By Joe Iniodu
All
set and done, the Ibibio nation, the fourth largest ethnic group in
Nigeria has rolled out drums to celebrate its own in the persons of His
Excellency Mr. Udom Emmanuel, executive governor of Akwa Ibom State, his
dear wife and First Lady, Her Excellency, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel.
The reason for bestowing honour on this pair is instructive. While a
scriptural precept avers that a Prophet is hardly accorded honour at
home, these duo have through this honour altered that long held
perception. They are being honoured because of their deeds. The Chairman
of the Planning Committee of the reception, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga; a
well-heeled and experienced administrator noted that the grand
reception is Ibibio Nation's support to an illustrious son who has
discharged his duties meritoriously. Nkanga observed that despite
challenging economic times, the governor has remained resolute in the
pursuit of people-oriented governance and sustainable development of
Akwa Ibom State in his 24 months in office.
The quantum of
achievements also recorded by the First Lady, Her Excellency, Mrs.
Martha Emmanuel is also sufficient to gladden the heart and attract
honour and plaudits. The prodigious sense of compassion that she has
brought to governance has served as the vista for the myriad of succor
her pet project, FEYReP has graciously delivered to many. Her disarming
humility and total immersion in the alleviation of the burdens of the
poorest of the poor are measurements of her humanity. Little wonder that
she is not only a dependable pillar of support to the husband, she is
also a good mother and an oasis of hope to Akwa Ibom people. As a jewel
and pride of the people, Ibibio Nation has found her deserving of
honour.
The decision of Ibibio Nation to honour its own is a
tradition we once dearly cherished as a people. But the introduction of
fratricidal and divisive politics came with the erosion of these
values. Everything began to be viewed from the prism of petty politics.
We have become incurably cynical and cast darts even at good things that
come from the divide that we don't belong. Such disposition can only
undermine the interest of the State and subject it to arrested
development. We must no longer surrender to this instinctive politics as
they do not only weaken our bond of unity; it also impedes our
development efforts.
Not long ago, Annang under the aegis of
Ati Annang held a rousing grand reception for Governor Udom Emmanuel
and his dear wife, Her Excellency, Martha Emmanuel. The colorful event
which was a huge success drew the who is who in Annang and nay the
entire State to celebrate a man whose special endowment, free spirit and
good breeding are coalescing to take the State to enviable heights. The
Annangs in that reception tended to agree that anybody who loves the
State must love Udom Emmanuel.
Ibibio Nation's grand
reception also seems to key into that matrix. It is for a truth that one
of the ways we can ensure the growth of our State is for us to have
unbridled love for her. When we do so, its interest would always be
uppermost in our mind and we will irrespective of political affiliations
support what is good for the State and the people.
It is
regrettable that modernity seems to be in severe battle with our values.
Our forebears conceived of an egalitarian and harmonious society that
attached scant regards to tribe and tongue. The oneness that they
cultivated gave us a pride of place. We were seen as the fourth largest
ethnic group in the Country. We were also seen as the second largest
producers of cocoa in Nigeria. We were regarded, respected and always
given our due amongst the ethnic nationalities. Yet our forebears who
made all these possible did not acquire much education but they
cultivated much love.
We recall with nostalgic agony the
first scholarship scheme East of the Niger and perhaps the entire
Nation. It was called the Ibibio Union Scholarship scheme. Ibibio State
College was sited at what was then Ikot Ekpene soil. That vision for
education which witnessed the enunciation of the scholarship programme
and founding of the school gave us a pride of place. The scholarship
which was spread across what is today Akwa Ibom gave us the privilege of
producing the first Nigerian to have a degree in agricultural science
in the person of Bassey U. Attah from Ibesikpo, the father of the former
governor, His Excellency, Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah. Of course we also
had Effiong U. Ekpo from Abak who studied Medicine. There was James
Nsima from Eket who did education; Egbert U. Udoma from Ikot Abasi who
studied law; Ibanga Udo Akpabio from Essien Udim, an uncle to the
former governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio who studied education and Obot
Anitaobong from Itu who also did medicine. These milestones were
achieved because a cord of brotherhood quilted us together in one
accord. Today all that is history because of politics.
It is
heartwarming to note that Udom and Martha are not being honoured
because they are governor and First Lady respectively. They are being
bestowed with honour solely on merit. The personages behind the event
like Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga and Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok (rtd.) are
reputable men who have held revered public offices and so would not lend
themselves or names to shenanigans. They understand issues of
development and they know that the governor is doing his utmost in all
facets of governance. As Nkanga himself stated: “Governor Emmanuel has
brought to bear his wealth of experience to keep the State's economy
afloat, with bold footprints in the industrial, agricultural and other
sectors. Recall that the Nation Bureau of Statistics in its 2017 reports
listed Akwa Ibom as the State that has attracted the highest Foreign
Direct Investment in Nigeria in 2016 after Lagos, the commercial capital
of Nigeria”. This is indeed a record breaking feat for a State that was
hitherto civil service driven.
As we file out to give
honour to whom honour is due, let us renew our vow to love one another
in truth and in faith. Let us remind ourselves of the need to live in
harmony in acknowledgment that God who put us together in the same
geographical space with intelligible language did not make any mistake.
Let us have faith in our leaders and offer them our sincere prayers with
the understanding that if they fail, we fail and the State ultimately
fails. Above all, let us strive to live in peace with one another as
this remains the only guarantee to our collective prosperity.
To the recipients of the honour, Akwa Ibom people join their voices to say congratulations, Your Excellences.
Joe Iniodu is a public affairs analyst
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