Akwa Ibom APC: Nest of political refugees

BY ANIEKEME FINBARR

Every day when you pick up newspapers, national and local,  or listen to the radio, you read and hear the APC through its trumpeters labouring in vain to represent the Akwa Ibom state government as evil. It should be normal for one to ignore such false representations as mischief or political propaganda but even equity aids the vigilant, not those who slumber. The people of Akwa Ibom state know that these are interesting times we are in. There is need to be ultra vigilant. Nobody or group of persons can pull a wool over the eyes of near six million people.

Just like Ebere Wabara, the Sun Newspaper Columnist agrees, circulation of falsehoods, lies, cock-and-bull stories, ludicrous yarns and moonlight tales by those inexplicably opposed to Udom cannot undermine the Divine Mandate on which platform he confidently straddles. Since the Appeal Court cancelled his election, some unscrupulous elements have been disseminating vicious rumours and deploying their massive machinery of propaganda—a development that will not change anything for sure. Governor Udom Emmanuel will overcome all these oppositional pranks and distractive challenges. As they say, nothing good comes easy. The Governor has taken this in his stride as an over comer.

Who are the people in the APC playing saints and demonizing others? The same people we know their capabilities, strengths and weaknesses. These are no miracle workers. Their grudge remains that they are not accommodated in the present political calculation and there is no way every body can be accommodated. There can only be one Governor at a time, three senators, ten house of representative members, twenty six house of assembly members and name the rest. The wise men who lost the last elections have moved on, others have chosen the ignoble path to become political refugees in their homeland. They have resorted to employing foul language on persons in positions of authority. There is no perfect government anywhere in the world, not even the APC led Federal Government of Nigeria. 

The people are fed up with recycled politicians who are will not bring anything peculiar to the table. Chief Godswill Akpabio exhibited uncommon courage to the detriment of his personal comfort, sacrificing cordial relationship with his long standing friends and ally to ensure Akwa Ibom is left in safe and progressive hands, towards the next level of development. He supported a man who is from the section of the state yet to produce a governor and a man with the capacity to move the state forward.

This is a man whose antecedence are flawless- a deep relationship with God, a character of hard work and sound principles, a high reputation of honesty and sincerity, a background in the profit driven and result oriented competitive business world, a pan Akwa Ibom Spirit and a generous heart. He is loaded with ideas and practical solutions. Governor  Udom Emmanuel’s plan is to implement strong, vibrant and innovative policies which enhance societal development, economic growth, empower the working class, bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, alleviate poverty, reduce unemployment, improve health and education, develop small businesses, cater for children and the aged, build strong families and provide secure Akwa Ibom State.

It is heart-warming that despite the distractions occasioned by litigation, Udom is still going ahead with projects and programmes that will catalyse transformation in the state now and in the future. That is the essence of good governance, which explains the divine nature and mandate of his administration by virtue of the import of his name and testimonious achievements as governor so far. The testament of a good and popular leader begins in the morning and thrives even in the midst of legalistic thorns. This is a phase that will pass away.

It should interest the APC and its supporters to know that issuing inciting and combustible statements can only lead to a conflagration that will first consume those who mindlessly, irresponsibly and suicidally stoke it before any other victim, if at all. The God of Emmanuel will not allow evil to befall His own on grounds of Udom’s sonship with His creator. Akwa Ibom is a peaceful state and nobody can take us aback.

What Akwa Ibom people see daily is a sincere and God fearing leader in Udom Emmanuel who is forging ahead in the face of paucity of funds to fulfil his campaign promises. There is no doubt that if the Supreme Court calls for a rerun in Akwa Ibom, Udom will do better than he did in the election that took him to Government House, Uyo. I say this because there would be additional votes, if need be arising from the unwarranted threats to the state, plots of mayhem, harassment, embarrassments, intimidation and other forms of lawlessness by those who think they have access to Abuja and national security agencies which they dream of unleashing on the peaceful state and the PDP leadership here at the opportune time that will never, never come!

APC should wake up to the reality that Akwa Ibom state is beyond their reach. There is always a next time in life. The APC is only united in his quest to gun down the PDD. The party is not ready for governance. The real wailers are in the APC employing uncouth and irresponsible language on the Governor and by extension the people of Akwa Ibom state. 

The enemies of the state have found refuge in the hands of people who have vowed to conquer Akwa Ibom state and her resources. The whole struggle and madness is not about policies, road maps or blueprints. It is just about the resources of this state. It is about selfishness, ego, vendetta, pull-him-down. It is not about equity or justice, peace or development. The aim of the APC is to whip silly sentiments of the uninformed. This whole hoopla is about a group of people who have refused to shelf personal frustration for state development. They have failed this time. Their mission has suffered a stillbirth. 

The irony is that Akwa Ibom under Governor Udom Emmanuel is waxing stronger in all spheres, only an inconsequential number have decided to be refugees in a peaceful and prosperous state.