Suing for support of Lawmakers, A’Ibom people to Gov. Udom Emmanuel and the State

BY EMMANUEL IKPE

It has become expedient  for me at this juncture,  to remind us all of our ‘’Pledge to Nigeria, our country, to be faithful, loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria with all our strength, to defend our unity and an uphold honour and glory’’.

The first and second stanza of the Nigeria National Anthem made this call that I beseech ye now ‘’ Arise O Compatriot, Nigeria call obey’’. Arise, yes arise o compatriot, Nigeria Call Obey; Arise, O Arise the good people of Akwa Abasi Ibom State, arise. Arise to defend our unity my fellow compatriots.

Our faith is being tested to prove our honesty if we are still loyal to our country when we are called. This call became imperative since the ‘’together we stand, divided we fall’’ synopsis cannot be ignored. 

Therefore, as the people of Akwa Ibom State finally and successfully constituted a new administration both in the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature to manage the affairs of the State henceforth, the call for support and co-operation of all stakeholders has become imperative.

As we all know, that the duty of a nation building cannot be done in isolation, that it takes a collective effort since a tree cannot make forest and it takes two tangles.
God who created us in his own image and likeness expected us to be like him by also creating, and to achieve this, we must be united and work together so that the labour of our hero’s past should not be vein, remember this Bible portion that says ‘’And God said come lets us make Man in our own image’’. 

Who was God talking to, he was talking to the co-workers then, and so I do. Why did God has to solicit for the support of others; this where I deduce the fact it has not been possible working alone to achieve a common gold except with support of others since the days of creation.

Thus, fellow compatriot, ‘’the good and the bad people’’ of Akwa Ibom State, your service is needed; your support and co-operation to the newly constituted government in your state is called for, please do not withhold, for it is through our selfless service to our fatherland, that shall we uphold the honour and glory we so cherished.

Remember the Ibibio proverb that says ‘’Ke Obong Isibongo Ikpong’’ that is ‘’ A King does not rule alone’’ as it will take the support and contribution of all stakeholders to achieve the common interest of all.

The common interest here is our state (Akwa Ibom), we have no other state called our own that we must protect. Because we have elected our leaders to lead the state in various capacities, it behooves on us all to support our leaders to succeed.

With the separation of powers and division of duty between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary arms of government as enshrine in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Legislature is expected to make laws for the executive to implement it while the judiciary is interpreting it.

The three cannot do without each other, that the reason is why the Chief Judge is the one swearing-in the state governor who gives constitutional proclamation for the inauguration of the State legislature after elections that will make laws for the state that we all are citizens.

How the leaders does gets elected, is with our mandate, freely and collectively given in ballot votes; and what might have necessitated our doing this but not for our concern and interest to the development of our fatherland, Akwa Abasi Ibom State, the Land of Promise.

How can we realize the yearning development of our interest to our state without our support and co-operation to the government of the day; If we all sit on fence, we will all be like a clog in the wheel of progress so desire in Akwa Ibom today.
Let’s all hands be on deck, we should realize our purposes. The lawmakers should learn from diplomatic disposition of the out gone fifth (5th) Assembly, by making laws that will promote sustenance of the ‘’uncommon transformation’’, ensure bills sent in by His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel is given prompt passage while making people’s oriented laws that will ensure industrialization of Akwa Ibom State.

Why I insisted that the lawmakers should be co-operating with the executive, the judiciary and all others to give Akwa Ibom People dividend of democracy. Let me commend them for the patriotism to serve the state in that capacity and to wish them well in their endeavors.

Like it is always said that a toad does not run in the day except something is pursuing it or it is pursuing something, this message is to inform us of our demand to be patriotic, loyal and supportive to the government of Udom Emmanuel.

Akwa Ibom has not had it so well, to have for the first time in history a master degree holder with world class experience ready to serve and not to rule just he said in his vision as a governor of akwa ibom ‘’Today I come to you with renewed vision for akwa ibom, a vision that is encapsulated in my burning passion to serve my people, to further transform Akwa Ibom State and uplift the living standard across the entire State.

Let me say that with your support, His Excellency the governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel will leverage and build on the Uncommon Transformation of the immediate past administration, he will transform the economy of Akwa Ibom State through industrialization and sustainable public-private sector initiative, thereby opening up more opportunities for growth and improved living standards among our people.

Akwa Ibom is a P.D.P State and was on this party the governor was elected, the party should not rest in his oars in ensuring the guide and support the State governor to succeed because he has promised to respect and uphold the tenets of democratic governance which the party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party unflinchingly stands for, as well as respect the party’s structure, decisions and hierarchy.

Ladies and Gentlemen, security they say is everybody’s business and the governor has assured us of the security of lives and property at all times; while adhering to the principle of the rule of law, thereby ensuring equity, justice and fair play, he cannot do it alone, since my security is your security, we need to be our own security.

Though the Bible has said that, ‘’except the lord watches over a city, the watchers watches in vein’’, our security operative should proactive, up doing and always on the go, no chance should be given for unlawful society, the security operative should collaborate with the state government actively to protect our borders against invasion. 

Our youth should realize that the future said to have belong to us more than 10 years ago is here, just as I could recalled the message of the immediate past governor now a senator (Akpabio) ‘’ Let me charge every Akwa Ibom youth, your fathers have done their bid, the future belongs to you, rise up and protect your future, rise up and protect the uncommon transformation, bring in a governor that will bring industrialization by supporting Udom Emmanuel as my successor’’. So I charge you again to remain steadfast and committed to our State building, the State governor has assured continuously develop, mobilize and empower the youth and women through planned and well-articulated welfare programs, thus our support is very necessary. Our women should remain supportive s well for there is time to sow and times reap as the saying goes.

Let me add that the unity of the State remains pivotal to Udom’s government as he promised to promote unity and oneness across the State, with due respect for traditional institutions and the elders of our society, it is now left for us to embrace it, remember the story of the broom and broomstick and be our brothers’ keeper always.

We must encourage the open do policy of the State government just as the State governor stated that he will give all Akwa Ibom People (both within Nigeria and the Diaspora) a proud sense of belonging, built on good governance, economic advancement and due respect for the Fundamental Human Right of all.

The State governor is willing to pursue the task of rural development and integration with all vigor bring the benefits and dividends of democratic governance to every nook and cranny of the State, and provide the basic amenities of life to all, therefore, we should make meaningful contributions to ensure this vision is realize. The Local Government Areas should strive to emulate the State government by embarking projects that will directly impact on citizens at the rural areas, let the villages know that they are entity in Akwa Ibom project.

It is one thing to put a government into power, it is another thing for the government to perform, this can or cannot be possible without the support of the citizenry, most importantly the electorate, civil liberty organization, political party, the church and what a view to rally round the government in power to succeed.

It is my humble believe that with the support of every Akwa Ibom people at home and in the diasporas Trade, Commerce and Tourism between Akwa Ibom and the rest of the Nigeria, and in fact the rest of the world will be promoted under Accountable, Transparent government that will fight and tackle corruption in all facets of the Administration.

Consequently, as the State governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel strive 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 grassroots development, mobilization and empowerment, our support is very significant and needful at all time whilst he (Udom Emmanuel) is attracting more Federal presence to the State, by continuously sustaining a harmonious and very cordial relationship with government at the centre, the unflinching and ever needed supports and co-operation of the Federal Lawmakers from the State cannot be over emphasize.
Dear Akwa Ibom people, this is our government, this is our governor, this is our State, and the success depends on us, ‘’EDIAN UBOK’’.

  Emmanuel Ikpe is a Journalist and Public Commentator, writes from Uyo.