A note for the new SSG

Given what we will define as a politician, we can easily interpret and conclude that you are not an everyday politician. We are told that the new SSG Mr. Udom Emmanuel is of the financial institution, he has been in the corporate society all his life before now, and your curriculum vitae affirms that. Much as I will agree in totality that you are not a novice in terms of leadership and administration, I want to also add that this politics that you are now romancing is a different world entirely

Yours faithfully have been off this page to allow some guests express their views on topical issues. I missed it, yes, I do. This week, I have to dedicate space and time to welcome our new SSG Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to the state as the engine room of Akpabio’s government. I want to believe very sincerely that so far the man should understand why he is in charge now. Yes, as the secretary to state government, much is expected of him especially as his arrival is being heralded in times like this which the governor Godswill Akpabio aptly described as injury time. I tell you, this is injury time; there is no time for deliberate or non deliberate mistakes. Nobody will wait for you to correct your mistakes.

Questions will be ask as to whether you will be able to fit into the office you are currently occupying, but such questions must have already been answered by the elapse of time. We are told in this state that you have a strong relationship with your immediate predecessor, Obong Umana Umana. That as a matter of fact, you had once been brought in to take over the serving finance commissioner’s job, I do not know how correct that assertion is, But Mr. SSG, we will not like to dwell on that assertion at least for now, the point is, you are on a slippery ground, you are serving in a Banana Republic where at most times you will need to prove beyond being a nice guy. Here, Mr. nice guy does not really count. What counts is your ability to relate and coordinate activities effectively well.

We are simply Akwa Ibomites, irrespective of our ethnic colourations, political affiliations and religious beliefs. Let me emphasize here that it does not matter what people think of us, we will always move on. Your choice as UOU successor in the state executive council took the state by surprise, the questions were, anye ato uke adi, nsido Akpabio akesio anye adi and lots others. It was very clear why you were brought in to serve in Obong Umana’s capacity. And take it or leave it, man by nature is a political animal. You cannot claim ignorance of the politician in you.

 Experiences have proven this assertion true. And the whole state awaits your political dexterity in this regards. I am aware of your desire interest to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio as the next governor by 2015 and I have noticed your consultations. You and your political planners have gone far in your consultations. But I fear, you are leaving a lot of things to chance, there are lots of things at stake. But while you are on it, please kindly avoid the mistakes your predecessor Obong Umana Umana did. 

To every discerning mind, the man UOU was over desperate and he ignorantly opened so many battle fronts with even the key persons and institutions that are quite powerful and influential. Despite the fact that zoning was his greatest albatross, he didn’t care he felt there was no God. But today, he is history and you have to learn from his mistakes. I am not mocking him.

Given what we will define as a politician, we can easily interpret and conclude that you are not an everyday politician. We are told that the new SSG Mr. Udom Emmanuel is of the financial institution, he has been in the corporate society all his life before now, and your curriculum vitae affirms that. Much as I will agree in totality that you are not a novice in terms of leadership and administration, I want to also add that this politics that you are now romancing is a different world entirely. This is because according to an English philosopher Francis Bacon, it is hard and severe a thing to be a true politician as to be truly mortal. 

You will do yourself a world of good if you resist the temptation of labels and name dropping. You have to fight to a halt the activities of blackmails because that is the problem in the exco you have found yourself beginning from your Oga at the top, he accepts blackmails and use that to hunt perceived non loyalists. Most of your colleagues in the exco do not have eyes and nose for details and that is why they are quick to fall. They listen to certain stories and do not care to contact the man at the receiving end.

Do not forget that you are primarily appointed to serve as secretary to state government and so do not allow your quest for 2015 governorship to affect your productivity. This is because I see your imprints going about consultations as rather being too hasty and too early. And with this on, you are bound to be totally distracted. Already the Akpabio family is divided because of your entrance into the race; please do not claim ignorance of it.

 The grouse is that you are very new to the settings and it is obvious the Governor may still be running the affairs of the state from Abuja if he gets the senate and you emerge as his successor in 2015. Don’t claim you are not aware of the rumpus among your colleagues in the exco ever since it became open that you are eyeing Akpabio’s job and Akpabio on his own is considering you. The point is you have to learn and act fast to escape the shadows of Governor Akpabio, existing in his shadows is already falling your ambition on arrival. 

Point is Akpabio has since fallen out of touch with reality of governance here that if he chooses anyone to succeed him, the people will fight to a halt. The naked truth is that it will be assumed that he intends to plant someone that will cover his tracks for him and given the fact that you are coming from a banking sector. The general inference is that you are an accomplice in the shortcomings of Akpabio especially on funds and funding matters. But that is a story for another day.

Before I proceed, let me quickly plead with you that you don’t misinterpret me to mean am not wishing you well. I wish you all the best and even as you prepare to run this 2015 race. You have the right to run after all you are an indigene of Akwa Ibom State and you are from the zone that will produce the next governor.

As a matter of fact, when a friend called earlier on to say Da amekid ufa SSG ndufo iditieghe yak efud asad asuko ayem Govenor mmi, aye akere ke nanga aseba adom, I quickly retorted that yes ke anie unen adiyem. Now, you will be briefed that some state based newspapers are anti Akpabio and all of that and you may believe them, well it is left for you. But truth is no news organization in this state is, these media houses that are being described as anti Akpabio or anti government are only trying to tell Government that the state and her citizens deserve a better treatment. These news organizations are only being constructive in their story lines. They are those that when they see bad government policies, they kick. If you feel the best is to join in fighting them. You are welcome to the warfront. Your predecessor tried, he did not succeed.

Since you have stepped into government, let me inform you or say remind you in case you had already known that governments never learn, only people learn. Yours faithfully is aware of the things you must have heard from so many sources, but beware of the people that will parade themselves as your friends in the day time and plot your fall at night. Some of these people are in government, they were with your immediate predecessor and unfortunately, some of them will be your best of friends. If you keep your ears to the ground, you will hear that people fought for power shift to Eket Senatorial District, people lost their exalted positions for fighting this war. Today, it is almost 80% certain that power is coming to Eket Senatorial District. Will you continue your consultation like you know all…?

So far, information monitored from the office of the SSG has described you as a good man, we just hope you are. But do you not think, it’s too early in the day for you to start seeking for governorship at the expense of your duty? Well, the answer lies with you. For me, I wish you an eventful tenure as SSG. Please get ready for the thrills, frills and buzzes that come with the office. Don’t forget that all eyes are on you and you must surely contribute your own to the success of our dear state and don’t forget that he that would govern others, first should be the master of himself.

Best wishes our new SSG, Mr. Udom Emmanuel - a banker par excellence.