A vote for Udom Emmanuel as Governor of A’Ibom State in 2015

BY UWEMEDIMOH UMANAH

In my last treatise titled, “Blessed Art Thou Udom, Son of Emmanuel”, I attempted a  clinical re-examination of the specific character of the PDP gubernatorial flag bearer, Mr Udom Emmanuel in the context of the life of Peter Wescott, the hero in Hugh Walpole’s novel, fortitude.

We established that despite the rough and turbulent political road plied by the PDP guber flag bearer, he, like Peter was able to surmount the obstacles of blackmail, character assassination and mendacious falsehood to emerge the the flag bearer in a keenly contested gubernatorial primaries.

In this work, we are discussing the need for Udom Emmanuel to succeed governor Akpabio as Governor within the analytical prism of political exigency.
There I go: In my third year in the university, we took a course titled, “Defence Policy and Strategic Doctrine”.

One very interesting topic in this course was the “Defence Policy and Strategies of the Great Prussian Chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck” , who through his policy of detente- alliances and counter- alliances, secured the unification of the German State in 1871, after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871.
Bismarck’s rationale for his detente policy was that ‘it was necessary if the unification was to be achieved’, hence his “blood and iron diplomacy and foreign policy”. “The great question of the day shall be resolved not by the speeches and resolution of the day, but by blood and iron, concluded Otto Leopold Von Bismarck. 

The implication of Bismarck’s speech was that the Prussian Legislature (Riechtag) gave the Iron Chancellor the needed support and vote, which ultimately redefined the course of the country’s foreign policy and international relations for a very long time. That of course, was a vote for political exigency. 

Political exigency explains the rationale for the decisions which states and leaders take in the course of governance, and these decisions are usually premised on the interest of the state. That’s why countries have core and non-core values in their hierarchy of interests.

For instance, a state that is desirous of attaining sustainable development in the global political economy makes “policy consistency” a core value, by instituting structures and institutions to engender it. 

For such a state, leadership is not a flight- by -night and unsystematic political fluke, but a conscionable, planned, and coordinated process where persons considered most likely to sustain the political heritage are elected/selected to serve. 

Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the Governorship flag bearer of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State is a “child” of both history and exigency, who came to the political fray state at a time the state was mostly in need of a “leg that would wear the big sized shoe of Godswill Obot Akpabio” who is serving out his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State. 

It is an incontrovertible fact that Governor Akpabio has laid a solid foundation for the modernization of of Akwa Ibom State, through a collage of infrastructure such as quality roads, bridges, schools, concentric flyovers, five star hotels, an international airport, tourism resorts, among others, and these projects have changed both global and national perception about Akwa Ibom State. 

It’s therefore expedient to sustain, and if possible deepen this uncommon feat recorded in the last seven years of the Akpabio administration, and that translates to having a credible successor, who would hinge his interpersonal relations on ethnic, and religious underpinnings.

With a cosmopolitan training, cross- cultural professional and corporate orientation, founded on the Protestant work ethic, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel is the only man that Governor Akpabio’s shoe fits- as state Governor from 2015.
The reasons for this assertion can’t be farfetched. Governance works better if operationalized in a continuum, and Udom Gabriel Emmanuel best fits into Governor Akpabio’s understanding of a successor. What that implies is that Udom Emmanuel having worked under/with a performing Governor has been certified fit to first understand Governor Akpabio’s conceptualization of development, and sustain the momentum of infrastructural development in the state. That informed the decision by supporters and admirers of Governor Akpabio to compose a beautiful rendition to that effect: “who do you know, I know Godswill Akpabio, our Governor, the senator, who taught Udom Emmanuel...”

That song underscores the need for a worthwhile tutelage in leadership, and the pertinence of policy consistency. 

Another dimension which needs amplification is that of motive. Every ambition has an underlying motivation. Unlike some governorship candidates whose ambition to govern the state are founded of vengeance, ethnic and “accumulative” considerations, Udom’s gubernatorial ambition is founded on a genuine determination to see Akwa Ibom into the Eldorado of economic prosperity and sustainable development. 

Udom, throughout his stewardship at Zenith Bank wasn’t linked with any allegation of insubordination or fiscal indiscipline, which characterize the character of many public office holders. Therefore, a vote for Udom Emmanuel as Governor of Akwa Ibom in 2015, is a vote for due process and financial prudence in the administration of the state.

Udom’s vision for a greater Akwa Ibom was aptly captured in his manifesto, which he adumbrated during his declaration:

“To leverage and build on the Uncommon Transformation of the present administration; to transform the economy of Akwa Ibom State via industrialisation and sustainable public-private sector initiative, thereby opening up more opportunities for growth and improved living standards among our people; to respect and uphold the tenets of democratic governance which our great party (PDP) unflinchingly stands for, as well as respect the party’s structure, decisions and hierarchy; to ensure the security of lives and property of the people at all times, while adhering to the principle of the rule of law, thereby ensuring equity, justice and fairplay; to promote unity and oneness across the State, with due respect for Traditional Institutions and the Elders of our society; to continuously develop, mobilise, and empower our women and the youths via planned and well-articulated welfare programmes; to give all Akwa Ibomites (both within Nigeria and the Diaspora) a proud sense of belonging-built on good governance, economic advancement and due respect for the Fundamental Human Rights of all; to pursue the task of Rural development and integration with all vigour which would bring the benefits and dividends of our democratic governance to every nook and cranny in the state, and provide the basic amenities of life to all ; to ensure Accountability and Transparency in government by fighting and tackling corruption in all facets of our Administration; to promote Trade, Commerce, and tourism between Akwa Ibom and the rest of Nigeria, and in fact the rest of the; to foster, develop, and maintain a good working relationship with both the Legislative and the Judiciary arms of Government in the State, as well as ensuring an effective local Government Administration for grassroot development, mobilisation and empowerment; to attract more Federal presence to Akwa Ibom State, by continuously sustaining a harmonious and very cordial relationship with the government at the centre”.

In the purview of Public Policy, it can be seen that this manifesto, which I term the Udom Action Plan, is people- centered- aimed at reinforcing the people’s place as the locus of political power. This line of thought corroborates Sylvester Odion-Akhaine’s postulate that “if the people who are the owners of development are neglected in the process of development, that pattern of development is termed “development against the people”.

“The true mark of a leader is the willingness to stick with a bold course of action — an unconventional business strategy, a unique product-development roadmap — even as the rest of the world wonders why you’re not marching in step with the status quo”, says Harry Truman, an American Statesman.

There is no doubt that this conceptualization of leadership exemplifies the leadership demeanor and character of Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the PDP gubernatorial flag bearer for Akwa Ibom State.

Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to introduce to you, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State from May 29, 2015, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel!