Torobong Ekpo
Nepotism, with regards to political appointment seems to have taken an alarming dimension in Akwa Ibom State since May 29th 2015.
Do you know that a certain family In Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area produces six aides to the governor? Some of them are assigned portfolios in Akwa Ibom State liaison offices in Abuja and Lagos.
Investigation reveals that the family has an "in-law" filial relationship with a certain fair lady who hails from Oruk Anam/ Ukanafun Federal Constituency and at the same time occupies sensitive office in the Hilltop mansion.
In Oruk Anam Local Government Area, the biological brother to the governor's wife, is serving his batch "B" term as Chairman Transition Committee, a feat Obongawan Imo Isemin never achieved while serving as the first indigenous First Lady of the State.
No need going through the roll call of Protocol Officers appointees from Awa Iman in Onna, as a result of the adage "ke owo isi ituko Onna" interpreted in English as NO ONE HAS THE AUDACITY TO CHEAT ONNA NATIVES.
No one, not even this writer is saying that, while on the throne, leaders shouldn't uplift their family members, in-laws, loved ones and what have you. After all, charity they say begins at home.
But, a situation where such gestures are sacrificed at the expense of foot soldiers who toiled day and night soliciting votes, is what I guess heaven may be unhappy, hence the reason the governor is losing support base on daily basis via mass defection from ruling party (PDP) in the state to opposition Party (APC).
It took the cancellation of governorship election by Court of Appeal before appointment letters were torn to nearly half of the governor's aides we have today. I doubt if any sensible politician could forget in a haste such anomaly.
It is glaring that if the Appeal Court didn't cancel the election, the hope of some aides would've been swallowed by shark.
As if that was not enough, for the first time in the history of our dear state, we witnessed a SELECTIVE APPROACH of doling out official vehicles to governor's aides.
Today, while paltry few of the aides have been empowered with hillux and Toyota Camry as official vehicles, some are using their push-and-start cars while many are jumping keke here and there, going to work.
I need to remind pundits of the history in order for us to collectively visualize the future, coz as the watchdog of a society, posterity may not forgive me if I fail to do my part in refreshing our memories with regards to marginalization currently proliferated in the state under the watchful eyes of Udom Emmanuel as governor.
Mr. Udom Emmanuel emerged as the fastest growing and elevated politician in the history of our state.
Between 31st July and May 2015, he, via the mentorship of Senator Godswill Akpabio broke the jinx and harvested even when sowers claimed he never laboured nor sowed.
What an unmerited favour for someone who never contested for any elected office nor known in his polling unit to have clinched governorship ticket on a platter of gold!
Pundits would have expected that the governor will toe the path of his predecessor or follow a similar format so as to progress politically, but on assumption of office, the governor goofed in so many ways thereby making observers to feel that he only needs or appoints foot-soldiers into his administration whenever fear of the unknown arises.
Shortly after his emergence, the remains of Akwa Ibom State Youth Caucus and Youth Council were laid to rest until it was glaring that the mass defection from PDP to APC may gulp 90% of the youths, (especially as Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ukoette GANI jumped ship), that was when Udom deemed it fit to hurriedly inaugurate the two groups at once.
If Udom had loved the youths, I think he ought to have inculcated them from the inception, thus, why did he ignored them till the defection of GANI?
I wish our gullible youths could visualize the "love" their governor has for them so as to put same in a scale and weigh if it's worth sacrificing for in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
It was after Court of Appeal case that a certain Uyo born entrepreneur (whose PROFESSIONAL group traversed Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other cities of this country soliciting votes for Udom) was appointed an aide to the governor.
Politics aside, could we recall that as soon as the governor had a perceived full grip of his government, that the name AKPABIO and UDOM BOYS were introduced into the political space and politicians were replaced by "Lagos based technocrats" in the State Executive Council?
I don't want to talk about the online report that accused the governor of leaking classified information to EFCC for Senator Akpabio to be probed as there was no fact or evidence attached to the report. But the rumour came on board when Udom Emmanuel had a perceived grip of the system.
During Akpabio's era, all Local Government coordinators of Akwa Ibom People Forum (AKPF) (a group which piloted his governorship dream) were later made council chairmen, some were appointed into PDP State/LGA Executive, Commissionership seats among other juicy positions, but in Udom Emmanuel's case, it took heavenly fasting and prayers before Andrew Unwanta of ACA could be appointed years after he took the risk of supporting MY MAN MY MAN.
Hopes of Chapters, Wards and other coordinators of ACA are in the mortuary as the governor doesn't care if there is/are needs of inculcating them into scheme of things.
Rather than recognizing ACA members, family members now see the need to form their own group so as to discard ACA without compensation and you feel that God who says that "for a every labour there must be a reward is asleep"?
As at June 2013, Udom Emmanuel was not known in the political space of Akwa Ibom State, he wasn't in the picture of governorship aspirants talk less of being imagined as a winner of the said election. Mind you, 2013 was two years into 2015 election same as 2017 is two years into 2019.
What am I trying to say? The politics the governor is trying to showcase recently by way of endorsement, appointment, flag-off, ground breaking etcetera to the best of my knowledge could be termed POLITICAL MISFIRE.
He needs to understand that politicians are not professionals who could forfeit cash inducement for the sake of service delivery. Politicians have a motto known as MUGU FALL, GUY MAN CHOP.
I doubt if Udom had prepare well before assumption of office.
There are differences between boardroom politics and secular politics. That Udom was able to play the former to a point of emerging Executive Director of Finance of Zenith Bank doesn't mean he is fit to cope with the latter.
Judging from Marshall Abia's (A stoic PDP member) post on facebook regarding the alleged scam the governor did to Oro nation during 2nd year anniversary, I am poised to believe that Udom Emmanuel was elevated beyond his competence, hence couldn't function well.
Sentiments aside, in my quiet times, I ponder on how Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio normally feel noticing that Ibom Specialist Hospital, which he built with best facilities in Africa has been abandoned to a point that the place is more or less a habitat for reptiles and other dangerous animals.
I sometimes pause to wonder how he feels about the abandoned Uyo- Ikot Ekpene road, which his successor, Udom Emmanuel claims that litigation was the reason behind the non-completion of the road.
Whereas Akpabio had a whole lot of litigation but went ahead to complete Aka Nung Udoe Road.
Will he also claim that litigation is the reason why the road leading to nursery school allegedly owned by Mrs. Uloma Akpabio at Shelter Afrique has not been constructed? Of course the dilapidated road has forced parents to withdraw their wards from the school.
I shed tears when I see the dreams Senator Akpabio had for Four points Sheraton Hotel, Tropicana, Ibaka Deep seaport, cottage industries being given an untimely burial.
I weep when Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, who took the governor and presented for the first time before PDP Ward and chapter executive in Onna was trying to be shortchanged as political leader for no just cause.
It's is said that "ke owo isi ituko aban ikwa afang" but believe you me, the governor has gone contrary to this saying.
Whether we celebrate recent appointment bestowed on people for fear of the unknown or not, have we humbled ourselves enough to ask why Enobong Uwah who "built" the new secretariat complex was shortchanged and today elevated so as to hold Uyo electorate when the time is nigh?
Can any Lagos superimposed commissioner drag such an intimidating crowd Hammer dragged along Edet Akpan avenue yesterday?
What kept the governor from the appointment he is doling out these days? It shows that ours is a man who uses and dumps us at will.
When he came on board, he promised to industrialize the state, but it appears his promises are in line with that of his predecessor who pledged 31 industries during rerun political campaign in Mkpat Enin LGA, but left with no explanation.
Can Udom Emmanuel equate any of his strides with that of Ben Ayade's which Mr. Acting President commissioned recently in Calabar?
Can he tell Akwa Ibomites why Peacock Paints and Plasto Crown company along Aka Nung Udoe road were "re-vitalized" in September 2015, but till this moment, nothing to show?
On the judgment day, will he be bold enough to tell God what happened to Automobile Manufacturing and Assembling Plant in Ikot Ukap, Itam - Itu LGA? DAAR Communications PLC Broadcast Complex at Midim Waterside, Abak Local Government Area? Shoprite in Ibom Tropicana Complex, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo?Blue Marine - Light Emitting Devices (LED) factory at Ikot Ebom Itam, Itu? Special Fertilizer Blending Plant in Abak?
Look, even though Akwa Ibomites are branded FOOLS and ILLITERATES, I don't think the God we worship is also a fool.
The rate the governor is going, I doubt if he will be able to wrestle a second term ticket with even a cockroach.
From North, South, East and West electorate are fed up. They are only waiting for the d-day to vent their anger via the ballots.
No need trying to push people via body language into castigating your opponent, remember that as at this time in 2013, you were still in the banking sector... Not known to anyone. Thus, the core politics is yet to start Mr man!
No need comparing and contrasting work done by Federal government agencies with those you are flagging off, coz it appears either your leadership style is abstract or Akwa Ibom people don't understand how pencil made in Akwa Ibom could be christened "Made in China"
It appears Akwa Ibom people want you to brief them on the rationale behind commissioning Ntiedo Udosen Street, Atan road, roads in Oron, even when the roads are dilapidated.
Does it mean your commissioner for Works didn't brief you before he escorted you on voyage to Lilliput?
For the mere fact that in Onna, during your second year anniversary, your kinsmen manhandled journalists, destroyed their bus, looted cash from them and warned them never to escort you to the village again is a pointer to the child that was named Ichabod in the Bible.
Everyone, everywhere are just fade up with talk talk... Even your aides under the auspices of, is it COOPA showed nonchalant attitude towards the purchase of Democracy T-shirt which was won to celebrate your second year in office.
Find out those that bought and those that didn't buy, you will be shocked that PDP may not even file you as its party flag bearer, coz the memory of Goodluck Jonathan is still lingering in the mind of politicians.
Have a blissful one term stay, at least you have set the record of becoming the fastest elevated politician in Akwa Ibom State.
You had earlier shown us your style via prompt construction of roads Awa Iman, appointment of your core Lagos based friends, neglecting Akwa Ibom Youths, using vulgar language such as FOOLS and ILLITERATES on some of your subjects among others.
If given another opportunity, we know what your next line of actions will look like. I guess, you may possibly drive Akpabio's men to the bush, install your friends as political gods and there after ensures that Zenith bank is the only recognized bank in the state.
Well done, Mr. Industrialization for embarking on another Wuruwuru appointment.
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