PRESS RELEASE -
MOSES ESSIEN AND THE CRADLE OF IBIBIO NATION
A Popular Traditional Ruler in the State recently made an illusion
to the fact that Moses Essien, PDP Gubernatorial aspirant, is
a direct descendant of the founders of the Ibibio Nation. Scholars
and Historians have described Ikono Local Government Area where
the aspirant hails from as the cradle of the Ibibios who are said
to be the fourth largest ethnic group in the Country.
The import of the Traditional Ruler’s statement was fully felt
by all present. And although the aspirant who described himself
as coming from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District where the gubernatorial
ticket is presently zoned to, has always tried to avoid adding
an ethnic coloration to his quest, as most aspirants from the
Annang Stock are presently doing, it was obvious the point the
Traditional Ruler was raising may have a role to play in the outcome
of the Governorship Election in the State next year.
The role of the ethnic factor in Nigeria’s politics cannot be
wished away with a wave of the hand, being a factor the Colonial
Masters had themselves encouraged and exploited in the bid to
rule the diverse people of Africa. The effect of this on the Nation
is far-reaching as it has beclouded the reasoning of otherwise
enlightened people and reduced our politics to a contest of trivialities
other than ideals.
Bringing the focus of this piece back home to contemporary politics
in the State, we can see the ugly face of ethnicity peering straight
at us. And as the countdown to the next general elections begins
in earnest, things may really go awry for ardent proponents of
ethnicity in our state politics unless something is done urgently
to stem this ugly tide.
Today some believe the Governorship ticket should be zoned to
Ikot Ekpene senatorial District, one of the zones that are yet
to occupy the office of Chief Executive of the State, which is
not a bad thing. Others believe yet that it should be zoned exclusively
to the Annangs, the second largest ethnic group in the State since
they have never produced a Governor in the State.
Where one supports the call that power should shift to Ikot Ekpene
Senatorial District, to give the people of the area a reasonable
sense of belonging in the Governance of the State, one stoutly
rejects the call that the prerogative to aspire and be Governor
in the next dispensation should be enjoyed exclusively by any
ethnic group in the State.
For one this call will not aid the emergence of a most credible
and competent leadership in the State. It is only a keen competition
of political wits and leadership ideals amongst a reasonable number
of credible aspirants that can bring about the emergence of a
Leadership we would be proud of.
A competition amongst persons of similar bloodlines as the gubernatorial
campaigns may yet become if we allow the current trend to continue,
may only throw up a Leader of less worth. For what do you make
of a situation where cousins are contesting against cousins, and
uncles against nephews as it is? When has power become a commodity
so cheap as to be competed for amongst family members by the casting
of lots? This trend has to be stoutly rejected before it reduces
us to objects of ridicule in Nigeria.
Indeed, as some have observed, it is because we have unwittingly
trivialized the office of Governor of the State that so many pretenders
have emerged to dance naked before us. The present occupant of
the exalted office, Obong Victor Attah, could not have agreed
more when he said he is partly to blame for the anomaly.
This point may, in the real sense, be more apt than the Governor
thinks if the rumour making a dizzying round in the State is to
be believed that he is the one egging on his son-in-law to seek
to be his successor in office.
We, however, find it hard to believe this rumour knowing that
the Governor is father to all and has consistently shown himself
to be a fine statesman of high integrity.
Be that as it may, we think the ethnic factor should be discountenanced
in its entirety as we seek to elect new leaders for the State.
If this is not done, and the Annangs in their ploy to gain power
continue to shout political marginalisation , the Ibibios will
equally encourage their brothers in Ikono and Ini Local Government
Area of the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, to shout marginalisation
too under a political arrangement where they have been forced
over the years to be heard and not seen. If this becomes the case,
the Annangs will be the biggest losers in the end.
It is in this vein that we encourage the style of Moses Essien,
one of the gubernatorial aspirants of Ibibio Stock in the Ikot
Ekpene Senatorial District, who, even when he knew he stands to
be a beneficiary if the Governorship race in the state is reduced
to an ethnic skirmish, has decided to downplay the ethnic factor
in his campaigns. Moses Essien is thus indirectly imparting to
us a good lesson on how to seek political power in the State.
Akwa Ibom State deserves the very best in Leadership, and it is
only in a keen and open contest that this can come about. So let
all who believe they have what it takes to make a difference in
our lives tell us what they have for us, and we will elect whom
we want based on his merit. For the task to make over our lives
is great.
It is thus for this reason that we savour the allure of the statement
to wit: “in the greatness and difficulties of our task, lies the
probability that only the best will step forward (boldly) to struggle
for it”.
UDUAK UDOBONG
Go Back
