By Micheal Joseph Okon
Leadership is nothing if the people have no new ideologies of progress to emulate. What we have often considered as opposition in Nigeria is daily being refined to meet the yearnings of world best practices by a pragmatic and proactive governor; Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the executive governor of Akwa Ibom State. Being the governor that hosts the minority leader in the senate; senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, being the governor of the chairman of all pdp state chairmen across the Nigerian nation; Obong Paul Ekpo, whereas he is the chairman southern Nigeria governors forum, yet he would rather trade ideas with President Buhari for the betterment of our great nation rather than resort to tantrums and demeaning insults.
To Mr Udom Emmanuel, opposition transcends verbal antagonism of leadership. From all indication, opposition entails contributing empathically to leadership for it is impossible to add value to any government you seek to disgrace. The speed at which the Akwa Ibom State government have disclaimed a locker room comment of a media aide confirms further insinuations that Mr Udom Emmanuel respects President Mohammed Buhari beyond party lines as the President Federal Republic Of Nigeria on a sworn oath of office.
At first glance one could misconstrue the disclaimer and downright apologies as cowardly of a supposed opposition state, yet superior intelligence should think from higher illumination of the facts on ground. Mr Udom Emmanuel more often than not has made clear demands on the Presidency for corresponding increment of monthly allocations to Niger delta states more so as the price of oil increases, placing demands for refunds made on the construction of federal roads by the Akwa Ibom State government. This courageous tackling of issues sends the right signals for all to follow. Joking about Mr President Cows sure is not in our character even as we also have established a ranch for cows in Uruan, Akwa Ibom State.
Moving forward, it’s possible to feel hands tide behind our backs when we can’t attack those who attack a performing governor by playing pranks on words touching sentimental issues like zero power supply, demonic hike in fuel pump price and caring for cows more than Nigerians for diplomacy sake. If only Akwa Ibom APC apologist would learn from the Akwa Ibom State Government on how opposition works today. The world is changing, to have better results as a state and nation we need better brains and strategies than those who created the mess we are in. This approach of mutual respect by governor Udom Emmanuel is worth emulating.
Akwa Ibom State invariably is in the forefront of reasonable opposition, nonetheless she will not trade governance for distracting partisan spirit, and this respect should not be viewed as fear for the General.
No doubt Mr Udom Emmanuel’s personal respect for President Buhari has tamed too many of us from attacking the Presidency amidst monumental failures. This contagious and spill over respect should therefore be reciprocated by the likes of Presidential aides. If the Presidency turns deaf ears and blind eyes against Akwa Ibom State when Ita Enang leaves his duty post to insult and incite the people against the state government, if Essien Inyang’s madness of insults can not be restrained by his boss Ita Enang, yet Akwa Ibom State Government defends Mr President from a harmless locker room comment of her aide. I duff my cap for such superiority of grace to stomach enormous, incessant and ignoble invectives from high places.
The respect and mutual understanding established by Mr Udom Emmanuel and the Presidency should be applauded rather than abused by the Akwa Ibom State APC opposition writers. One thing is certain, we remain the kingpin of opposition in the Nigerian state while refining the process of successful and result oriented opposition which invariably aids President Buhari to dot his “Is” and cross his “Ts” in as much as the people will be left to decide come 2019.
*Micheal Joseph Okon* writes from Ituk Mbang,Uruan.
He is the Administrator; *FRIENDS OF UDOM EMMANUEL ON FACEBOOK(FOUE)* .
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