Exclusive: Why we should Support President Jonathan by Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh First published on 28th May 2013. Okpolupm Etteh, 42, is the Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and member representing Ibeno/Esit Eket State Constituency. In this interview, Etteh, calls on Nigerian to give President Goodluck Jonathan a chance to deliver. He also shared his thoughts on press freedom and how good journalism is paramount to national growth and also the issue of zoning in Akwa Ibom State 2015. Excerpts: Q: It is 14 years after the return to civil rule and once again, we are celebrating another Democracy Day. Has the journey been worth the while? A: You should know about the world famous quote about the worst democracy being better than the best military government. My response is summed up in that quote. It has been a rewarding experience. The people have become the repository of power. There has been regards for the rule of law. Justice, Equity, Fair play, freedom and other democratic norms are gradually taking root in our nation. People can speak their mind over issues that affect the nation and nobody is bundled into detention as was the case before. We may not yet get there but we will eventually. Q: You did not mention freedom of the press. It is still not absolute. We still find journalists being hounded for writing the truth? A: When I mentioned freedom, it was all encompassing. This includes freedom of the press. If there are few cases of tampering with journalists and their work, it has been an exception rather than the rule. And in the ones I know about, the issue of national interest and security has a lot to do with them. In Nigeria, we are fond of doing our work without the attendant responsibility. We also overlook national security. Sometime, we do not even understand the concept. Watch international television, read international papers and you will see that they take the issue of their national interest and security as paramount. Our journalists should note this seriously. I tell you a story. A story is told of a certain top ranking journalists who had a chance to speak with a United States of America President, either in the 60s or early 70s. It is said that the guy, after interviewing the President, left but found out that his cassette or what you people call midget, didn’t record the interview. He was devastated so he reported to the White House Press Secretary. The Press Secretary told the Secret Service guys and he was called back to have another copy. He was surprised that the secret services had a tape recording of his interview but in the transcript they so generously gave him, several things were deleted, from questions he asked and even some of the president’s answers. You can see why, as journalists, you should consider national security and interests as uppermost. Another issue is the issue of publishing. Several people who have a hundred thousand Naira become emergency publishers just to blackmail and harass people especially politicians. Is this right? I don’t think so. They still hide under the freedom of the press to churn falsehood to the public. The Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors should help stem this tide. It is not healthy for our democracy. In all, we have had a fair freedom for our media. You can make a comparison from nation to nation and you will see that Nigeria will be on top of nations with a good media relations regime. Q: As legislators saddled with the onerous oversight function over our executives, do you think the executives have done well? A: Within the limits of their capacity, they have tried their best. The good thing democracy has brought is the concept of peer review and people’s power. Nobody wants a non-performing chairman in his local government. Nobody wants a non-performing Governor in his State. When people visit other States, they tend to compare developments to theirs. In this wise, we as representatives of the people, are seriously involved. We care about what our people feel about government. We have been lucky in Akwa Ibom State to have vibrant leadership in the State since 1999, with former Governor Obong Victor Attah laying a solid foundation and current Governor Godswill Akpabio building on it and even surpassing expectations. We have feedback from our people. We present their worries, their fear, their expectations and their appreciation to government all the time. Across the nation, I know it is the same because I speak with most of my colleagues. You can see how the Senate and the House of Representative is helping the President to keep to his mandate to better the lives of Nigerians. Q: You mentioned the President. Nigerians think he has not been very active and has not duly delivered on his promises to the nation? A: Which Nigerians think so? Probably, only the political opposition. If you are opposed to another politician, you will never see anything good in him and most times, this is just for political reasons. But if you look deeply, you will find out that majority of Nigerians appreciate our president. He has done well, He needs our support. When you even consider the complexities of the Presidency, you will give him more than a passmark. We tend to see only what our Governors do because we are close to them. If the Minister of Information were to ask Ministers and I know he does this every year ,to give their report card, you will be baffled at the achievement of the Jonathan Presidency. That is why he needs our support. Governance is not easy. If you know the challenges our President, our Governors and even our Local Government Chairmen face, you will be very shocked. You may end up turning a prayer partner to them, praying every day for them to surmount the challenges. It is only when they surmount these challenges that we can enjoy their contributions. Q: You talk of challenges. In Akwa Ibom, what will you say are those challenges? A: I am not the Governor but I know that funding and politics are a major challenge to Governor Akpabio. For a state that earns so much, you will think I shouldn’t mention funds but when you have a 80% capital to 20% recurrent budget year in, year out, you are very likely to have issues with funds. Budgets are estimations. The funds may not come in as estimated and to fund an 80% capital to 20% recurrent budget, you need more than prudence to carry through. The Governor has really tried to manage the available resources to achieve the much he has. Politics in like a vocation in Akwa Ibom so all acts of governance is exposed to politics. To play it right is another major challenge for whoever governs Akwa Ibom. Q: The President has declared a State of Emergency in some States. Do you think he took the right steps? A: We all expected it, maybe, to some of us, he did it a bit late but I know he acted based of good advice from security agencies and I think the timing too was right. In preserving democratic structures, he has made a mark, showing he is a democrat. All he needs now is encouragement. The Boko Haram issue has been a major challenge to his government. All that can be done to solve the problem is welcomed. We hope the current measure of combining dialogue with an emergency rule in the region will work. Nigerians can’t wait to see the scourge go. Q: 2015 is not too far. We heard you are contesting elections in Akwa Ibom based on a perceived zoning arrangement in place. Will it work for you? A: No, please get it right. I am not interested in my State because of zoning. If I am interested, it is because I consider myself qualified and meritorious of the position. When we talk of zoning, we are only saying justice, fair play and equity which are basic underpinnings of democracy should not be discarded. It should be respected. Eket Senatorial District people should be allowed to take a shot at the Governorship. There are many sons and daughters of Eket Senatorial District who merit and qualify to be Governor of the State. We are, however, behaving as if nobody from the place merits or qualifies for the position. Uyo Senatorial District has done two terms under Obong Victor Attah and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District is in its last lap with Governor Godswill Akpabio. Political, moral, common and every other sense depicts that 2015 should go to Eket. We should support justice, fair play and equity for it is the foundation of God’s dealings with us as a nation. Follow us on twitter @AkwaIbomOnline and BB: 296D678C
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 18:00:44 +0000
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