ETHNIC EMBER: WAS UDOMA BOB EKARIKA RIGHT? BY TOROBONG EKPO Seven and a half years have gone, yet I am still wondering if those utterances meted against the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, by his brother and then colleague in the State Executive Council, Dr. Udoma Bob Ekarika, were true or false. Dr. Ekarika, a native of Oruk Anam, shortly after losing the Governorship primaries to Mr. Godswill Akpabio in 2007, accused him of being a tribal bigot. His claim was based on a confidential tete-a-tete he had with Mr. Akpabio while they were together in the state executive council. According to him, Akpabio’s game plan was to marginalize, divide, politically maltreat the Ibibio as well as change their status quo from majority to minority ethnic group, if he eventually becomes the Governor of the state. The interview which was widely published on pages of local and national newspapers, left readers with mixed feelings. Some Ibibio queried why Dr. Ekarika had to wait until after the gubernatorial primary before he could unveil the ‘secret’ to Akwa Ibom people. Others were of the view that his sympathy for the Ibibio was based on a marital ground, his wife being an Ibibio. All the same, the indictment came from a fellow Annang brother. Some even described it as a medicine-after-dead kind of situation. Questions like: “Why didn’t he accuse Akpabio of being a thief, a drunk, loquacious or even womanizer?” Why the choice of describing his fellow Annang brother as ethnic bigot?” were asked. At a point, I waited for Dr Ekarika to withdraw the statement and apologize, but he never did and still has not done it. In fact, he became more serious over his stance to the extent that he turned down a courtesy visit on him by the Governor. He personally locked Mr. Godswill Akpabio and his entourage out of his Lagos Street residence at Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo. Even when Mr. Akpabio later cursed his household insisting that, no leader will emerge from his kindred; Ekarika laughed over the utterance and submitted that, a curse causeless cannot stand. Examining Dr Ekarika boldness, doggedness and attitude, Critics have concluded that, he is a man of his words. Thinkers admit that he is a kind of person that means what he says and also says what he means. Politicians hilariously opine that, such a man cannot promise thirty one industries and leave without fulfilling it, because his words are his bond. Being an Annang man, who stood his ground an exposed the devilish act of his fellow brother, I am proud of him. There is a common adage that ‘In every rumour, there is an iota of truth.’ If the Ibibio are careful enough to assess and examine the accusation and relate same with happenings within the Ibibio enclave for the past seven years, I guess, they will be convinced that Dr Ekarika was either right or wrong. Today, it is saddening to know that Ibibio elders and stakeholders such as: Ambassador Sam Edem, Obong Ufot Ekaete, Senator John Udoedehe, Obong Umana Okon Umana, Bishop Samuel Akpan, to mention only five, who were pioneers and drivers of Governor Akpabio’s ambition in 2007 are alleged to be the greatest enemy of the present administration. Governor Akpabio’s predecessor, Obong Victor Attah (An Ibibio Elder), whom by all standards became his benefactor, is said to be his enemy. Sometimes I wondered what went wrong, and at what point. For Instance, what should have prompted the state governor to draw battle line (If any) with his benefactor, Obong Victor Attah? Even if, Attah never supported his governorship ambition to the end, at least for the mere fact, he supported him at the initial stage should have made him to let bygone remain so. I am just thinking, what would have made me to be vindictive such that I bite the finger that fed me. Whenever I recall incidents such as; Empty treasury, citing of Tropicana, Late Alison Attah’s burial, closing of Ibom Plaza and opening of Ikot Ekpene Plaza et al. I tend to think if the rumour is actually the truth. Anyway, God knows better. The upsurge of atrocities such as manhandling of Ibibio sons, marginalization, assassination and kidnapping for the past eight years which coincide with the administration of Mr. Akpabio’s are on records for the, next generation to evaluate, examine, compare notes and know how well it was to Ibibio, Annang and other ethnic groups during the third civilian dispensation of Akwa Ibom State ably led by Mr. Godswill Akpabio, an Annang man. Throughout the eight years tenure of Obong Victor Attah as Governor of the state, there has never been any case of brutality on an Annang lawmaker not to talk of barring one from political consultation. Today, the reverse is the case. An Ibibio lawmaker was manhandled by the Annangs, in Annang land in the presence of ‘somebody.’ In 2011, Senator John Udoedehe was dehumanized for seeking to do his political consultation in Annang land. Udoedehe, an Ibibio man who spearheaded Akpabio’s campaign in 2007 was later imprisoned while his wife was nearly kidnapped. Though, government officials claim that, his travails were not attributed to governor Akpabio, I sometimes wonder what should have warranted such assault from Udoedehe. Unfortunately, Ibibio political office holders in the government are yet to carefully access how favorable the past eight years are to the Ibibio stock. Oro nation via their representative in the National assembly, Robinson Uwak had described Akpabio as uncommon transformer of Annang land. I have tried to equate those things Ibibio have benefitted from Mr. Akpabio’s administration and my instinct keeps telling me that the gains can never be quantified with the loss. Ibibios have lost Monarchs, Clerics, youths, children, elders, women, most especially, the mother of Engr. Iniekong Udonwa- May her soul rest in peace. Pundits assess that, there has been total marginalization and political imbalance between Ibibio and Annang. They viewed that, the over publicized Itak-Oko Ita Use-Ikot Amama Road can never be quantified with Iwukem and Ukana nylon-tarred roads. On political appointee, they analyze that the ration between the Ibibio and the Annang political office holders cannot be compared. Government spokesperson sometimes boasted that the Ibibio have held mouth watery portfolios in the present administration, but they failed to tell us, how many of them have headed or is heading juicy Ministries such as Works, Technical Matters, Special Duties and Housing and Urban Planning. They are yet to tell us, which of the Ibibio sons or daughter have been in the state executive council since 2007, whereas these three ‘wise men’ were there since 2007, even when two are from the same Annang dominated local government area. It should be noted that when Obong Attah was the Governor of the state, Dr Udoma Ekarika and Mr. Akpabio were retained in the state executive council with mouth watery portfolios from the beginning to the end. Such benevolence is not visible in the present administration as Obong Umana Umana was locked out of his own office as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) despite his commitment to the enthronement of Akpabio, his friend. I now see why my Annang friend comically told me that, Ibibio are animals. If we are animals, I pray we should be eagle not goat. When Obong Attah zoned the Governorship to the Annang axis of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, I never thought the Ibibio will undergo such travails. For the past seven years, all the Ibibio owned Local Government Areas have witnessed kidnapping and assassination cases. Do I need to review? Ok. For wants of space, I will do a rundown. In Etinan Local Government Area, the mother of a Governorship aspirant, Engr. Iniekong Udonwa, was kidnapped and later assassinated. The Paramount Ruler of the local government area narrowly escaped being kidnapped. In Ibesikpo, political chieftains, Paul Inyang, and Udonwa were murdered. Edet Akpan, a retired military officer, was kidnapped in Nsit Atai with scores of Qua Iboe Church faithful murdered in cold blood. The wife of another military officer, Group Captain Sam Enwang, was kidnapped, the Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium, Edidem Robert Obot, was assassinated in his Palace, two brothers, Mbota and Submarine, were assassinated in Uyo, among others. I wish the dead could expose those behind their killing. All the same, may their souls, rest in perfect peace. Politically, the recent nomination of an Abak monarch, Obong Moses Ekpo, as running mate to Mr. Udom Emmanuel goes a long way to prove that Uyo Senatorial District, which is predominantly Ibibio, will be politically marginalized and left for another 16 years without producing either a Governor or a Deputy Governor. Political calculation shows that, no senatorial district has ever stayed for 16 years without producing a governor or deputy governor. When Attah (USD), was the governor, his deputies came from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district. Akpabio (ISD) picked his three deputies from Eket Senatorial District. Thus, justice, equity and fair play demand that, for governorship to go to Eket Senatorial District, then Uyo Senatorial District should produce a deputy governor. If aged Chief Moses Ekpo becomes the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, it means Uyo Senatorial District will stay for 16 years without producing a governor or deputy. Whereas, Annang have been in both positions since 1999 till date, I tend to wonder, if that would have been the wishes of Ibibio political champions such as: Late Nyong Essien, Etukudoh Ekpro, Eyo Uyo et al. I wish they were here to witness how their political children are faring and distributing offices to themselves. I don’t want anybody to invoke their spirit, we should continually pray for their souls to rest in perfect peace. When I remember how Senator Ita Enang lamented the relocation of Polytechnic from Ibibio land to Annang land, I see why that my Annang friend described Ibibios as cowards. If the controversial political equation is given a room, it means that Uyo Senatorial District will stay till 2023 before they could produce a Governor or Deputy Governor. If these occur, analyst posits that, it is, indeed, an ethnic ember that will fan disunity and disharmony between the Ibibios of Uyo Senatorial District and Annang. Ibibio would have been left as a minority tribe after the administration of Chief Akpabio. Also, if this happens one needs to critically analyze if Dr. Udoma Ekarika was right or wrong.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:51:51 +0000
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