The recently held Local Government elections in Akwa Ibom has
brought one of the most interesting drama on the political stage of Akwa Ibom
since its creation in 1987. The elections saw the apogee of blame games by the
opposition All Progressives Congress. I have always maintained that blame
shifting was an integral part of Psychological Projection Theory which explains why individuals or institutions defend themselves against
unpleasant impulses by attributing their characteristics to other persons.
That has been the very nature of the APC in Nigeria- a political
party without an ideology - and run on the basis of fiefdom- aimed at turning
the Akwa Ibom populace and Nigerians by extension into slaves by the
reintroduction of domestic slavery in Nigeria.
Charles Duncan Rice, a Professor of History evolved the Reservoir Theory to
explain the justification the Europeans had for the Atlantic Slave Trade. The
theory advanced that Africa, before the coming the Europeans were practicing
domestic slavery in the Kings' courts, hence the imperative of safety valve
through trade across the Atlantic. Thus, the All Progressives Congress, through
a conscious dismantlement of the social structures that bind Nigerians, is
determined to relegate Nigeria to the era of the slavery.
There is an axiom that 'two wrongs cannot make a right'. Sound
and quality leadership doesn't thrives on blame games but adopts unconventional
and unique strategies to advance sustainable livelihood and development of the
people. On the global scene, we are not oblivious of the propaganda and
mendacity that characterized the 2016 presidential election in the US which saw
the emergence of Donald Trump. Isn't it interesting to note that Mr Trump had
since gone beyond the pre- elections era - focusing on building the America of
the dream of Americans and fulfilling his elections promises?
On the contrary, the Nigerian Government under President Buhari
has blaming the PDP its cardinal component. During a Media Conference recently
organized by the Nigeria Governors' Forum, the Minister of Information, Lai
Mohammed, who represented President Buhari, went off the rocker- by making
petroleum subsidy during the Goodluck Jonathan era the centrality of his
discourse- without proffering solutions or adumbrating what the Federal
Government under President Buhari has done to better the living standard of
Nigerians. This is the apogee of psychological imperialism and an extension of
conspiracy theory. Ironically, he flagrantly neglected certain questions that
impinge on development such as, what's happening to poverty in Nigeria?, what
is happening to unemployment in Nigeria ? and what is happening to inequalities
in Nigeria?
The case is not different in Akwa Ibom State. Before the
December 2nd, 2017 Local Government elections, leaders and members of APC
engaged in their frequent and flagrant ego- massage. They initialized all
manner of jaundiced accusations on the state government and the Peoples
Democratic Party. These found apt expression in the plethora of litigations
against the election umpire, AKISIEC and unfounded opposition to the elections.
APC's opposition to sound judgement and the common good found apt expression on
the eve of the elections when they hired thugs from the neighboring states of
Rivers and Delta to either hijack elections materials (where they had
comparative advantage over the PDP) or disrupt the process (in areas where the
PDP was dominant).
As an historian who has made some significant marks in research,
having been tutored by some of the best hands in the discipline, I can say
without fear of contradiction that the modus operandi of the APC makes it worse
than the Atlantic Slave Trade. The slave trade acknowledged hard work in the
plantations because some slave masters more often than not fed their strong and
able-bodied slaves well in order to get their best.
What the APC is doing is destroying the very fabric that binds
the people of Akwa Ibom and Nigerian in general. It veils its non- performance,
lack of clear insights on development and disconnect on the trajectory of the
global economy, with a facade called anti- corruption crusade. Simple question,
what impact has the recovered billions by the EFCC made on the infrastructural
decay the country is presently facing?
It is interesting to note that one year after contract was
awarded by the Buhari led administration for the contraction of the Calabar-
Itu Highway, nothing has been done, as the road is currently impassable! The
reason for this position cannot be farfetched. Any political party that thrives
on the tears and blood of a people cannot serve their best interest. Sylvester
Odion- Akhaine, a Professor of Political Science once noted that 'any
government which cannot serve the interest of the people, who are the locus of
power, is in real sense anti- people'. APC is the real enemy of the Nigerian
people!
Herein lies the basis of the Conspiracy Theory orchestrated by
the party to either confuse vulnerable Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians. As put
forward by Professor Katherine Young, one the world's leading voice on
Conspiracy Theory. "Every real conspiracy has had at least four
characteristic features: groups, not isolated individuals; illegal or sinister
aims, (not ones that would benefit society as a whole) ; orchestrated acts, (not
a series of spontaneous and haphazard ones); and secret planning, (not public
discussion)".
Hinging on this theoretical foundation, it's clear why the APC
in Akwa Ibom is more 'personalized' than serving the common good of the people.
It's clear why its leaders (mostly persons who felt disenchanted with the
leadership of the PDP and those who couldn't either win or have their
candidates through the PDP primaries) engage ancillaries to deepen falsehood,
mendacity and primitive accumulation. APC is imperialism in disguise!
That brings us to the question, who constitutes the APC in Akwa
Ibom? There is no gainsaying the obvious that APC in Akwa Ibom is an amalgam of
rebels- whose main purpose in politics is to serve their ego, through a process
of selfish aggrandizement. In developed climes, only men of proven integrity,
unquestionable moral conduct and sound track record are encouraged and
supported to occupy some sensitive positions such Governor. It's 'against the
run of play' for deviants with a history of impeachment, fraud, indecent
schemes and questionable source of income to contemplate occupying such exalted
office. Ironically, these elements are the pride of APC at both the federal and
states levels. It is the conviction of the writer that goodwill is an intangible
asset of leadership, which APC is absolutely lacking.
Uwemedimoh Umanah,
an International Public Affairs Analyst wrote this
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