Remember the just concluded AFCON which Super Eagles tutored Stephen Keshi emerged the undisputed Champions of Africa. They did not achieve this feat on a platter of gold. I will not even agree that they were lucky. It was a product of hardwork, team work and determination. Although luck, is a part of success, let it be expressed here that even when contenders did not give them (the Super Eagles) a chance, they excelled to the joy of everyone.
Again, the Super Eagles had also had their own share of poor officiating. The match against Burkina faso, the one against Zambia being the worse hit especially an underserved penalty the chipolopolos converted though the boot of their assistant captain and team goalkeeper Mweene. Burkina Faso equalized with the last kick of the match during Nigeria’s opening match against them. Zambia equalized with the last serious kick of that match, they didn’t actually make any other serious kick during the match as time was no longer friendly for the match to proceed.
These scenarios of kicks appear to emerge in Akwa Ibom State as the 2015 governorship election approaches. Stories of politicians sponsoring media hatchet jobs against Governor Akpabio rent the air, on print and with the main source being the internet. As this story continues, Akwa Ibomites watch with a keen interest hoping that there will be a last kick that will save the day. While investigations continue to unfold, I can authoritatively inform that most of these lies are propounded by people from highly placed quarters and as we know the fear that they sustain, the fear of power going to Eket senatorial district and their attacks may not abate. An acting big man in this administration is linked to these kicks. What I mean is that any perceived opponents for the 2015 plum job in Akwa Ibom State has been subjected to a very fierce media kick, this as far as we know is orchestrated from quarters that are afraid of an opposition ahead of the elections that will produce Akpabio’s successor. But they should remember that they do not hold monopoly. It is an hypocrisy.
First, their attack was on Nsima Ekere the then Deputy Governor, then Effiong Abia (Esq), the serving commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, recently Bishop Akpan who had so far received his own share of blackmail from some hatchet men in Akpabio’s kitcken cabinet which he (Bishop Akpan) was once a member. The leader of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Rt. (Hon) Okpolukpm Etteh is also one of those that have been seriously hit with this blackmail albeit very recently. All these blackmails are deliberate tools employed by the user to run down these persons in a bid for them to present their victims in a bad light before the Governor so that the state executive will run out of confidence in these ones and then hand over the reins of power against his wish to an imposing potential aspirant who sees himself already as a king. This plot will fail, and woefully.
The game plan here is that these persons and others that have been lined up for this attack will meet stiff opposition from the Governor and even the extended political conscious Akwa Ibom people if they decide to contest the 2015 governorship position. What is sad here is that the social media and others are the agents of this propagation. But there are infantile issues raised by these accusations. Why are the proponents of this “war” not being specific on the crimes of these ones, why do they consistently say Mr. A. is sponsoring an attack on the Governor? Does it sound logical? The answer is No. Those who maintain this stand do not have regards for the journalism profession because by extension it means the media is a buy over. I would advise that they, (him) (them) take professional advice.
For those kicking and casting aspersions on the forces that seem to be interested in the 2015 job, the “acting big. Man’s” decision to go after tham because he feels they are more popular than himself should however desist from it because such positions are misplaced, should rather channel energy into better plans rather than resort to lies in the form of blackmail and trying to impress Governor Akpabio for sponsoring some unnecessary remarks. If this is the case, why did it take so long for this discovery to be made?
Lest we forget, I have overtime stressed that it is not the strong nor the swift that will win the Akwa Ibom Governorship position by 2015, it is to him that God will show mercy and since God is a God of justice, he knows whom he will show mercy and to which senatorial district.
As at when Arch. Obong Victor Attah was shopping for his successor, we had so many factors and politicians that came out for the job, one of them who is a former Auditor General for Local Government Mr. Sunday Ibanga an Etim Ekpo born was seen then as the highest bidder. He is said to have been consulting far and wide, buying all the buyables and spending money more than others, his name was singing everywhere, and he was rich and was quite very close to Obong Attah. When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the then president almost denied Obong Attah a second term, Sunday Ibanga was one of those who worked hard and behind the scene moves to ensure Attah got back his mandate for a second term, but what happened after the much acclaimed Sunday Ibanga’s ambition. His ambition crashed, it collapsed, he was a no name in that regards and till date, very few people can remember this name as one of the persons who once sought the mandate of the people of Akwa Ibom state for the Governorship position for the state. I am sure; this is one of things that appear hanging on the horizon against somebody who appear to be fighting every perceived opponent.
Most times when I read this blackmail online or on some tabloids, I quickly will come to the realization that hatchet men are on it again. The straw men have since emerged and are seriously working to undermine anyone with an opposing idea and policy for the 2015 matters. I had earlier written on the straw men some time last year. I do not see these blackmail on the potential 2015 aspirants especially those from Eket Senatorial District coming to an end almost immediately. This is because straw men are all hell-bent on splitting the senatorial district to their own advantage. They want to reap from where they didn’t sow, I believe that whoever is interested in the race should be allowed to run after all in every quarters, some straw men have continued to maintain that there is nobody in Eket Senatorial District that will be fit to take over the Governor come 2015. This remains their own position and a mockery one at that.
Then, since this belief is what is giving some camps the strength, then why do they feel threatened with an Nsima Ekere, an Effiong Abia, a Bishop Akpan, an Okpulukpm Etteh and the likes. Yes, why the unprovoked attack on them? If so why? Straw men may have succeeded in selling the idea of propaganda of disunity in Eket Senatorial District, but let me believe in the words of the Chairman, Eket Senatorial District Forum, Senator Etang Edet Umoyo that when the time comes, the people of the senatorial district will present a strong force. There is always this challenge in a political dispensation especially during a transition to another government and me? Not surprised at these happenings in Akwa Ibom State. The game is gradually entering a phase where friends are now fast becoming foes, issues are no longer discussed rather persons are.
In the wake of recent blackmails on these ones, it is clear that objectivity has been thrown to the wind. But we have to keep ours for posterity. On Justice I declare and stand.
COUNCIL CHAIRS DARING COMMENTS
Some council chairmen over the weekend arrogated more powers to themselves in a flagrant and apparent insult on the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio for asking them to relocate to security villages in their domain. They argued that the state Governor does not know the peculiarity of their respective local government areas and hence his advice on them to move to their security villages is mere waste of time. These council chairmen did not only stop at that, they hinted that if the advice had come from The Leader, they would have considered that, but if Akpabio likes, he should forget advising them on the security village thing otherwise he (Governor Akpabio) is on his own.
“In tune” is however surprised that some of these council chairmen had to consider flaunting the advice the governor gave them. And also come to think of this, who is the leader they were referring to. It appears to me that the state Governor has lost touch over the control of his council chairmen. It is sad, it is barbaric that some council chairmen will attempt to flaunt the advice of the Governor and then seek to get advice from another source. It is that sad. This brings to the fore the kind of government that Akpabio is leading. A government that appears to be stampeded and hijacked by a certain cabal controlled by two men.
I fear, if this continues, Governor Akpabio may appear to be a father with wayward children who will not take advice from him. Governor Akpabio needs to sit up and take charge. This threat from some council chairmen about four of them, three from Uyo Senatorial district and one from Ikot Ekpene senatorial district, some of whom are the who is who in the state ALGON is a handshake beyond the Governor’s elbow.
Nsibiet John is the Editor-in-Chief , of Community Pulse newspapers in Uyo,Akwa Ibom State.
