Robinson Uwak’s dishourable verses BY ANIEKAN UMANAH

I read with absolute         shock, the recent so-        cial media broadcast by my friend and brother, Hon. Robinson Uwak, member representing Oron Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives . He started by saying , “My fellow brothers in the struggle”, those he described as the people with ‘Oro blood.’  and went on and on with venomous  and hate filled vituperations.  My first impulse was a pressure to dismiss the insidious, fabricated and unfounded bias that characterized the content of that broadcast as not emanating from the honourable lawmaker, but another sham by desperate opponents of our amiable brother, who are trying to foment trouble.

I was however taken aback when on surfing his Wall, I confirmed he actually authored the script, as it is posted thereon, thus compelling this rejoinder. ensign 
Let me wager that, there is nothing amiss for any man to identify with his own people, with who he shares natural filial and tribal affiliation, as in Akwa Ibom state, we have the Ibibios, Annang,  Oro , Ekid,  Ibeno and Obollo . But, it becomes worrisome when such affinity is exploited for a sinister and ridiculous motive to incite unsuspecting people for political gains.

I have to remind my brother, Honourable Uwak, that although, we have our ethnic identities over which we had no choice, but found ourselves born into by divine predestination, we remain in reality, one big family. I also put it to our brother that, the blood that flows in all of us does not have different colours. Besides, what unites us as a people is far stronger and more important than what differentiates us. That we all use and read the Efik Bible or Literature is a potent proof of our common heritage, culture, ancestry and destiny as Akwa Ibom people.

I became more alarmed when my brother, dovetailed into making cynical and ironical statements, insinuating that, our Leader, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, hates Oro nation, has marginalized them. 

I could not help but laugh at these spurious and wild allegations made against the person of the Governor with a view to discredit his legacies.

In a brazen but futile attempt to spite the Governor, Hon. Uwak described him as, “... the uncommon transformer of Annang land and just parts of uyo with nothing to show in Oro for nearly eight hard years” Such an unfair assessment of the man, who has come to be internationally acknowledged as a change agent, is to put it poignantly, dishonest, dishonourable and a disservice to the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State.

As a Legislator, who ordinarily should know, the starting point of development and governance is the House of Assembly, which makes Appropriation Laws for the State. Over the last seven years of the Akpabio Administration, it is a well known fact that, the State Legislature has commendably allocated 80% to Capital expenditure and 20% recurrent, which is justified by the unprecedented pace of development and radical revamp of social and economic infrastructure in the State, resulting in the Uncommon Transformation, Uwak seems hell-bent on putting down.

Before I address Uwak’s lie that Oro has been totally neglected, let me remind him that, Uyo is the epicentre of the Akwa Ibom story being the State capital. That is obviously why, the major projects of Governor Akpabio including, but not limited to the brand new Governors Lodge, Deputy Governors Lodge, Governors office, Banquet Hall and Press Centre all with state-of-the art finesse are located in Uyo. For the same consideration, the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Complex, E-Library, 20th Anniversary Referral Hospital and all major road dualizations, redevelopment and flyovers are found in Uyo. Or will our dear Honourable lawmaker fault the siting of the world class 30, 000 seater International Stadium, which is already a showpiece attracting accolades and jubilation from the state and beyond in Uyo?

But, maybe, our Honourable member has forgotten that, the Ibom International Airport which Governor Akpabio met at site clearing level on assumption of office in 2007 and completed it, is largely in Okobo Local Government Area of Oro nation. Could he have also conveniently erased from mind that the longest bridge in the State (1.2KM) is being built at Ukonteghe in Oro nation even as government started with the construction of 34 urban roads in Oron many of which have since been completed.

Can we also refresh our Honourable’s memory that, the man he falsely labels as ‘Uncommon Transformer of Annang land and a small part of UYO’ has undertaken 18 urban roads in Ikot Absai, 49 in Eket, 11.2km of road in Etinan, 11km in Mkpat Enin and we can go on and on. It will be unfortunate, if Honourable Uwak has also failed to reckon that the ongoing dualization of Eket/Ibeno road, even distribution of amenities through the widely acclaimed instrumentality of the Inter Ministerial Direct Labour Agency and political appointments by this ‘Annang Governor’, as he chose to tag him, have been kind to all component units of the State, including Oro.

I am under no illusion that, my brother, Uwak, knows a lot more than he is faking to advocate, and it is really unfortunate, he can lend his ensign to this utter falsehood and blackmail. The only logical thing to do, is for Honourable Uwak to toe the line of true honour by correcting the wrong accounts he has rendered as I fear, he may not have been deeply reflective in thought before issuing the broadcast. He must work to strengthen the bonds that tie us as a people and rise above primordial sentiments, political grandstanding and playing to the gallery.
We are also aware and alert to the fact that, with the 2015 General Elections around the corner, all manner of contrivances and mendacity will be on display to unnecessarily hoodwink the people or manipulate public sympathy, albeit, with concealed selfish or sectional interests delivered with persuasive oration. Our people must be wary of such antics which does not serve the general good.

It is an incontrovertible fact that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has endorsed the overwhelming aggregation of public consensus that the Governorship seat of the State be zoned to Eket Senatorial District come 2015, as was manifest during the Town Hall meetings held across the ten Federal Constituencies by Governor Godswill Akpabio. This further underscores His Excellency’s position that all aspirants including Uwak’s Oron Federal Constituency, which is a bonafide part of the favoured Senatorial District are eligible to contest for the office. 

Consequently, Hon. Uwak is as much at liberty to support and vote for any aspirant of his choice, and should also concede to me, or indeed, the rest of his fellow citizens the right to support whosoever they so desire. At the end, our common prayer is to affirm the petition of His Excellency, Governor Akpabio, that, God’s will should be done again, and again and again.

Ojei! OJei ojei Bari akpaniko!

Signed; Mr Aniekan Umanah, Honourable Commissioner for Information & Communications, Akwa Ibom State