thomas Thomas, placed a post captioned, “There Can Never Be Politics Without History” on Facebook. The article was also published in the Global Concord Newspaper of Wednesday, March 29, 2017.
Thomas Thomas tagged me in his Facebook post. From what I have observed, the article has received very wide circulation, attention and comments.
A fundamental fact, however, appears to be missing – both in Thomas Thomas’ article itself and in the readers’ comments I have seen and read.
I thought I should draw attention to this omission, considering the critical importance of the subject matter of Comrade Thomas Thomas’ write-up to Akwa Ibom State and its people – in the present, in the near future and even to its posterity, in the further future.
2. HISTORY AS A SUBJECT
The Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines history as “The aggregate of past events”. By this definition and authority, a record of a single past event of a people cannot qualify (or fly) as the history of the people. Note and hold this pofint, please.
3. THE ACCOUNT OF AKWA IBOM HISTORY IN THOMAS THOMAS’ ARTICLE
3.1 In terms of content, the sole matter and crux of Thomas Thomas’ article, is the political event of March 22, 2011 in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
That critical event of history was triggered by the unfortunate action of some of our people in Ikot Ekpene, who took the ill-advised position, and insisted, as it were then, that, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, or any other Ibibio person for that matter, must not enter Ikot Ekpene or any other part of Annang land, to seek support and canvas for votes against Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio (our brother Annang man) in the 2011 Akwa Ibom State Governorship election.
As we are painfully reminded by Thomas Thomas, many innocent Akwa Ibom sons lost their lives in that event in Ikot Ekpene, on that day. Many more people were wounded and Senator John James Akpanudoedehe’s campaign vehicles destroyed.
3.2 In recording that regrettable event, however, we must not lose the perspective of how the then Governor of the State, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, who deeply felt that no person should have contested the 2011 election against him, in his bid to get a second term in Office, employed and deployed all kinds of unacceptable devices to intimidate the State and the people (and ride rough on them), with the active support and connivance of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The point being made is that, a lot of our people (Annang, Ibibio, Oro, et.al.) were manipulated, misled and used by Chief Godswill Akpabio and his family, in their selfish bid to manipulate the electioneering and electoral processes to rig the election and continue to keep the State under their grip.
In Itu, an Ibibio Local Government Area (LGA), where I hail from, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe was stoutly prevented by loyalists of Chief Akpabio, from using the Council Secretariat Grounds or any other public facility, to launch his Campaign in the LGA, right in his (Senator Akpanudoedehe’s) Ibibio land.
In recognition of his constitutional right in this regard, we had to hurriedly organize, against all odds, for Senator John James Akpanudoedehe (Iman Itam) to launch his Itu Campaign in my village, Nkim Itam, using a private (community) empty open space.
This was in Itu LGA ( in Ibibio land), not Ikot Ekpene LGA or Essien Udim LGA, in Annang land.
The point being made is that Chief Godswill Akpabio’s agents harassed and blocked Senator John Akpanudoedehe, not only in his (Chief Akpabio’s) Annang land, but also in Senator Akpanudoedehe’s Ibibio land.
3.3 The event of March 22, 2011 at Ikot Ekpene, was closely followed by a series of some other actions. As we are correctly reminded by Thomas Thomas in his historiography, the barbarism speedily spread to Uyo,the Capital City of the State, where hundreds of Government vehicles that were parked at the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, were set ablaze and completely destroyed.
As we are further reminded, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe was subsequently, promptly framed, arrested and charged for arson and treason, and even murder.
Senator John Akpanudoedehe was detained on these fabricated and trumped up criminal charges, till the eve of the April 26, 2011 Governorship Election. Truly speaking, March 22, 2011 was indeed, a very Dark Day in Akwa Ibom State.
For the deep lessons it holds for Akwa Ibom State and all Akwa Ibom people (present and those yet unborn), I agree with Thomas Thomas that, “It is only a fool that will move against our effort to relieve the memories of March 22, 2011”.
3.4 History is indeed, very important. No society can progress without a good sense of its history. Thomas Thomas has dealt with the matter (the relevance of history) quite elaborately. Let me quote some of the things he said in his article:
“It is indeed a pity that the Nigerian Government has “killed” the study of History in schools, but claims to be copying the American, British and Chinese Governments; but then, fails to note that these countries are where they are today, because they did not joke with history and its scholarship.
It is a universal truism that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to retardation, stagnation and irrelevance.
Again, the study of history has not only been killed, but also the lessons of history have been toyed with by not only the Government, but by our people.
Our people don’t know history and don’t know the value of history; and have unconsciously erased it from their memories; hence the reason we remain poor, and shy, and inferior in the presence of our contemporaries outside the State”. Thomas further writes: “There can never be politics without history”.
“Show me a good and successful politician, and I will show you a good historian. He who claims to play politics, but lacks a good sense of history, is deceiving himself, and is a disappointment to his people.
A man is rightly called a “leader” when he knows what history records about his people; and what history reveals about them.
Then the society he aspires to lead will thrive with all amount of vigour, because he will know all he needs to know to lead his people away from danger”.
Then, he ends: “On this note, it is only a fool that will move against our effort to relieve the memories of March 22, 2011”.
3.5. I have no disagreement whatsoever regarding any of the things Thomas Thomas has said here about history and its role in the progress of society. I am not sure if anybody, at all, will disagree with the Comrade. I personally love history – my best subject in secondary school.
I remember my great and amiable History Teacher, Mr. Michael Eyo (an Oro) in Government School, Creek Town – and those sweet scores of 90 - 95 percent I consistently earned in his hands.
4. BUT WHAT CONSTITUTES AKWA IBOM POLITICL HISTORY?
4.1 I had earlier on, given the Dictionary meaning of history as: “The aggregate of past events”. The same Dictionary defines aggregate as: “A mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; something consisting of elements but considered as a whole”.
From all of these, no single event, single component of the aggregate, or even a select number of events or select components of the aggregate, can constitute the whole.
To be properly so defined and so called, the history of Akwa Ibom politics must consist of the aggregate of past events in the annals of the politics of the State.
As I said earlier (in agreement with Thomas Thomas), considering the important lessons all of us must draw from it, the memories of the event of March 22, 2011 in Ikot Ekpene, cannot be toyed with.
The central and heroic role of Senator John James Akpanudoedehe in that event cannot (and should not) be ignored.
4.2 As critical and significant as that historic event was, the history of Akwa Ibom politics cannot begin and end with March 22, 2011.
As heroic and commendable as the role played by Senator John James Akpanudoedehe in that event was, the history of Akwa Ibom politics cannot begin and end with the Distinguished Senator, former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and former Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, John James Akpanudoedehe, Ph.D.
As I have previously, variously indicated, however, Dr. John Apkanudoedehe deserves to be fully appreciated by Akwa Ibom people for his contributions to the political development of the State, and accorded the respects that are due him. He deserves these.
4.3 The point of my discomfort, and therefore, disagreement with Comrade Thomas Thomas’ article, is the impression created and given that, the history of the politics of Akwa Ibom State began and ended on March 22, 2011. I have a very serious and profound problem with this.
Quite a lot has happened in the politics of Akwa Ibom State after March 22, 2011. It is the aggregate of these past events – pre-March 22, 2011, March 22, 201, and post-March 22, 2011 – that constitutes the history of Akwa Ibom politics, and not just the account of the isolated event of March 22, 2011, critical as it is. I agree with Thomas Thomas that Akwa Ibom people should know and be mindful of the history of their State.
However, that history must be the total history of the State – an aggregate of past events – not an account of just one isolated event.
5. LEST WE FORGET, PLEASE
5.1 The inordinate ambition of Chief Godswill Akpabio and his family to maintain their selfish grip on Akwa Ibom State did not end after manipulating and rigging the 2011 Governorship Election to retake Office for a second term.
He began immediately, to make plans to single-handedly select, and impose a successor on the people, in order to perpetrate himself in power. Like in 2011, when Senator John James Akpanudoedehe stepped out to galvanize and lead the opposition in the State against Chief Akpabio’s tyranny, many well-meaning Akwa Ibom sons (and a daughter) stepped out on a similar course in 2015. As it were, most of them were in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Godswill Akpabio’s political Party.
The historic struggle by the people to stop Chief Godswill Akpabio and free the State from his stranglehold, was very fierce.
5.2 We saw total unity and agreement of Akwa Ibom people against Chief Akpabio’s selfish plot. Within his Party, the PDP, we saw 22 of the originally independent aspirants for the Party’s ticket for the position of Governor, consciously and freely drop their individual ambitions, and come into a principled coalition, to stop Chief Akpabio, in order to save the State.
That was how the famous Group of 22, popularly called, known and addressed as Akwa Ibom G-22 emerged. The 21 great sons and daughter of Akwa Ibom State unanimously selected one of their own, a former Deputy Governor of the State, His Excellency, Obong Nsima Ekere, as their leader.
With the active support and connivance of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as National leader of the PDP and President of Nigeria, Chief Godswill Akpabio eventually succeeded in imposing Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as candidate of the PDP.
Obong Nsima Ekere admirably led the entire people of Akwa Ibom State (who had later, consciously, coalesced into one, over this matter ) through the ensuing struggle, to free Akwa Ibom State.
For 40 days and 40 nights, Obong Nsima Ekere and his 21 colleagues waited in Abuja, to see President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on the matter.
For all those 40 days and 40 nights, Obong Nsima Ekere and his colleagues could not see Dr. Jonathan, as he refused to see them because Chief Godswill Akpabio, his master, had sternly directed, instructed and warned him, not to do so.
I still vividly remember the frustrations our father, His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah , expressed during a discussion Obong Nsima Ekere and I had with him at his Uyo residence over the ill-treatment Dr Goodluck Jonathan meted out to Akwa Ibom people on the issue, in order to please one citizen of the State, Chief Godswill Akpabio .
5.3 Earlier on, in the course of the struggle by the people to stop Chief Godswill Akpabio from imposing Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as Governor, another great son of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Umana Okon Umana, who was also in the PDP at the time, strategically bolted out, into another political Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
So did, another great son of the State, Bishop Samuel Friday Akpan, who also left the PDP, to Accord Party. The duo sought and won the Governorship tickets on the platforms of their new Parties.
From their own respective angles, Obong Umana Umana and Bishop Samuel Akpan led other segments of the people in two other battle fronts of the same war, for the soul of the State, fought in the main, within the PDP at the G-22 Front, led and commanded by Obong Nsima Ekere.
5.4 Following Chief Godswill Akpabio’s successful imposition of Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as candidate of the PDP, Obong Umana Okon Umana, as candidate of the APC, became the pivot of the struggle.
The general election became a straight battle between Chief Godswill Akpabio (with Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel on his head) and the rest of the people, with Obong Umana Umana as the arrow point. Like in 2011, many innocent Akwa Ibom people were killed and maimed during the 2015 elections.
Like in 2011, the electoral process was criminally manipulated and the election massively rigged, for Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to be declared Governor, in much the same way, Chief Godswill Akpabio was, himself, declared Governor in 2011.
With the people of Akwa Ibom State solidly behind him, Obong Umana Umana rose to the occasion and challenged the outcome of the “election” at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
He secured partial cancellation of the election at the Tribunal and total cancellation at the Court of Appeal.
Obong Umana Okon Umana doggedly followed the matter to the Supreme Court, where their Lordships
shocked the world and ridiculed themselves, by their globally condemned decision of February 3, 2016, setting aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal, and declaring that it was right for somebody to swim in the blood of Akwa Ibom people to take the Akwa Ibom Hiltop Mansion, in Uyo.
5.5 There can be no reasonable argument whatsoever, that the above accounts of history constitute a critical chunk of the contemporary history of Akwa Ibom State politics. The events occurred after March 22, 2011, but well within the time era of the 2011 event at Ikot Ekpene.
These events – together with very many others (including the facts of Chief Godswill Akpabio, single-handedly hand picking our 13 Representatives in the National Assembly , our 26 Representatives in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, selecting and imposing a Deputy Governor, key Commissioners, Secretary to the State Government, Accountant General, Head of the State Civil Service and other key functionaries of Government, all, from his section of the State, on his boy- pupil Governor, our 31 Local Government Council Chairmen and 329 Ward Councillors, being hand-picked by one Ukana family in Essien Udim LGA, and even my own mother’s kidnap, etc., etc., etc.) – must, necessarily, be part and parcel of the history of the State, which the people must know.
Equally of significant historical note, is the judicial tussle between Chief Godswill Akpabio and Engr Frank Okon, over the 2011 Governorship election. That matter dragged for four years and was finally decided by the Supreme Court, only three days to May 29,2015.
5.6 It is insufficient and unhelpful to isolate, select, study and know, only the event that occurred in Ikot Ekpene on March 22, 2011. That alone, cannot constitute a study and knowledge of the contemporary history of Akwa Ibom politics.
This is where Comrade Thomas Thomas got it wrong. Like Senator John James Akpanudoedehe in 2011, Obong Nsima Ekere (and his colleagues in G-22) and Obong Umana Okon Umana, played heroic and pivotal roles in the 2015 mass struggles to free Akwa Ibom State from the bondage of one man and his family.
Like Obong Nsima Ekere and Obong Umana Okon Umana, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe was Chief Godswill Akpabio’s political alley (in fact, his Main Man) before they parted ways, due to some differences.
Like Obong Nsima Ekere, who had worked with Chief Godswill Akpabio as Deputy Governor and Obong Umana Umana, who had worked with him as Secretary to the State Government, Senator John Akpanudoedehe had worked with Chief Godswill Akpabio, as the Director General of his Campaign in 2006-2007 and indeed, contributed immensely to his emergence as Governor in 2007. They were not enemies, but friends.
Was it not Governor Godswill Akpabio who subsequently nominated Senator John Akpanudoedehe (as his friend), for appointment as Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? This is why I find misleading and unhelpful, the dichotomy which Thomas Thomas attempts to make between those he calls “haters of Akpabio” (as represented and led by Senator John Akpanudoedehe) and those who “befriended Akpabio” (as represented by Obong Nsima Ekere, Obong Umana Okon Umana, others named in his article, etc.).
To be sure, nobody (including Senator Akpanudoedehe) hated (or hates) Chief Godswill Akpabio.
What these men and indeed, the rest of us, hate and oppose, are his ways and means – his tyranny and attempt to enslave Akwa Ibom people and place them and their posterity under the political and economic bondage of his family.
5.7 Like Senator John Akpanudoedehe, Obong Nsima Ekere and Obong Umana Okon Umana as well as other worthy sons and daughters of u Ibom State, must therefore, please, be accorded their rights of place and due respects in the contemporary history of Akwa Ibom politics. In and outside what we call politics (which, of course, is not my concern here), the history of our struggles to liberate Akwa Ibom State must be properly recorded and kept.
So that our children will learn and know their history – and progress – as Comrade Thomas Thomas has, rightly said! That record of history must necessarily, capture the exploits of the Media, the Fourth Realm of the Estate, including the great contributions of the Global Concord Newspaper Family of Thomas Thomas and his colleagues.
5.8 To be fair to him ( and properly guide ourselves and our posterity), the history of Akwa Ibom politics must capture the fact that Chief Godswill Akpabio won the 2007 General election absolutely. Our history must capture the fact that Akwa Ibom people dearly loved and respected Chief Akpabio when he started off as Governor in 2007.
Our history must capture the fact that, as Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio started off very well, did very well, until self and pride unfortunately, took over and overwhelmed him and his considerations in public affairs.
For the lessons this holds for us, our history must record that, given his fairly impressive performance in the first three years of his first term in Office, if he had kept faith and remained on his start-off track, Chief Akpabio could have won a second term in Office in 2011, without resorting to the objectionable tactics, ways and means he employed to achieve this end, and that, the unfortunate event of March 22, 2011 was itself, totally unnecessary and avoidable.
Akwa Ibom history must properly capture what Chief Godswill Akpabio got right and what he got wrong. Not total damnation!
I say this, from my working knowledge and relationship with him as a Commissioner and Member of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council during most of Chief Akpabio’s first term in Office.
6. THE WAY FORWARD FOR AKWA IBOM STATE
6.1 If the real motive and desire of Thomas Thomas’ article is the betterment of Akwa Ibom State, as I believe it is, then let us reason together, on the way forward. For me, the real (and urgent) task before Akwa Ibom people, is for them to take back their State, and place themselves in a firm position to democratically determine who leads them, who represents them – where? and when? This is the only way and means of having accountable leaders and Representatives – the direction to progress.
Given the dominant, domineering and oppressive forces that still dominate the State, the task ahead is not going to be easy. It will require a strong bond of unity of purpose and the full hands of Akwa Ibom people on deck.
6.2 Artificial divisive tendencies and unconstitutional demarcations/ barriers, such as “they vs us ” ,” real citizens vs unreal citizens of Akwa Ibom State”, “real vs unreal memebers of PDP, Accord Party, APC or Labour Party, etc”, “their tribe vs our tribe”, “my personal interest vs your personal interest”, etc.- will not help, and must be seriously played down.
Aspects of these kind of tendencies, unfortunately, dominate Comrade Thomas Thomas’ article. Given the admirable background and antecedents of Thomas Thomas which I know, deliberate harm and damage may not have been intended or desired.
I like to, however, frankly observe that some of the things our Comrade in the Struggle has said in that article, are largely, unhelpful to the general cause of Akwa Ibom State.
For sure, many Akwa Ibom people (including my humble self ) have suffered some serious reverses from the system, but we must moderate the expressions of our anger and regrets, in the interest of the collective well-being of the State and the people. Everything possible should, however, be done to assuage the feelings of persons who have suffered hurt.
6.3 In all honesty, you cannot truly seek to rescue and redeem Akwa Ibom State from its slave master while at the same time, seeking to exclude available relevant instruments, just because they were on the side of the slave master the other time.
You cannot reasonably hope to win (in 2017), a battle you could not win in 2012 and 2014, fighting or planning to fight with the same army (men, materials and style) with which you previously fought, yet alienating well-known warriors and commanders who, by personal conviction, have crossed over (to you) from the enemy side.
This is akin to planning to lose the battle again, long before you even move to the battle field. As they say, you cannot keep doing the same thing, and yet, expect a different result.
Accordingly, as we prepare for the critical task ahead, I strongly disagree with Thomas Thomas, regarding suggestions (direct or indirect), that any Akwa Ibom citizen can be alienated in this struggle, howsoever, simply because he was, before now, a “friend to Akpabio”.
We need all those persons Thomas Thomas mentioned as “friends of Akpabio”– “the Obong Rita Akpans, the Otuekong Sunny Jacksons, the Otuekong Don Etiebiets, the Chief Sunny Ibangas, etc.”.
We need Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, Obong Nsima Ekere, Obong Umana Okon Umana, Group Captain Sam Ewang, etc. We need Thomas Thomas. We need everybody who is worried about the sorry-state of Akwa Ibom State.
6.4 Let me conclude with the following critical and passionate admonition from Senator John James Akpanudoedehe himself, contained in the Solidarity Message he recently issued on the sixth Anniversary of the March 22, 2011 event at Ikot Ekpene, as published at the back page of the Global Concord Newspaper (Vol. 20 No. 25) of Wednesday, March 29, 2017. I quote the Senator:
“In the hearts of all, I urge that today be observed as a day dedicated to the memory of the martyrs; a day of freedom; a day of peace; and a day we should resolve never again to permit ethnic considerations to balkanize us.
We should note that Akwa Ibom State consist of one people, interwoven over several centuries through marital, historical, cultural, and other ties, apart from the fact of sharing a common ancestry. No division should therefore exist between us.
In that spirit, I had reconciled with the good people of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, and indeed, Senatorial District as a whole; and urge all my loyalists and supporters to bury the hatchet as well, on this sixth anniversary of the remembrance of our fallen comrades.
I will remain committed to my people, and to my State; and will spare no effort to ensure that there is peace and tranquil amongst them. May the good Lord bless you all, and once again, may the souls of the dearly departed rest in perfect peace”. – “Senator J. J. Akpanudoedehe, Ph.D”.
6.5 May the spirit of God help us to reflect and act on the admonition of Senator John James Akpanudoedehe. Let Akwa Ibom people know (and learn from) the full contemporary history of their State. May God at his appointed time, send forth a man he will use to set free Akwa Ibom State and release his full blessings upon the Land and the people.
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