UDOM EMMANUEL: LIKE MOUNT ZION THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN Aniekeme Finbarr The Psalmist must have had Mr Udom Emmanuel in mind when out of divine inspiration; he sang that, “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken…” Psalm 125:1. Nothing else attempts to explain the many political battles that Udom has strolled past effortlessly in the march to the governorship seat in 2015. ‘As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD has surrounded Udom Emmanuel from the political- missiles, ethnic –AK 47 rifles, propaganda- rocket launchers and blackmail - dane guns’. When a man has won the heart of God and is on a specific mission to fulfill God’s purpose and plan, no obstacle mounted against him ever succeeds. So it is with Deacon Udom Emmanuel, an erudite and God fearing son of the soil called to serve his motherland in the capacity of Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The first brick wall he met on his journey to the Government House was the propaganda that Udom is unpopular, with little or nothing known about him. Some even contested that he is not from Akwa Ibom State. Then came the next that Udom is not a registered member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and in fact has not been in the party for up to two years. Unperturbed and resolved in his spirits, Udom Emmanuel engaged gear and consulted widely, making numerous friends on his journey. It became clear he was coasting home and just when all appeared to have settled, another scud missile flew in from the bush that Obong Paul Ekpo was not properly elected as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The political class in the state relocated to Abuja and even when they ran out of numbers, they imported a few mercenaries to carry placards and chant protest songs. It became clear that Udom, the son of a great teacher had miraculously won the heart of the incumbent in just a short time, coming from the rear to beat old friends and associates to be favoured. The race is not for the swift nor the battle for the strong. The battle raged on especially in the media and on the internet. Stones flew in from all sides. No, they said, Governor Akpabio cannot be interested in who succeeds him and also gun for a senatorial seat. No, he has to chose one. As the primaries drew near, the rumour mill erupted like a volcano- PDP will not sell the party’s declaration of interest and the nomination forms for Udom. No, Udom has succeeded in buying the form; the form will not be accepted by the party. No, Udom has not been cleared by the party. No, a former Governor of the state has been appointed as the secretary of the screening committee, Udom cannot scale through. No, the former Governor and the current National Chairman of the PDP are former colleagues and they are very close, Udom cannot escape this time. No, Udom has not been granted a waiver to stand the PDP primaries. I am sure you will remember more of those rumours. Few weeks to the Governorship primaries, several versions of delegates lists flooded the markets accompanied with analyses of how Udom will lose at the primaries. But the D-day came and Udom Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang routed his opponents and emerged the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for next year’s governorship poll in the state. Udom, who recently resigned as the Secretary to the state government, polled 1201, to beat other distant rivals at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, recently christened the Nest of Champions.The results were expected as the state PDP recently adopted the winner as its candidate. His closest rivals, Helen Esuene had 12 votes, while Etteh scored 38 in a contest which was largely peaceful. As usual, a few distractions followed, opponents protested and in what will be the biggest political joke of the century, they met and agreed on a consensus candidate from the college of losers. Another ran to a High Court somewhere to get an injunction to restrain the party from Submitting Udom’s name as the authentic candidate of the party. The distractions are too small and infinitesimal to stop a Trojan who is on a serious mission to give Akwa Ibom State a secured future. The Peoples Democratic Party has gone ahead to submit Udom’s name as the duly elected candidate of the party at next year’s Governorship elections. The PDP primaries is lost and won, apologies to Shakespeare but not everyone will think Udom Emmanuel as the will of God. They will say he is a Stranger, Political Neophyte, Stooge New comer and Impostor who wants to reap from where they did not sow. It is the usual way of man. It is not the first time it will happen. What is happening in Akwa Ibom State today is a repeat of the scenario we had in 1979 when a great son of Akwa lbom State, late Dr. Clement Isong signified interest to contest as the governor of the then Cross River State. Not only was his intimidating profile as a world class economist and banker vilified, like what is happening today, the contending political interests then did everything politically possible to smear his character and discredit him as a neophyte in politics. Indeed the late Dr. lsong was castigated as someone with no political antecedents and would not offer anything positive to the state as the governor. But God made him governor. He did not fail. We could count from the then University of Cross River State which is now the University of Uyo to the Steel Mill in Eket. Asbestonit in Oron, Sunshine Battery in Ikot Ekpene, Quality Ceramics in Itu and many other industrial concerns as the legacies of the late Dr. Clement lsongs administration. The lesson here is that the very Dr. Isong whom the contending political forces then discredited not only left immense, footprint in the sand of time but very enduring legacies and messages for our generation and for the political-economic governance of Akwa born State and Nigeria today. However, the irony of the situation, or what could better pass as a negative history, is that the industrial legacies left by Isong have all been run aground by many of those political forces who are jostling for the governorship stool of Akwa Ibom State in 2015. As could be seen in the late Dr. lsongs example and very many contemporary cases, good governance and development-centered political administration are entirely not a product of a mere credential or prerogative of spending lengthy years in the political arena but a product of a visionary development policy and managerial prudence that could not be found in many of those aspiring to govern the state in 2015. God knows the desires of Akwa Ibom especially what the innocent younger generation need for the future. He knows the state needs a fresh man like Udom. Yes! Udom Gabriel Emmanuel who has the intellectual capacity, managerial ability, political sagacity, moral character and massive goodwill to lead Akwa Ibom State. The next Governor of the state must be someone who possesses ingenuous leadership foresight and strategies. He must be someone who places premium on intellectual integrity and leadership excellence; imbued with administrative foresight and unquenchable drive for strategic sustainable investment and industrialization. He must indeed have implementable blueprints for sustainable human capacity development; local and international connections to attract offshore investment, open-mindedness for equitable distribution of social Infrastructure; commitment to promote peaceful coexistence and social integration; humility to lead the state responsibly and responsively and the commitments to leave enduring legacies for posterity. What is happening now and the resistance Udom Emmanuel is facing reminds us of biblical times. Udom Emmanuel like biblical David has emerged when Jesse had paraded his finest sons. He has come and his RIGHT foot fits nicely in the 2015 shoes and with leadership credentials that far outweighs the others. He comes too from the RIGHT senatorial district to produce the next Governor. By his strides and accomplishments, even at such a comparatively young Davidic age, he has what it takes to match the desire and the competence to accomplish tremendous achievements. What are the Godly traits in Udom? Udom is a man that is naturally loved and admired by people; a fine democrat and pivot of mass mobilization; a man who achieves greatness through his assiduousness, self- will and sheer determination. He is a good listener; a man that remains unruffled even at the height of unwarranted intimidation and provocation; a man with critical thinking skills. His edge is his integrity and technical skills to handle those challenging assignments, fiscal matters, policies, plans, projects, ideas and initiative solutions to problems. Integrity is the consistency of actions, methods, measures, values, principles, expectations and outcomes. Despite the obvious God factor in this project, I do not expect Udom Emmanuel’s ride on the cart of destiny to be entirely hitch-free. You cannot toss a raft on high tide and expect that it would glide seamlessly on its swift waves. The mission is so divine that the vicissitudes and dynamism of politics cannot stop it. Try it and you will fail a million times over. It is a mission to create and sustain wealth in every home in Akwa Ibom State. It is a mission to prudently manage Akwa Iboms huge resources. It is a mission to govern Akwa Ibom State with the fear of God and unite all ethnic blocks and divisions. It is a mission to place Akwa Ibom State on the world map as a place where her citizens have the enabling environment to thrive and do business. It is a mission to improve the education of the children of the state with emphasis on higher training in relevant disciplines. It is a mission to inspire hope for innocent defenseless children and joy for the senior citizens. GOD has sighted a David in the Jesse (Eket) Senatorial District. Because his trust is entirely in the lord, he shall be like mount Zion that cannot be removed and as the mountains gather round Jerusalem, so shall the lord protect Udom Emmanuel and the good people of Akwa Ibom State from the snares of political distractions.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 08:54:14 +0000
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