2015 and the Political Drama in Akwa Ibom

Posted by admin Akwa Ibom, Headlines, State News Sunday, December 2nd, 2012

When the former Deputy Governor Mr. Nsima Ekere resigned some
weeks ago, a colleague being conversant with the situation on
ground as it were, called to tell me that one of the tyres of Eket
Senatorial District has been deflated, he went on to analyze the
rhythm of celebration that those against the governorship of an
Eket Senatorial District person were currently enjoying. That was
bad news, that was sad news, did you say so? I beg to disagree.

Although Nsima Ekere was hunted to resign as it has now become
an open secret, there is no deflating of the tyres in the struggle for
an Eket Senatorial District man to become governor by 2015. The
history of getting political power has never been fair to all the
contending forces and parties. There must be a sustained clamour
backed up with objective reasons why power should be gotten by
the contending forces.

There is no reason to justify the exit of Nsima Ekere from the state
Exco as a deflation of the tyre of the struggle for an Eket Senatorial
District person to emerge the governor of Akwa Ibom State. And let
me be very clear here that an adage holds that ke enwan
ikuengeke ke ndipe nto. This in English means hitting an opponent
on the floor in the process of a fight does not signify the end of the
fight.

While I do not argue that the exit of Nsima Ekere from the Executive
council of Akwa Ibom State was sad for Eket Senatorial District, I will
agree that, that is politics. Power is never given, power is always
grabbed and as the gubernatorial seat of 2015 comes closer, the
political Akwa Ibom State becomes more conscious. This
consciousness was demonstrated during the just concluded
constitutional review towards amendment. The people of the state
insisted that zoning has to be obeyed religiously and followed intoto.
As the constitution matter went on, all political eyes were on Uyo
senatorial district on their position on the matter. This district did not
mince words when they unanimously agreed that zoning must
remain. If one is sharp, one will understand that the position of Uyo
senatorial district is a technical knockout on politicians who feel they
can short change others in the 2015 governorship bid for Akwa
Ibom State.

Apparently understanding the position of the people, the masses,
the electorate, senator Ita Enang in the know of what some political
hawks in that district may do to him declared that, that (zoning) is a
party’s decision. He thought he has been able to save the day. But
the people shouted on top of their voices that there must be zoning
and it must be allowed to stand. Even the state Governor admitted it
in Uyo here and in Calabar during the South-South review of the
constitution. To suit their political interest and greediness, some
persons claimed Akpabio’s acceptance of zoning is that
governorship must be rotated but that the Governor did not say
where the 2015 guber should be zoned to. Such raised argument
has no standing, it is watery and hopeless.

If you look at the PDP constitution, zoning is there, it allows for each
senatorial district to have a shot at their government house and
Akwa Ibom cannot afford to disobey. It was a good thing put there
by the PDP to allow uniformity and justice. And the leadership of the
PDP at the national level will not allow their constitution to be
mocked at by paying a deaf ear. The national secretary of the party
and former governor of Osun state Oyinola stressed the need to
allow the zoning principle of he party to remain at all levels when he
argued that the party (PDP) will ensure that it observes this policy
to the fullest. Oyinola had stated very clearly that zoning will remain
at all levels of election in the country, states and at the local
government areas. The national secretary of PDP’s position is only
a confirmation of what the people of Akwa Ibom State want.

It is quite unfortunate that some people who are eating and making
so much money in the state today as a result of zoning are the ones
leading the race against it. No ill feelings anyway. The idea of
allowing each senatorial district a chance to produce the governor
is rooted in the need to give every section of a state equal rights
and justice because it is true that “all men are created equal”.
The argument that zoning has never been a factor in determining
who and where a governor should come from in the state is true.
But zoning is an exclusive position of a party (the PDP) and they are
practicing this wholesale. It is therefore not unkind to say that the
PDP will not field a candidate from Uyo or Ikot Ekpene senatorial
district for the 2015 gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State.
The PDP will field an Eket Senatorial District person for that
position, no matter which way one looks at it. This is real, if you
doubt ask Ambassador Sam Edem whom I am told was asked by
former president Olusegun Obasanjo on his (Edem’s) quest for
governorship by 2007 whether he was Annang. A friend from
Abeonuta hinted me that when Ambassador Sam Edem failed to
answer this question in the affirmative, an angry Obasanjo then
asked him what he is looking for in the Akwa Ibom State
Governorship race for 2007.

Long before this time, it was known that some persons would want
to capitalize on the mixed nature of Eket senatorial district to create
confusion amongst them. For example, Eket senatorial district is the
only district that has almost all the ethnic nationalities of the state in
it. There is the Ibibios, the Oros, the Obolos and others. In fact,
Eket senatorial district has evolved in so many ways politically but
quite backward in terms of development. And now would have been
a time for unity to get to the hilltop.

Akwa Ibom has so far gotten three democratically elected
Governors and none hails from Eket senatorial district and with
this and others, the people of Eket senatorial district especially the
patriotic ones are really prepared to get the governorship seat
come 2015. With the political developments in the state which
appears to be at par with what the people of Eket senatorial district
has hoped for, the stage appears set for an impending political war.
And the people of this district appears bent to ensure that they are
not cheated and short danged.

To me, it does not matter whether a group of Oro nation politicians
and few others have gone behind to selfishly negotiate for Deputy
Governorship and other positions, it does not also matter whether
some acclaimed loyalists have gone to work against this struggle.
What appears certain is that the battle will be won and we will
appear more than conquerors.

Yours faithfully do not blame these persons, afterall, before they go
there, they have an interest to protect and fight for, they also have
other reasons behind such action of theirs. I read on one of the
state based paper that the ambition of Eket Senatorial district
ahead 2015 hiltop race has suffered a setback as Oro nation has
charted a new course. I believe and rightly so that these are
elements of politics, these are factors associated with politics. There
is bound to be confusion, blackmail and sell-outs but all these will
not stop the emergence of an Eket senatorial district person for the
2015 governorship of Akwa Ibom State.

The conventional political strategy across the world is that
politicians of the opposing divide must always use one propaganda
real or imagined to sway support from the other group. They
especially smart ones usually picked violent men of the opposing
camps and brainwash them by promising such persons juicy
positions in their governments. These are essentially to an extent
ad hoc approaches and experience have shown that to an extent
these tactics served a purpose. But at the sametime, a there is also
allways a question of risk and uncertainty.

As conscious as the people are of this brand of politics, deep
down inside, one cannot assume that these people are not
positive of the quest of the people for justice. This is because as
long as these intending aspirants are hoping to use the Peoples
Democratic Party as the springboard to succeed Akpabio, a new
chapter will definitely be read in the political government of the state.
Akwa Ibom like Nigeria’s democracy is barely thirteen years and
Arch Obong Victor Attah from Uyo senatorial district has led the
state for eight years. Chief Godswill Akpabio of Ikot Ekpene
senatorial district will end his eight year leadership of the state by
2015. Now, is it not just a satisfaction of justice for posterity and
history sake that Eket senatorial district produces the next
governor? As long as Akwa Ibom State is positively branded, this will
come to pass.

Nsibiet John writes from Uyo,Akwa Ibom State
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