Moses Ekpo- The meeting point of diplomacy and political leadership

BY UWEMEDIMOH UMANAH

In the words of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand- Périgord, a French diplomat and one of the greatest diplomats the world has ever had, “merit, however inconsiderable should be sought for and be rewarded...methods are the master of masters”.

For Talleyrand, who also played pivotal roles in the successes of The French Revolution, the governments of Louis XVI, Napoleon Bonarpart, and Louis XVIII, ‘for there to be excellence and quality service delivery in diplomatic service and statecraft, mediocrity should be relegated to the back seat in the Socio- economic and political schemes.

This philosophical thought underscores the emergence Obong Moses Frank as the Deputy Governorship candidate and running mate to  Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the PDP gubernatorial flag bearer for Akwa Ibom State.

Born into the royal house of Ekpo Ukwak to a devout Christian parent, Deacon Frank Ekpo Ukwak of Obiodo Village, and Madam Maggi Umoh Akpan of Uruk Uso Village,  Abak Local Government Area, as Chief Moses Ekpo is from humble background.

His parents had considerably robust value for moral rectitude founded on Christian belief has impacted largely on the socialization of Moses Ekpo.  
He inculcated these values in his immediate family and his late wife, Martha and son,  Francis  spared nothing at upholding them.

It was this properly -situated background that prepared the foundation for His future exploits.

 A British trained Journalist, Chief Moses Ekpo is an embodiment of hard work, discipline, excellence, and cleanliness, who has never compromised his work ethics, integrity and loyalty to the state with any aspect of primordial sentiments.

These qualities have defined his career as Nigeria’s Deputy High Commissioner to Britain, pioneer Commissioner for Information in Akwa Ibom State, Director General, Nigeria Copy Rights Commission, Member, Governing Council of Akwa Ibom State University and later as Board member, National Population Commission, where he invested his wealth of statecraft towards the realization of organizational goals.

It is instructive to note, in light of Plato’s avowal on the necessity of giving everyman His due”, that Chief Moses Ekpo’s recommendation for an appointment as member of the National Population Commission was predicated on loyalty, and spirit of team work which he has relentlessly shown to the government of Governor Godswill Akpabio from inception.

Chief Moses Ekpo’s sense of partnership in political life also explains his very cordial and peaceful relationship with major stakeholders of the ruling PDP in Abak, like the  member representing Abak in the State House of Assembly, the Local Government chairman and the Commissioner for Information and Communications, and this quality draws currency from his diplomatic practice.
During his diplomatic practice in London, Chief Moses Ekpo exuded uncommon demeanor which was peculiar to only Anglo- American, French, German and Russian diplomats:  flamboyant in dressing and speech,  uncommon power of conviction and  reason, rare intellectual versatility and unparalleled loyalty  to the Nigerian state, and these qualities elude elude some present day diplomats.

If one describes Chief Moses Ekpo as a socialite,   it’s not at all hyperbolic in that he had cut the teeth of elitist socialization during his diplomatic practice in London. It is instructive to note that Chief Moses Ekpo finds time to attend funerals, birthdays, lunching, and other public events, and these have become an integral part of his daily living. However, the difference between Chief Ekpo and others in the top echelon of the society, is that he is never discriminatory  to people, irrespective of their social class, thus making him a bridge between all the social strata in the society.

It is therefore not surprising that Chief Moses Ekpo has a community heart which reflected in his participation and anchorage of his community development initiatives. For instance, he single- handedly spearheaded the creation of Obiodo Village, in Abak  and takes specific interest in the empowerment of youths therein through counseling, offering of progressive ideas, and outright sponsorship of brilliant youth through their educational pursuit.

Perhaps, one aspect of Chief Moses Ekpo’s philosophy which needs amplification here is, his mastery of the concept and practice of distributed leadership: ”Good leaders make people feel that they’re at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization.   When that happens, people feel centered and that gives their work meaning.”

If this is juxtaposed against the qualities of leadership, which are: good communication, adaptability, confidence, respect, delegation, proactive-ness, loyalty, honesty, and accessibility, among others, then Chief Moses Ekpo is a “star that was waiting to happen”.

It should be noted that the decades of the 80s - when Chief Moses Ekpo served in London, was the glorious years of Anglo- Nigerian foreign relations., and this could not have been in isolation of a dedicated and consummate diplomatic team of which Chief Moses Ekpo was part.

Little surprising that when Akwa Ibom State was created in 1987, Chief Moses Ekpo was brought to serve as pioneer commissioner for information. Chief Ekpo, brought his leadership experience and quintessential diplomatic acumen  to bear as  Commissioner for Information, giving uneven credibility to the military government of Colonel Tunde Ogbeha, at a time the military government needed egg-heads to pivot their illegal junta.

The case was not different as Director General, Nigerian CopyRight Commission. There, Chief Moses Ekpo brought discipline and unbiased sense of judgment to the fore, and copyright culprits knew that it was no longer business as usual.  He gave the Commission the  legal strength it deserved, thus laying the foundation for a modern Copyright commission in line with international bast practices.

The state caucus of Peoples Democratic Party’s choice of Chief Moses Ekpo as running mate to it’s gubernatorial flag bearer therefore, is well deserving. First, it shows gratitude to the people of Abak local Government Area for their unflinching support to the leadership of the party in the state, and the government of Governor Godswill Akpabio which they have repeatedly and resoundingly proven in 2007 and 2011. Secondly, it is a reward for merit, which Chief Moses Ekpo represents, as exemplified in his diplomatic and political leadership training and  experience. Above all, it is the price of loyalty, which is idiosyncratic of a good diplomat and statesman, who price these social good over personal consideration.

The people’s Democratic Party should be assured that the candidature of Chief Moses Ekpo will build a new bridge for peace, and for re-uniting aggrieved party members in Abak. That is because, his  status as  a statesman and leader will be of immense electoral value  for the 2015 general elections, which the party will win landslide in the area.