BY AKPANDEM
Senator Akpan Udoedehe was seriously dealt with during his political campaign at Ikot Ekpene, and many who accompanied him died. As if that was not enough, Hon Onofiok Luke, the member representing Nsit Ubium L.G.A was also maltreated by Gov Akpabio’s hitmen still in Anang Land. But not for the timely intervention of the police and military men who moved in and dispersed the hitmen something, beyond ordinary would have happened.
The hitmen were supervised by the emergency Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, who is packing his loads to leave before the end of this year (2013) with his emergency administration. The tension created by the disturbances and unpatriotic attitude of those hitmen are still fresh in many mind.
The utterances of reducing the majority to minority meant very little, but is very significant on assessment of what is befalling the majority. The Ibibio’s are disappointed but not exactly surprised at the brazen manner in which the Chief Executive of the State instigated and caused such mayhem in his country home in a way that makes mockery of his administration. Akpabio prevented all other political parties with exception of PDP from campaigning in all parts of Anang, to enable him and his appointees return unopposed and this certainly happened by the power of abundant rigging. The dust raised by the census fiasco of 2011 election had not settled completely, coupled with the gross election malpractices.
The populace found some consolation for the unfortunate political situation in the state in the fact that they will have a full opportunity to rectify the situation in the court. Akpabio had hitherto rule without an opportunity of having his popularity; the election was conducted in a way that can only be described as the height of political folly, and the expensive political exercise ended in complete fiasco. Even before the election, the supporters of Akpabio boasted publicly that they would win the election whether or not the people voted for them, true to their words Akpabio did “win” again with massive fraud, and the details of how the election was malpracticed was discussed publicly.
The government accepted the result of the election which was entirely rejected by the opposition. The opposition “go easy with Akpabio, for when a strong wind blows, all the grass bends low to allow it to pass”, this proverb is not sufficiently enough to enable people have an idea of what I am referring to, if you follow what is on the ground, it can be illustrated by the proverb. Akpabio who is frightened out of his wits because of the pending, suit in Abuja court of Appeal will soon stagger out of the back door and disappeared in utter confusion.
He has failed to realize the foolishness of his obstinacy and his change will be hailed with absolute joy and optimism by the emergence of a new Akwa Ibom State, free of corruption, tribalism and nepotism. This discredited regime will be phased out soon. Those who will like to be in position of power to should learn to discourage a re-occurrence of a catastrophe of this magnitude in the state. Akwa Ibom State as it exists today was one homogeneous state, despite the differing people and tribe who for now, are unable to find any basis for true unity; they are “politically unreliable” because of Governor Akpabio who has torn the state into pieces.
Under normal circumstances, the so-called one state and dialectal understanding ought to have brought the various people closer together, and poured a firm basis for the arduous task of establishing close cultural, social and religious unity. However, the prevailing circumstances are far from normal because of a dictator. The differences among the people encouraged social apartheid, which resulted in division, hatred, unhealthy rivalry, and pronounced disparity in development among the various tribes of the state. Hence, the ultimate result of the situation is that the possibilities of a coordinated resistance against enemies are reduced, if not completely removed. In a little moment, quote my words, the consequent separation of various tribes of the state, if unchecked will soon reduce the state to an inter-tribal battlefield and sporadic physical violence will be erupting from time to time. However, Akpabio talked and boasted much about his campaigns which he claimed strengthened his position.
The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, even though President Goodluck Jonathan is acting as emperor, he sees no possibility of our state returning to normalcy apart from the court’s decision. An insane man knows that “the Quitia bird that destroys the grain will soon be exterminated” very soon the court will get rid of the corrupt and incorrigible governor and have him replaced with true a nationalist, and the situation will be back to normal.
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