By Osondu Ahirika
 |
| Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, governorship candidate, PDP Akwa Ibom State |
Oro Nation's situation in the Akwa Ibom State
Governorship race is a very precarious one. They are in a dilemma over what
path to take in the 2015 polls. As it stands, their quandary at this political
crossroad is not one to envy.
From the onset of this current Governorship battle, the prognosis for Oro nation was severe. In my honest view, Governor Godswill Akpabio appeared keen to have somebody from Oro Nation succeed him. Preferably, his erstwhile Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Effiong Abia, who had served him faithfully, right from the days he(Akpabio) served in the same Ministry as a Commissioner. God however had it all wrapped up for the anointed: Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as we have now come to realize.
Fact is, as Governor Akpabio walked the tight rope of working out an effective transition to a worthy successor, many permutations and challenges naturally arose. First, it would amount to political suicide, to attempt a minority to minority handover of power. With Ibibio as the majority tribe in the so-called tripod, on the wings, Governor Akpabio, an Annang man, was obviously in a hoodoo of what to do, with dire pressure from Oro on him. The way out was to negotiate power between contending interests.
The Ibibio's were complaining that, they cannot afford to be shut out of power for sixteen years and wanted it back from Gov. Akpabio. They cited the Accord, reportedly entered into at the historic Asan Ibibio declaration of October 10, 2009. On the other hand, the Oro nation insisted on power shift to her ethnic bloc, as the last leg of the tripod in the state.
Uneasy calm is the word that best captures the political intrigues that followed the power struggle. But, Governor Godswill Akpabio confessed his concern when he accused some prominent indigenes from Oron Federal Constituency of double dealing in their quest for the Governorship position in 2015. He decried the fact that, while advocating for the position to be zoned to them, they are subtly supporting governorship aspirants from Uyo Senatorial District with simultaneous verve.
Speaking during the Town Hall meeting and constituency briefing at Oron Civic Centre, Akpabio lamented the ambivalent attitude of some politicians pretending to be supporting the cause of Oro nation. As far as he was concerned, Oro Nation had not clearly defined their stand by speaking with one voice. Rather, they were singing discordant tunes through sending out bogus text messages and publishing advertorials in some newspapers purportedly supporting a governorship aspirant from Uyo Senatorial District.
However, Oron Nation disowned people they described as political rovers, trying to mortgage their rally for the governorship position in 2015 to persons from other Senatorial Districts.
From the onset of this current Governorship battle, the prognosis for Oro nation was severe. In my honest view, Governor Godswill Akpabio appeared keen to have somebody from Oro Nation succeed him. Preferably, his erstwhile Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Effiong Abia, who had served him faithfully, right from the days he(Akpabio) served in the same Ministry as a Commissioner. God however had it all wrapped up for the anointed: Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as we have now come to realize.
Fact is, as Governor Akpabio walked the tight rope of working out an effective transition to a worthy successor, many permutations and challenges naturally arose. First, it would amount to political suicide, to attempt a minority to minority handover of power. With Ibibio as the majority tribe in the so-called tripod, on the wings, Governor Akpabio, an Annang man, was obviously in a hoodoo of what to do, with dire pressure from Oro on him. The way out was to negotiate power between contending interests.
The Ibibio's were complaining that, they cannot afford to be shut out of power for sixteen years and wanted it back from Gov. Akpabio. They cited the Accord, reportedly entered into at the historic Asan Ibibio declaration of October 10, 2009. On the other hand, the Oro nation insisted on power shift to her ethnic bloc, as the last leg of the tripod in the state.
Uneasy calm is the word that best captures the political intrigues that followed the power struggle. But, Governor Godswill Akpabio confessed his concern when he accused some prominent indigenes from Oron Federal Constituency of double dealing in their quest for the Governorship position in 2015. He decried the fact that, while advocating for the position to be zoned to them, they are subtly supporting governorship aspirants from Uyo Senatorial District with simultaneous verve.
Speaking during the Town Hall meeting and constituency briefing at Oron Civic Centre, Akpabio lamented the ambivalent attitude of some politicians pretending to be supporting the cause of Oro nation. As far as he was concerned, Oro Nation had not clearly defined their stand by speaking with one voice. Rather, they were singing discordant tunes through sending out bogus text messages and publishing advertorials in some newspapers purportedly supporting a governorship aspirant from Uyo Senatorial District.
However, Oron Nation disowned people they described as political rovers, trying to mortgage their rally for the governorship position in 2015 to persons from other Senatorial Districts.
Ambassador Etim Uye, who spoke for Oro Traditional Rulers Council, at that Town Hall Meeting, described them as, "sell-outs who are selfish in their ambition," arguing that, Oro never mandated them to speak on their behalf. In the same vein, the Chief Okon Osung-led Oro Think-Tank, comprising prominent Oro leaders and Elders, flayed any talk of compromising the Oro Governorship Project, and insisted on nothing less.
At the high point of it, no Oro son emerged a Governorship candidate of the major political parties. In the Peoples Democratic Party in Particular, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel defeated 22 others including several illustrious Oro sons, such as, Mr. Effiong Usin, Dr. Peter Esuh, Rt. Hon. Jerome Isangidihi, Mr. Larry Esin, Mr. Asuquo Okpo, Barr. Effiong Abia, Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, and Mr. Chris Abais-Eyo.
This is the crux of the hurt of Oro people and their fury against PDP. They felt short-changed. In angst, they turned to the cajole of the opposition All Progressives Congress, which had offered them a token Deputy Governorship slot on her ticket. If that to them is compensatory, and good enough to disown and disclaim the hard fought crusade for power shift to their Eket Senatorial District, is debatable. But, the PDP, was blackmailed and assailed on all fronts to appear like the ENEMY of Oro nation.
The opposition propaganda churned out infamous lies to rub it in.
Ibaka Deep Seaport has been relocated, they claimed. Oro marginalization has assumed another dimension with political relegation to the background, the opposition ranted. Then, they offered Oro nation the most laughable GREEK GIFT. Hear this: Support Uyo Senatorial District to produce a Governor for Eight more years and in 2023, we will hand power over to somebody of Oro extraction.
Alerting the Oro people on this preposterous ruse, Governor Akpabio counseled them, to beware of a plot to deceive them by the opposition.
Speaking during the Governorship campaign rally of the PDP at Mbo and Udung Uko Local Government Areas respectively, Chief Akpabio revealed that, he held several meetings with the Oro Think Tank, and had charged them to come up with a consensus candidate, which they failed to, thus undermining the chance of Oro nation producing a candidate for the party. Governor Akpabio also expressed shock that, the very force(s) from Uyo Senatorial District, who fought vehemently to resist zoning of the governorship to Eket Senatorial District, threatening fire and brimstone to intimidate others in a desperate bid to prevent power shift are now the ones promising to make an Oro man governor after he(they) might have served for 8 years by 2023.
Chief Akpabio wondered if it is an abomination for those people who hail from a Senatorial District(Uyo) that has produced 3 governors since the creation of Akwa Ibom state to shelve their personal ambition and pave way for an Oro candidate to stand for upcoming election, for equity, fairness and social justice.
On a personal note, I agreed with the Governor that, the only way such
persons will prove that they truly love Oro nation, is to field an Oro born Candidate and mobilize support for him to emerge Governor in 2015. Akpabio further wondered how persons who said they don't recognize zoning,
will double speak and claim they will zone the governorship to Oro nation in the distant future and, correctly described the claim, as a scam and deceit of the highest order.
He therefore charged Oro people to avoid propaganda and keep faith with the PDP which has ceded the governorship to their Eket Senatorial district, with Udom Emmanuel, as the Standard bearer. Akpabio assured Oro Nation, and rightly so, that, as one of their own, the PDP candidate will accommodate, advance and
protect their interest as they will have nothing to lose if he is elected into office.
I traced this synopsis to validate the historic political detente and reconcilement which happened on Thursday, March 12, 2015 between Deacon Udom Emmanuel(and his Campaign Organization), and the Essu Nlap Oro at the Oro Civic centre. The International President of Essu Nlap Oro, Chief Okon Enweme a.k.a Leville, who led the apex Oro socio-cultural youth organization to receive Udom Emmanuel and his team, announced to the relief of all and sundry, that, the Five major Youth groups in Oro Nation as a whole, which are integral part of the Essu Nlap have unanimously endorsed the restoration of friendliness with the PDP candidate and welcomed his governorship bid.
Chief Enweme dispelled fear of the purported traditional injunction prohibiting any person of Oro extraction voting for the PDP Governorship candidate. By his Presidential pronouncement, the socio-political siege on PDP sympathizers was broken. The tension orchestrated by dangling threat to any Oro person who will express open solidarity for the PDP and her Candidate was dissolved. The camaraderie was back and grooving. There was obvious relief on both sides, including the massive, enthusiastic crowd of Oro Youths who turned up to receive Deacon Udom and his team, which included, his running mate, Obong Moses Ekpo, Mr Ephraim Inyang, Mr Ufot Ebong, Commissioner Enobong Uwah, Commissioner Emmanuel Enoidem, Uyo Senatorial District candidate of the PDP, Obong Bassey Albert(OBA), DIG Udom Ekpoudom(retd), Chief Ben Udobia among others.
As the Essu Nlap President revealed to joyous onlookers, the symbolic street march, where both teams came from opposite directions and had warm handshakes/embrace and the traditional reception that followed was a signification that Oro nation, land and cosmos, will never again wage a hate war against Udom Emmanuel and all he represented. For the Esuu Nlap, there was an open acknowledgement that, Udom is Right for Oro Nation in particular and Akwa Ibom in general.
Chief Enweme enjoined his people to refrain from propaganda and embrace their brothers for sustainable unity, peace and progress.
When Deacon Udom addressed them, it was a confidence rebuilding speech. He rekindled hope and belief in every Oro son. He made it clear that, Oro Nation and Onna, where he hails from, share not only geographical proximity, but were refreshed from the same stream, brook and shoreline. As the eye and the nose are affected by the same causatives, so Udom posited that, Onna and Oro are inseparably entwined, one with the other.
Oro Nation must not make the mistake of cutting their nose to spite their face. Their political situation is comparable to that of the Ibos in Nigeria, who are yet to have a shot at the Presidency. Nevertheless, the Ibos have persisted in building alliances with the ruling party and have continued to bid their time. Surely, God makes everything beautiful in its time. Oro have it all to win, if they support their senatorial District to take its rightful turn. Selling that right for a mess of porridge is a potpourri for political disaster waiting to happen and which may haunt them for many decades to come.
The Chief Enweme led Essu Nlap Oro and his entire Exco deserve the thumbs up, for correctly reading the power game and working out this harmonious resolution of the political spat that nearly ruined a great brotherhood. History will be kind to the Essu Nlap and I can wager a bet, that, Udom will deal righteously with Oro nation. That Peace pact and political synergy is indeed a breakthrough and game changer. Udom is Right!
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