RESTORING GOD’S GLORY IN THE ORON NATION The President and Leadership of the Oron Union, Lagos Branch Patrons of the Oron Union, Former Presidents and Members of The Executive Distinguished Invited Guests, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, First let me thank the Oron Union Lagos Branch for organizing this Presidential Award Night. My Wife and I are very delighted to be in the midst of our people ; not just for the vainglory of being honoured for indubitable selfless service to the Oron Development Union both in Lagos and at the national level but the sheer joy and delight of communing with my kith and kin. And I thank the Almighty God for making this possible; for sustaining us all and preserving the Oron people . I personally believe that no man takes any glory to himself except it is given to him by God. Nothing we have done or will do as individuals at the professional, entrepreneurial, community and national service levels was achieved in our might but by the grace of God who created and designed us for His purpose. We were created for His glory and all things indeed have been created by Him and for His glory. So tonight Distinguished ladies and gentlemen I return all the glory to God who preserved me through my humble beginnings, through the years and enabled me by His grace to contribute at various levels and capacities at the community, state and national levels. As I ruminated on the purpose of this function, the state of the Oron Nation within Akwa Ibom State and the league of ethnic minorities, it is evident to me that we must encourage the ethic of community service ; create platforms and organizational mechanisms that draw out the patriotic zeal of our people to serve without reservations, We need to be more of people who go beyond Jeremiad lamentations to those who would arise like Nehemiah with a reformist and transformational agenda to build our families, communities and nation. The good Lord who created us all takes us through diverse trajectories in life to bring us to the place of fulfilling His purpose and pre-ordained destinies for our lives. I still look back with nostalgia to that day, 46 years ago when my beloved Mother Madam Arit Amana went with me to the Oron Beach to get on a boat to Fernando Po. The Nigerian Civil War was on and going to Fernando Po was my only way of escaping to take advantage of the Scholarship I had obtained from Shell to study in England. Three days and nights in a small boat on the turbulent waters of the Atlantic through the Gulf of Guinea with near death experiences just to lay hold of the future that God laid in stock for me. After a small stint as an auxiliary health attendant, we set sail on a ship to Lagos enroute London to acquire the academic certificates that God had ordained for me as my professional mantles in life. The school sojourns, professional Career in General Electric, small beginnings as an entrepreneur, my return home, the opportunities for community and national service, my foray into the rough and tumble world of Nigerian politics, going through the School of Life Experiences and here I am Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen to honour the God who preserved me for His divine purposes: all of the professional and public service pathways I have trod. So what am I saying? My years of academic pursuit and intellectual engagements have not made me subscribe to the various theories and concepts of evolution and creation: the Big Bang Theory, the Darwinian Theory, Einstein’s law of relativity, etc. There is a God who created the entire universe; who rules in the affairs of men, who created us all for His purpose, who created the Oron People and carved out the territorial expanse called Oron. There are critical times in the lives of a people or a nation when the people are forced to take stock of who they are, what they are about and where they are going as a people. Often this kind of soul searching leads to a rediscovering of self, a clearer redefinition of their purpose and a strengthening of their resolve to fulfill their God ordained destiny as a people. One such period which occurred in the life of the Oron nation was in 1924/25. During that time the people of Oron received an invitation from our Ibibio and Annang neighbors to form the Ibibio State Union. An invitation that the Oron people soundly rejected and instead formed the Oron Union in 1925 as the Apex umbrella organization of all people of Oron descent . THE GLORY YEARS OF THE ORON NATION By this redefinition of their identity the people of Oron though small in population compared to their neighbors set themselves apart as a distinct people bound together by one language and a common destiny. They were ready to take their destiny in their own hands. They knew that with unity they could achieve anything they desired. This led to what I call THE GLORY YEARS OF THE ORON NATION. During this time Oron nation made great advances in education and social welfare enabled by early contact with Europeans as we are a coastal people. The influence of the early Christian Missionaries was felt in Oron even with the establishment of Missionary Schools such as the Methodist Boys High School, Mary Hanney Secondary School, St Vincent’s Secondary School . Indeed the presence of European Christian Missionaries was very impactful and it can be said that the fortunes of the Oron people ebbed and flowed not only with the tide but also with their relationship with God. The educational achievements of Oron people especially in the academia made us a force to be reckoned and we became the dread of other ethnic groups with the high density of University Professors of Oron descent. We were also a force to be reckoned with in the democratic evolution of Nigeria with the powerful representation Oron had in the national Assembly and Government in the second republic especially. The Oron people have continued to thrive but we have also seen a gradual erosion of our influence and group power as well as a decimation of our people in the public service arena and the business concourse in Nigeria. Our penchant for community strife; the disunity in Oron nation, the erosion of social order has weakened our influence in the socio-economic growth of the state and nation. Human capital Development, Leadership Development, entrepreneurial development are some of the real but “high fallutin “ words that would describe the Oron situation. These glory years of the Oron nation must be restored. How can we achieve this when the land has been despoiled by blood letting, sorcery? How can we restore the glory years of Oron and ensure that there is strategic human capital development to take advantage of the economic prosperity coming to the land. By God’s divine ordination, Oron is the economic industrial hub of the state with the airport and MRO facility; the Ibaka Industrial park and Sea Port, new discoveries of Oil and gas deposits . All 5 LGAs in Oron have capped Oil and Gas wells which should qualify all the LGAs to be member of Oil producers Association but shortsightedness and a non-strategic approach kept all but one out of the association. The question is how are we positioning ourselves as a nation to maximize and leverage on these emerging economic landscape? We hear of community conflicts even when commercial production of petroleum and gas has not quite commenced . Our schools are a pathetic picture. Our youths have been conscripted into thuggery and are engaged in all kinds of vices. Our young girls are becoming mothers out of wedlock without education or skills. The love of God has grown cold in our hearts. The fear of God hardly exists when one considers the dare devilry and dastardly acts of wickedness we find in our communities. We must restore God’s glory in the Oron Nation. Meetings of the Oron Union have become pretty much like the Biblical tower of Babel: discordance, disunity, division, disparateness. How can we strengthen the socio economic fabric of the Oron nation when the very platform for socio-economic development has been invaded by Political jobbers and political liliputians who see and live more for today than for tomorrow? We need to search ourselves and come back in touch and in tune with our spirit man. We need to come back to the place of introspection, reconciliation, personal and communal realignment with the plans and purposes of God for the Oron people. A very familiar scriptural text directly attributed to the Lord God Almighty which I would like to paraphrase says that if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven; I will heal them and heal their land . THE ORON UNION: VEHICLE FOR ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND POLITICAL RENAISSANCE Community Development Associations are very strategic and potent vehicles for socio-economic development of the constituent parts of any state or nation. We cannot afford to weaken the influence and relevance of the Oron Union on account of our ephemeral and selfish political interests. Political power and notability; entrepreneurial prowess and success are mere tools for us to serve our people better irrespective of our political platforms or social interests. As a people we need to respect and build existing institutions seeing them as trans-generational vehicles and platforms for promoting the interests of the Oron people as well as preserving the political identity and ensuring inclusion and participation in governance at all levels. So we must reinvent and reposition the Oron Development Union strengthening it to be the rallying point for all Oron people; to be the vital vehicle for social and economic development in Oron. We must remain visionary, proactive, strategic and deliberate in our efforts to see that we are not eclipsed or totally engulfed by our Brothers who need to know that the rules of the game cannot be changed just to exclude the third leg of the ethnic tripod in the emerging political dispensation. We must engage with them as well as build bridges as well as foster mutual trust and confidence. The principle of power sharing is designed to ensure that every ethnic group presenting competent leaders is eligible to aspire to lead the state or participate in governance at all levels. STRENGTHENING THE ORON DEVELOPMENT UNION: Please permit me to share a few quick thoughts on strengthening ODU. • Innovative leadership. We need to think out of the box. No one has the exclusive preserve of knowledge. We need to create mechanisms for the cross fertilisation of ideas; harnessing the leadership potentials in our youths; the working class and the eldership within the community. Leadership Development is key and this can be achieved through Leadership Education for our youths; leadership orientation for those in careers and business. We also need to create a mechanism to promote volunteerism in Oron people in the diaspora. Moreover, we need to create platforms to ensure the continued engagement of retiring or retired Oron men and women so that they can meet as an Elders Group to brainstorm and advise Oron Leaders in ODU on strategic initiatives to ensure our political and economic competitiveness. • Strategic Human Capital Development: We need to build a database of Oron people to capture the skills base of the people. This resource will be useful as we strategise to develop the skills and competencies for the emerging industries divinely situated in Oron Land through an Educational Master Plan as well as Manpower Development Plan for the Oron nation. This will include Guidance and Career Counselling Outreaches to schools. We need to develop an Education Trust to dispense scholarships for the development of specific professional qualifications: these are not high fallutin ideas. These are very achievable but requires a conclave of visionary Oron leaders charting a pathway for the people to ensure the economic competitiveness, resilience and sustainable human development. We cannot leave our schools to rot and so we need to come up with forward looking initiatives to restore the glory of our educational institutions. • We must be more proactive with regards to identifying talents early enough and train them in the professional disciplines that are required in the emerging economic environment. Despite the fact that the Ibom Airport is situated in Oron and despite the magnanimity of the State Governor in offering more slots, we still need to have qualified people who would be beneficiaries of these training programmes lest we have a situation where through lack of foresight, Oron people are not well positioned to participate in the emerging economic environment. Some of these academic disciplines include Aeronautical Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Petroleum Engineering as well as other strategic disciplines. • Community Based Representation in the Oron Development Union: Participation in ODU can be by and for individuals but we need to create a means for the community development associations to be represented through a mandatory delegate participation system. This will reinforce the development mandate of the Union as policies, plans and programmes can be initiated based on the real needs of the various communities. • Funding: Funding these initiatives calls for a different approach to funding. Dues and levies have not and will not suffice. The Union can create legal entities as Non Profit organisations, Non governmental organisations who would engage with international development agencies to secure funding for specific projects that will benefit Oron. The local governments under strategic leadership can give more expression to their respective economic empowerment and development plans to create economic vehicles even with private equity to participate in the emerging economic environment in the state. The Petroleum Industry Bill presumably makes provision for communities to own a percentage of the equity in the Oil exploration and production companies. The possibilities are enormous. It is a question of getting people to shirk off the feeling of lethargy and lack of interest and seek to serve or contribute to the process of building a new economic architecture for the Oron nation. More than ever before, we cannot be combative in our stance with the other ethnic groups but be cooperative in a sense that does not suggest servitude and helplessness. This is the very reason why there must be selflessness, sincerity and unity of purpose as well as a strong unbreakable determination to succeed and not be eclipsed through our non-strategic engagement with government. POLITICAL POWER AND RESTORING GOD’S GLORY IN ORON The recognition of the three distinct ethnic groups as well as the principle of rotation of power between these three groups has always existed and predates the formation of Akwa Ibom State notwithstanding the degree to which the elements of this covenant were demonstrated through the years. Our founding fathers recognized that for the state to be stable it had to rest on a TRIPOD. This tripod was not senatorial districts but the ethnic groups that make up the State. So the Oron Nation must engage with the other ethnic groups; conduct a well thought out campaign to produce the Chief Executive for the State in 2015. All over the world ethnic minorities are included in governance and political leadership as a means of ensuring balance and harmony within the specific political space. This is the case in countries like Canada where the Prime Minister has always emerged from the Quebec Province in order to quell the separatist struggles of the French Canadians. The principle of rotation and power sharing is now enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. Even as we have the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from an ethnic minority group and state that makes up less than 2% of the Nigerian population, there is no reason why the logic should be twisted. My advise is that we must put our best foot forward and build bridges and necessary confidence in the minds of our Brothers through the articulation of a governance arrangement that will be all inclusive and not skew participation to put into disadvantage groups that are numerically stronger. I am confident that our very charismatic, committed, compassionate, consummate Governor, His Excellency Obong Godswill Akpabio being a good Student of history and politics will ensure that the Oron people secure the Governorship of the state in the next political dispensation. We need to communicate the fact that for the first time, the Oron Nation the Third leg of the Tripod INSISTS on exercising the RIGHT OF FIRST CHARGE IN OUR COMMON PATRIMONY. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF EQUITY. We have to let our two brothers know that we cannot be eclipsed and subsumed . They cannot wish us away, and I can assure you that there are millions of fair minded Ibibios and Annangs who know the truth and should be ready to support us. For the Oron Nation I would say let it not be said that in our day and generation Oron could not raise men and women of integrity of substance that stand the test of Time. Let us search amongst ourselves and see whether we could put or best feet forward. GOD’S GLORY MUST BE RESTORED IN ORON Today the Oron Nation has a unique opportunity to rebuild the glory days. We need to return to our Heavenly Father, the fountain of living waters, the Mighty deliverer of people, communities and nations and He will return to us as is written in the scriptures. It is written that righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to its people. We need to rebuild the broken altars and walls of the Oron nation. Creating a strong God-consciousness is key to restoring God’s glory in Oron land. We must love our neighbours as we love ourselves. We must love our communities and nation even as we profess to love God. We were created for a divine purpose and for God’s glory. As we leave here tonight we must search our hearts and determine to make that turn in our lives to live by the dictates of the word; to think beyond self and be the salt of the earth and the light of the world that God has called us to be. Let our lives be used for His glory in Jesus name. I enjoin us all to refrain from destructive criticisms and gear up to support ODU in Lagos, Abuja, the Diaspora and even the national formation strengthen the institutional capacity to carry out its mandate of socio economic development through strategic political engagement. Please give the ODU Lagos President and his executive team all the support and encouragement they need to continue their selfless and spirited service to the Oron Nation. Mr President and leadership of the Oron Development Union, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for listening. May we go forward determined to serve God and to serve His people because the greatest amongst us is he who serves. God Bless the Oron Nation. God Bless Akwa Ibom State. And God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Jesus name. DR MFON AMANA Friday, 9th March 2012 RESTORING GOD’S GLORY IN THE ORON NATION The President and Leadership of the Oron Union, Lagos Branch Patrons of the Oron Union, Former Presidents and Members of The Executive Distinguished Invited Guests, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, First let me thank the Oron Union Lagos Branch for organizing this Presidential Award Night. My Wife and I are very delighted to be in the midst of our people ; not just for the vainglory of being honoured for indubitable selfless service to the Oron Development Union both in Lagos and at the national level but the sheer joy and delight of communing with my kith and kin. And I thank the Almighty God for making this possible; for sustaining us all and preserving the Oron people . I personally believe that no man takes any glory to himself except it is given to him by God. Nothing we have done or will do as individuals at the professional, entrepreneurial, community and national service levels was achieved in our might but by the grace of God who created and designed us for His purpose. We were created for His glory and all things indeed have been created by Him and for His glory. So tonight Distinguished ladies and gentlemen I return all the glory to God who preserved me through my humble beginnings, through the years and enabled me by His grace to contribute at various levels and capacities at the community, state and national levels. As I ruminated on the purpose of this function, the state of the Oron Nation within Akwa Ibom State and the league of ethnic minorities, it is evident to me that we must encourage the ethic of community service ; create platforms and organizational mechanisms that draw out the patriotic zeal of our people to serve without reservations, We need to be more of people who go beyond Jeremiad lamentations to those who would arise like Nehemiah with a reformist and transformational agenda to build our families, communities and nation. The good Lord who created us all takes us through diverse trajectories in life to bring us to the place of fulfilling His purpose and pre-ordained destinies for our lives. I still look back with nostalgia to that day, 46 years ago when my beloved Mother Madam Arit Amana went with me to the Oron Beach to get on a boat to Fernando Po. The Nigerian Civil War was on and going to Fernando Po was my only way of escaping to take advantage of the Scholarship I had obtained from Shell to study in England. Three days and nights in a small boat on the turbulent waters of the Atlantic through the Gulf of Guinea with near death experiences just to lay hold of the future that God laid in stock for me. After a small stint as an auxiliary health attendant, we set sail on a ship to Lagos enroute London to acquire the academic certificates that God had ordained for me as my professional mantles in life. The school sojourns, professional Career in General Electric, small beginnings as an entrepreneur, my return home, the opportunities for community and national service, my foray into the rough and tumble world of Nigerian politics, going through the School of Life Experiences and here I am Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen to honour the God who preserved me for His divine purposes: all of the professional and public service pathways I have trod. So what am I saying? My years of academic pursuit and intellectual engagements have not made me subscribe to the various theories and concepts of evolution and creation: the Big Bang Theory, the Darwinian Theory, Einstein’s law of relativity, etc. There is a God who created the entire universe; who rules in the affairs of men, who created us all for His purpose, who created the Oron People and carved out the territorial expanse called Oron. There are critical times in the lives of a people or a nation when the people are forced to take stock of who they are, what they are about and where they are going as a people. Often this kind of soul searching leads to a rediscovering of self, a clearer redefinition of their purpose and a strengthening of their resolve to fulfill their God ordained destiny as a people. One such period which occurred in the life of the Oron nation was in 1924/25. During that time the people of Oron received an invitation from our Ibibio and Annang neighbors to form the Ibibio State Union. An invitation that the Oron people soundly rejected and instead formed the Oron Union in 1925 as the Apex umbrella organization of all people of Oron descent . THE GLORY YEARS OF THE ORON NATION By this redefinition of their identity the people of Oron though small in population compared to their neighbors set themselves apart as a distinct people bound together by one language and a common destiny. They were ready to take their destiny in their own hands. They knew that with unity they could achieve anything they desired. This led to what I call THE GLORY YEARS OF THE ORON NATION. During this time Oron nation made great advances in education and social welfare enabled by early contact with Europeans as we are a coastal people. The influence of the early Christian Missionaries was felt in Oron even with the establishment of Missionary Schools such as the Methodist Boys High School, Mary Hanney Secondary School, St Vincent’s Secondary School . Indeed the presence of European Christian Missionaries was very impactful and it can be said that the fortunes of the Oron people ebbed and flowed not only with the tide but also with their relationship with God. The educational achievements of Oron people especially in the academia made us a force to be reckoned and we became the dread of other ethnic groups with the high density of University Professors of Oron descent. We were also a force to be reckoned with in the democratic evolution of Nigeria with the powerful representation Oron had in the national Assembly and Government in the second republic especially. The Oron people have continued to thrive but we have also seen a gradual erosion of our influence and group power as well as a decimation of our people in the public service arena and the business concourse in Nigeria. Our penchant for community strife; the disunity in Oron nation, the erosion of social order has weakened our influence in the socio-economic growth of the state and nation. Human capital Development, Leadership Development, entrepreneurial development are some of the real but “high fallutin “ words that would describe the Oron situation. These glory years of the Oron nation must be restored. How can we achieve this when the land has been despoiled by blood letting, sorcery? How can we restore the glory years of Oron and ensure that there is strategic human capital development to take advantage of the economic prosperity coming to the land. By God’s divine ordination, Oron is the economic industrial hub of the state with the airport and MRO facility; the Ibaka Industrial park and Sea Port, new discoveries of Oil and gas deposits . All 5 LGAs in Oron have capped Oil and Gas wells which should qualify all the LGAs to be member of Oil producers Association but shortsightedness and a non-strategic approach kept all but one out of the association. The question is how are we positioning ourselves as a nation to maximize and leverage on these emerging economic landscape? We hear of community conflicts even when commercial production of petroleum and gas has not quite commenced . Our schools are a pathetic picture. Our youths have been conscripted into thuggery and are engaged in all kinds of vices. Our young girls are becoming mothers out of wedlock without education or skills. The love of God has grown cold in our hearts. The fear of God hardly exists when one considers the dare devilry and dastardly acts of wickedness we find in our communities. We must restore God’s glory in the Oron Nation. Meetings of the Oron Union have become pretty much like the Biblical tower of Babel: discordance, disunity, division, disparateness. How can we strengthen the socio economic fabric of the Oron nation when the very platform for socio-economic development has been invaded by Political jobbers and political liliputians who see and live more for today than for tomorrow? We need to search ourselves and come back in touch and in tune with our spirit man. We need to come back to the place of introspection, reconciliation, personal and communal realignment with the plans and purposes of God for the Oron people. A very familiar scriptural text directly attributed to the Lord God Almighty which I would like to paraphrase says that if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven; I will heal them and heal their land . THE ORON UNION: VEHICLE FOR ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION AND POLITICAL RENAISSANCE Community Development Associations are very strategic and potent vehicles for socio-economic development of the constituent parts of any state or nation. We cannot afford to weaken the influence and relevance of the Oron Union on account of our ephemeral and selfish political interests. Political power and notability; entrepreneurial prowess and success are mere tools for us to serve our people better irrespective of our political platforms or social interests. As a people we need to respect and build existing institutions seeing them as trans-generational vehicles and platforms for promoting the interests of the Oron people as well as preserving the political identity and ensuring inclusion and participation in governance at all levels. So we must reinvent and reposition the Oron Development Union strengthening it to be the rallying point for all Oron people; to be the vital vehicle for social and economic development in Oron. We must remain visionary, proactive, strategic and deliberate in our efforts to see that we are not eclipsed or totally engulfed by our Brothers who need to know that the rules of the game cannot be changed just to exclude the third leg of the ethnic tripod in the emerging political dispensation. We must engage with them as well as build bridges as well as foster mutual trust and confidence. The principle of power sharing is designed to ensure that every ethnic group presenting competent leaders is eligible to aspire to lead the state or participate in governance at all levels. STRENGTHENING THE ORON DEVELOPMENT UNION: Please permit me to share a few quick thoughts on strengthening ODU. • Innovative leadership. We need to think out of the box. No one has the exclusive preserve of knowledge. We need to create mechanisms for the cross fertilisation of ideas; harnessing the leadership potentials in our youths; the working class and the eldership within the community. Leadership Development is key and this can be achieved through Leadership Education for our youths; leadership orientation for those in careers and business. We also need to create a mechanism to promote volunteerism in Oron people in the diaspora. Moreover, we need to create platforms to ensure the continued engagement of retiring or retired Oron men and women so that they can meet as an Elders Group to brainstorm and advise Oron Leaders in ODU on strategic initiatives to ensure our political and economic competitiveness. • Strategic Human Capital Development: We need to build a database of Oron people to capture the skills base of the people. This resource will be useful as we strategise to develop the skills and competencies for the emerging industries divinely situated in Oron Land through an Educational Master Plan as well as Manpower Development Plan for the Oron nation. This will include Guidance and Career Counselling Outreaches to schools. We need to develop an Education Trust to dispense scholarships for the development of specific professional qualifications: these are not high fallutin ideas. These are very achievable but requires a conclave of visionary Oron leaders charting a pathway for the people to ensure the economic competitiveness, resilience and sustainable human development. We cannot leave our schools to rot and so we need to come up with forward looking initiatives to restore the glory of our educational institutions. • We must be more proactive with regards to identifying talents early enough and train them in the professional disciplines that are required in the emerging economic environment. Despite the fact that the Ibom Airport is situated in Oron and despite the magnanimity of the State Governor in offering more slots, we still need to have qualified people who would be beneficiaries of these training programmes lest we have a situation where through lack of foresight, Oron people are not well positioned to participate in the emerging economic environment. Some of these academic disciplines include Aeronautical Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Petroleum Engineering as well as other strategic disciplines. • Community Based Representation in the Oron Development Union: Participation in ODU can be by and for individuals but we need to create a means for the community development associations to be represented through a mandatory delegate participation system. This will reinforce the development mandate of the Union as policies, plans and programmes can be initiated based on the real needs of the various communities. • Funding: Funding these initiatives calls for a different approach to funding. Dues and levies have not and will not suffice. The Union can create legal entities as Non Profit organisations, Non governmental organisations who would engage with international development agencies to secure funding for specific projects that will benefit Oron. The local governments under strategic leadership can give more expression to their respective economic empowerment and development plans to create economic vehicles even with private equity to participate in the emerging economic environment in the state. The Petroleum Industry Bill presumably makes provision for communities to own a percentage of the equity in the Oil exploration and production companies. The possibilities are enormous. It is a question of getting people to shirk off the feeling of lethargy and lack of interest and seek to serve or contribute to the process of building a new economic architecture for the Oron nation. More than ever before, we cannot be combative in our stance with the other ethnic groups but be cooperative in a sense that does not suggest servitude and helplessness. This is the very reason why there must be selflessness, sincerity and unity of purpose as well as a strong unbreakable determination to succeed and not be eclipsed through our non-strategic engagement with government. POLITICAL POWER AND RESTORING GOD’S GLORY IN ORON The recognition of the three distinct ethnic groups as well as the principle of rotation of power between these three groups has always existed and predates the formation of Akwa Ibom State notwithstanding the degree to which the elements of this covenant were demonstrated through the years. Our founding fathers recognized that for the state to be stable it had to rest on a TRIPOD. This tripod was not senatorial districts but the ethnic groups that make up the State. So the Oron Nation must engage with the other ethnic groups; conduct a well thought out campaign to produce the Chief Executive for the State in 2015. All over the world ethnic minorities are included in governance and political leadership as a means of ensuring balance and harmony within the specific political space. This is the case in countries like Canada where the Prime Minister has always emerged from the Quebec Province in order to quell the separatist struggles of the French Canadians. The principle of rotation and power sharing is now enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. Even as we have the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from an ethnic minority group and state that makes up less than 2% of the Nigerian population, there is no reason why the logic should be twisted. My advise is that we must put our best foot forward and build bridges and necessary confidence in the minds of our Brothers through the articulation of a governance arrangement that will be all inclusive and not skew participation to put into disadvantage groups that are numerically stronger. I am confident that our very charismatic, committed, compassionate, consummate Governor, His Excellency Obong Godswill Akpabio being a good Student of history and politics will ensure that the Oron people secure the Governorship of the state in the next political dispensation. We need to communicate the fact that for the first time, the Oron Nation the Third leg of the Tripod INSISTS on exercising the RIGHT OF FIRST CHARGE IN OUR COMMON PATRIMONY. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF EQUITY. We have to let our two brothers know that we cannot be eclipsed and subsumed . They cannot wish us away, and I can assure you that there are millions of fair minded Ibibios and Annangs who know the truth and should be ready to support us. For the Oron Nation I would say let it not be said that in our day and generation Oron could not raise men and women of integrity of substance that stand the test of Time. Let us search amongst ourselves and see whether we could put or best feet forward. GOD’S GLORY MUST BE RESTORED IN ORON Today the Oron Nation has a unique opportunity to rebuild the glory days. We need to return to our Heavenly Father, the fountain of living waters, the Mighty deliverer of people, communities and nations and He will return to us as is written in the scriptures. It is written that righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to its people. We need to rebuild the broken altars and walls of the Oron nation. Creating a strong God-consciousness is key to restoring God’s glory in Oron land. We must love our neighbours as we love ourselves. We must love our communities and nation even as we profess to love God. We were created for a divine purpose and for God’s glory. As we leave here tonight we must search our hearts and determine to make that turn in our lives to live by the dictates of the word; to think beyond self and be the salt of the earth and the light of the world that God has called us to be. Let our lives be used for His glory in Jesus name. I enjoin us all to refrain from destructive criticisms and gear up to support ODU in Lagos, Abuja, the Diaspora and even the national formation strengthen the institutional capacity to carry out its mandate of socio economic development through strategic political engagement. Please give the ODU Lagos President and his executive team all the support and encouragement they need to continue their selfless and spirited service to the Oron Nation. Mr President and leadership of the Oron Development Union, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for listening. May we go forward determined to serve God and to serve His people because the greatest amongst us is he who serves. God Bless the Oron Nation. God Bless Akwa Ibom State. And God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Jesus name. DR MFON AMANA Friday, 9th March 2012
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