Wednesday 25 January 2017

Season of shocks By Kenneth Jude

Season of shocks
The out-gone week was stuffed with shocking, stupefying and riveting events. It had in its belly happenings that kept keen observers of events on tenterhooks. In one way or the other, one was affected. In the week, the world watched in awe as the United States of America swore in its 45th president in the maverick and iconoclastic personae of Donald Trump. 

The inauguration was all the more incredible as Hillary Clinton; the woman whom many had tipped for the top job was there along with his husband and onetime president of the country, Bill Clinton. The epochal occasion was not lacking in style and élan.  

One had looked on Trump to deliver a speech that would have served to blot out the war-infested ones he delivered prior to the D-day. Not so for a man who has continued to gnaw our nerves with his stunts and bumptious foibles. 
Much earlier, the world was astonished as Gambia’s dictator and strongman, Yahya Jammeh refused to step down after losing to Adama Barrow. 


Having ruled the tiny country for 22 years with iron fist, the pigheaded Jammeh lost the presidential polls in December to Barrow. Days later, he recanted, citing fraud in the polls. Various interventions to have him concede defeat fell on deaf ears. He summarily declared a 90-day state of emergency. With the speed of light, the rubber-stamp National Assembly consented by extending his tenure by three months.

Incensed, West African nations deployed troops in the Gambia threatening to forcefully drive him out. The international community also frowned at his obduracy. Defying his antics and unruliness, Mr. Barrow who had been in neighbouring Senegal for days was sworn in in the Gambian embassy. Now, we hear that Jammeh has fled the country into exile having plundered the country’s treasury ragged. From grace, he has descended into the abyss of debasement. Poor chap.  

The other day, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in state received with rude shock the defection of the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Nelson Effiong to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The owner of the defunct Billionaires Club raised a storm last recently when he rose to speak at the Red Chambers much to the consternation of all. 

Many had thought that Senator Nelson Effiong, having assumed the ignoble position of siddon-look at the Senate had finally sought a clean break from his reticent past. No way. He stood up with the majesty of a king in shining armour and fired with remarkable eloquence that has not been one of his traits since he was voted (or imposed by the great teacher) to represent Eket senatorial district in the Red Chambers, and declared that he is defecting to the APC; a party, he said is committed to the war against corruption and one that is bent on giving the country a well defined direction. He did not stop there. As if his decision to dump the party many insist gave him breath was not enough, he garnished up his acerbic speech with the line that PDP is a sinking party that no sane politician would want to associate with. 

Back home, the social media, as usual went on the overdrive. The news hit town and raised so much hysteria. His action was roundly condemned by PDP faithful. Many tore at him with ferocious rage. One folk described him as a failed politician who is seeking redemption. Another added in quick succession that Nelson Effiong was a sleeping Senator hence was/is not a type of politician to be taken seriously. Others talked of betrayal. They insisted he has only bit the finger that fed him. ungrateful. Fair weather politician. Opportunist. These are just snippets of the appellations that the defected Senator has been generously tarred with by those who insist he has shot himself in the foot by following the path he has chosen. 

Without any ado, the PDP in the state put out a statement through its Publicity Secretary, Barrister Ini Emembong where the action of Nelson Effiong was roundly condemned. They reasoned that his defection will have no effect on the fortunes of the party. But the party did not hide its disgust over his defection. At any rate, the party feels betrayed. They reckon that the action was akin to biting off the finger that fed one. 

Aghast by this defection story and all that, the Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Mfon Nkantion is quoted to have described the man popularly called Tabasco as a failure. He queried where Tabasco Transport is; Billionaires Club and Kalahari. A cheeky fellow described Nelson as a barman who is not fit to be at the Senate. In sharp response, another online freak replied him thus: “He was not fit, why did the people vote him in the first instance’’?

There have been different twists to this defection drama. There are insinuations from certain quarters to the effect that the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio had a foreknowledge of Effiong’s defection and actually consented. That Akpabio spoke on the floor of the Senate that the party back here will institute legal action that will lead to the retrieving of the party’s Senate seat does not cut any ice with them. They are of the view that the former governor is in support of Nelson’s defection. This action, they say is designed to prove the point that Governor Udom Emmanuel does not have a hold on his constituency.  True? False? Time will tell.

That Senator Nelson Effiong went on Planet FM the other day to eulogise Senator Akpabio for being the best governor Akwa Ibom has ever had and rapping Governor Udom for being a disaster adds to the point that Akpabio may after all be the architect of this defection drama. Nelson Effiong accused Udom of giving more attention to Akon Eyakenyi more than him. 

But in a sharp entry, that line was countered by a visibly enraged PDP disciple who said that it was the Senator that has been keeping away from the governor. Which is true? Udom sidelining Senator Nelson Effiong for being a ‘sleeping’ Senator or the embattled Senator discounting the governor for being a disaster? We may not really know.

As if all these were not enough controversy, Senator Nelson Effiong morphed from a typical politician to a religious man. He said, much to the bewilderment of all that his defection was not ordinary. It was, he insisted, inspired by the Holy Spirit, adding that it is the best decision he has taken in his political career. Vintage Nelson. Don’t mind those who say you are a sleeping Senator. In fact if you could sleep in the Red Chambers and still be led by the Holy Spirit to take such unsettling decision and action, what will happen if you choose to be awake henceforth? Wonders shall be done, am sure.

Not done, he described himself as John the Baptist who is leading the way of the defection gale that will soon follow in a rush. Here him: “among my colleagues at the National Assembly, I am the first to decamp, others will join in a short while. We had an agreement before I hit the nail. You can call me John the Baptist, as I am here to prepare the way.’’

Viewed from whatever prism, the incontrovertible fact remains that this defection has upset the PDP in the state plus Eket senatorial district where he comes from. For one, it’s a slight on the Governor who hails from that area. Ordinarily, Udom should pull the strings and call all the shots across the board, but this defection, as many have suggested, indicates the Onna born banker turned politician is after all not totally in charge of the party back here. Many have wondered if this could have happened were Akpabio the governor. Are these clear signs of things to come when election bells toll in 2019? Pundits say the contests will be fierce, tough and rough for the PDP and the governor. How will it all pan out? Time, indeed, will surely tell.

Just before Senator Nelson Effiong set the political space roaring, we were all astounded when the founder of the collapsed Reigners Church, Apostle Akan Weeks (remember him?) momentarily shirked the toga of his cassock and got himself attired in the garb of mundanity. As if to confirm the rumour that his enthronement as bishop still went on in a different location the day his church came crashing on worshippers, Apostle, sorry, error there – Bishop said: “on January 1st 2015, I was already consecrated a Bishop. The event of that day (referring to December 10) was purely a ceremony of enthronement.’’ As if this line was not that shocking, Akan Weeks went on to tell the investigative panel that he is a recipient of a Doctorate degree. The degree, he said was awarded him in 2013 by Niger-Delta Youths Organisation in 2013. This was when he was under cross examination by Barr Akpakpan Okoho. 

Asked if the organisation is an academic institution mandated by law to award doctorate degrees, he said they are only a humanitarian organisation rendering humanitarian services and also training youths. To qualify for the award, he said he helped them in various ways including almsgiving, training them and many more. 

As if on cue, many, who learnt of the story on the social media, aimed a dig at the troubled preacher. “What has doctorate degree got to do with those who lost their lives in that painful incident?’’ they asked. Others wondered why Apostle, sorry again please; Bishop Akan Weeks appears to love titles more than winning souls for the kingdom. Poor Cleric.

What is there in becoming a Bishop? Does becoming a Bishop make one have extra foresight to see into the future, command unalloyed respect and loyalty? Does it give one additional advantage over other preachers, who merely go with the title, pastor, Rev., others? Why the craze to become a Bishop? Do Bishops possess the powers of conversing with God when they want, how they want just because they are Bishops? As a lay faithful, I surely need to be educated on this as I lay no claim to being an authority here.

Indeed, it has been a season of shocks and befuddlement. And, from the way events are panning out in the political terrain, secular society and the church, it appears we are in for more drama and more shocks. To withstand it all, do well to fasten your seat belt. Tight. 





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