OBONG VICTOR ATTAH: INDEED, AN IBIBIO ELDER STATESMAN
By TOROBONG EKPO
Despite being a native of the fourth largest village in Etinan Local
Government Area, I never wanted an Ibibio indigene to emerge as a
successor to the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator
Godswill Obot Akpabio. I obviously, via my articles, hated, rejected and
opposed the quest for Ibibio Governor, because, I knew, such demand
will thwart the long existing, divine and peaceful zoning arrangement
that has united all the six tribes in the state.
Also, after an
empirical study of the character of Ibibio tribe, I knew there was no
where an Ibibio son could emerge as a governor, without his co-brother
or sister challenging his mandate in a competent court of law. So far,
Obong Umana Okon Umana, Sam Akpan and Helen Esuene (Ibibio Children)
have challenged the election of their brother, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. I
may not know, if Udom’s mandate was stolen however, records show that,
this is the very first time; two members of a single tribe (Ibibio) are
in Tribunal, washing their dirty linen, yet the elders, who ought to
have settled their grievances indoor, are taking sides, as a result of
peanuts and crumbs.
I wouldn’t blame Ibibio elders for their
inability to proffer lasting solution to the shame; after all, even the
house of the so called leaders has been divided into Uyio Ikpaisong and
Ifim Ibibio, while the political elders have segmented themselves to APC
and PDP folds. Truth is, you can’t give what you don’t have, thus, the
reason why the monarchs can’t broker peace, because they themselves are
in dire need of peace. If this trend continues, Ibibio will end up being
a warring race.
I tend to ask, why the stool of Ifim Ibibio
scattered Ibibio monarchs, because, if the stool was intact, at least,
these royal fathers would have delved in and curb this embarrassment, we
are experiencing in Abuja on daily basis. If His Royal Majesty, Nsobom
Ekpo Ekpo was buried on time, do you think Ibibio leaders would have
split? This is the question I was soliloquy before I was reminded that,
Late Nsobom Ekpo Ekpo died when an Ibibio man was the governor, but was
buried when Senator Godswill Akpabio (An Annang man) was the state Chief
Executive. I may not know why the Ibibio governor didn’t bury his
brother, I guess it wasn’t as a result of Ibibio adage, “Ibibio isi
mbaha mfon” meaning, Ibibios are haters of good things.
While I
was trying to preach the gospel of zoning to the nooks and crannies of
the state, some segment of Ibibio Elders invaded the office of then
Governor Godswill Akpabio and reminded him of the utterance and promise
he made at Asan Ibibio, a melting point of olden days ‘advisory
politicians’. I wouldn’t know how the agreement was reached such that
Akpabio agreed to hand-over power to Ibibio nation, I only hope, it was
not under duress.
Jittery Akpabio, rumoured to have earlier
promised to relinquish power to Mr. Effiong Abia, Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim
and other Oro sons changed his mind immediately, embarked on Town Hall
meeting and decided to choose a successor from ONNA Local Government
Area, without mentioning where his deputy will hail from.
Those
who ignored and enjoyed the antics of the Devil jubilated over Akpabio’s
decision; I knew it was a display of People Deceive People. He, in
collaboration with those Channels TV Hustlers dribbled PDP aspirants on
December 9th 2014 primaries and such anomaly led to the emergence of
G22, a child of circumstance.
With all his antics, the then
governor, never inform the Asan Ibibio High Chiefs that the Deputy
Governor will be in their mould and that; he will hail from Annang
extraction. He allowed them to play his card, thereafter, one Pa Moses
Ekpo, an aged father of a 46 year old man, was announced as the running
mate to Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. As soon as I heard the announcement, I
was optimistic that Akwa Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa may one day serve as a
Deputy Governor of the state, if not a minister of FRN.
It is a
welcome development to notice that, even when the Ibibio monarchs didn’t
ask for a slot, the then governor, in his uncommon magnanimity
allocated one for them. I may not know the real age of Pa Moses Ekpo,
but it is speculated that, he may be older then Obong Victor Attah. So
if Obong Attah is now an elder statesman, when will Pa. Moses Ekpo
retire from partisan politics? Anywhere, the future will tell.
Immediately Pa Ekpo was announced the running mate to Udom Gabriel
Emmanuel, it marked the end of zoning law as entrenched in section 7 of
Peoples’ Democratic Party. The law went oblivion that led to the
emergence of a governor and a minister of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria from the same tribe and same Senatorial District. Now, the quest
for Governor from Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency in 2023 is surreal.
I wouldn’t say, it is a bad omen for Senator Udoma Udo Udoma to be
named as the Minister, however, I think, since, Eket Senatorial District
has five tribes namely; Ekid, Ibeno, Ibibio, Obolo and Oro. Someone,
ought to have informed Mr. President that, at least, for an Ibibio man
to have been the governor, another tribe ought to have produced a
minister. Maybe, the president may not have been aware, as he is busy
trying to meet his deadline of eradicating Boko Haram- A checkmating
force on Niger Delta Militants.
Aside from destabilizing the
zoning formulae, my instinct had whispered to me that, an emergence of
Ibibio Governor after Akpabio will bring war of words, sides-taking,
disunity and court cases between two Ibibio sons. Ibibio great grand
fathers, after sojourning for millennium on this planet, left an
indelible message for us to ponder. The message was short, witty and
remarkable. It says, “Ibibio imaha idem”, meaning that, Ibibio people do
not like one another. I don’t know what motivated our forebears to come
to such logical conclusion, however, I am sure it was not said in
isolation, it was as a result of an empirical and careful study of the
mindset of Ibibio people.
Today, it is only in Ibibio nation,
that a single insignificant tool-Ifim Ibibio, could split peoples
grandfathers and cause them to wantonly trade war of words. These are
monarchs who ought to have hold and unite these Ibibio sons who are in
tribunal. It is on records that, this is the first time that, two people
from the same tribe in Akwa Ibom State are filing court cases with each
other, yet there is no elder to call and unite the two parties.
At present, we have Pro Udom Elders, which consist of Senator Anietie
Okon, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, and Senator Effiong Bob to mention only
three. We also have Pro. Umana Okon Umana Ibibio Elders Namely; Obong
Sunny Jackson, Obong Rita Akpan and Obong Maurice Ebong to also mention
only three. Initially, I had reasoned that, Obong Victor Attah was from
the Umana Okon Umana faction, but he has technically denied that in his
last press briefing, and insisted that, he is now an elder statesman,
thus, resign from partisan politics. What a great task, at least, being
an elder statesman, I guess he will collaborate with Ibibio elders from
‘Asan’ extraction and find out what they really want.
I wouldn’t
know if it is a curse, but it is sympathetic to observe that, Ibibios
are the cause of their problems. They take delight in casting mud on one
another so as to become relevant in the system. I am sure, if Umana
Okon Umana didn’t fall out with Godswill Akpabio, the likes of Sam Edem
and Senator Effiong Bob would not have been closer to the government,
such that, the later had to singlehandedly produce the Transition
Chairman, while the former allegedly handpick a member of the committee.
Unfortunately, some of these Ibibio ‘saints’, while in
government didn’t bother to face reality. They ignore the lamentations
of the people and sometimes take sides with the government of the day,
to wantonly punish their fathers, fellow brothers and sisters. I could
recall when Obong Attah gave an advice to Akpabio regarding the location
of the Ibom Tropicana, it was an Ibibio then political office holder,
who sponsored a rejoinder entitled “What does Obong Attah really want?”
on National and Local dailies. When there was controversy regarding
Amakpe Refinery, it was an Ibibio man, who convened a Press Briefing and
indirectly cajoled Obong Attah. I wouldn’t like to discuss an Ibibio
Deputy Governor who was nearly impeached, following the advice of an
Ibibio political office holder, who saw the governorship ambition of the
erstwhile deputy governor as a threat to his.
It is unfortunate
that, we choose to carpet these Pull-Him-Down attribute of Ibibio
culture, by castigating undue blame on Innocent Godswill Akpabio, who
came into power and provided good road network to his people and went
ahead to appoint his predecessor’s brother, Essien Attah as a
commissioner, as well as tar the road to Obong Attah’s village.
Obong Attah is said to have done marvelously well, within his eight
years in power, pundits believe that, his administration would have been
superb, if he had constructed road to his village as well as bury his
brother, Nsobom Ekpo Ekpo, so as to unite the Ibibio. However, every
human are bound to make mistakes, I am of the opinion that, if Udoma Bob
Ekarika had taken over power from his father in-law, Attah, there
wouldn’t have been ready-made political factions in the state.
Obong Attah needs to work very hard in his new elder statesman
portfolio. Yea, he should brace up for that onerous task. Before he
ventures into the task, I wish the ex governor should go on a fact
finding mission and find out peoples position, when he was at loggerhead
with his former commissioner, who is now the minority leader of the
Senate. I am sure Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, was not in the limelight when
the Tropicana letter was written, he should verify and find out from the
writer of WHAT DOES OBONG ATTAH REALLY WANT, the person that sponsored
the piece. The writer is alive, a former media aide to the ex-governor.
He should look inward and verify because the backer of that letter is
not far from Ibibio enclave.
I rather choose to salute and
honour Thomas Thomas, who gave an apt response to the article when it
was published on Nation Newspaper. I will rather commend Senator John
James Udoedehe who stood by Obong Attah when the today’s loyalists of
the ex-governor were wining and dining with Godswill Akpabio.
Unfortunately, I am yet to experience when two Annang people fight over
governorship position, I have seen several times when Ibibio people live
like cat and dogs for mere earthly treasures. Hon. Mike Sebastine was
called names by his fellow brother simply because Ikot Abasi people
reacted to a newspaper publication. I wouldn’t like to delve into OBA
and Ignatius Edet tussle, what of Udoedehe and UOU and the later with
Udom Gabriel Emmanuel at the tribunal and impending appellate court? You
may wish to name other instances, it should be seen that, the Ibibio
problem is not Akpabio as speculated in some quarters, it is about
Ibibio and its inhabitant.
It is only in Ibibio that, a governor
will emerge without tarring a road to his village nor bury his brother
who died as Ifim Ibibio the second. It is pertinent to suggest that, if
Late Nsobom Ekpoekpo was buried as at when due, there wouldn’t have been
the division of Ifim Ibibio Stool. So, who should be blame for the
division of Ibibio monarchs? Akpabio? Udom?
Sometimes, it is
extremely difficult to say the truth, but for purpose of posterity, let
us manage to say a bit here. Ibibio natives take delight in crises,
simply because, that is where they earn their living. If Umana Okon
Umana didn’t fall out from Akpabio’s favour, I doubt if Sam Edem and
Senator Effiong Bob would have been seen as faces of Akpabio in Nsit
Ubium. Today, the Ibibio from other angle are clustering around Obong
Attah, maybe because, they want to obtain favour. They forget to tell
Obong Attah the role they played while his tussle with Senator Akpabio
lasted. Who talked to press regarding Amakpe Refinery? Very soon, I will
expose some of these wolfs in sheep clothing to the public, because I
intends to serve Attah from being used as gab-stop by some of these
Ibibio snake elders.
I am not a fan of Udom Gabriel Emmanuel,
neither that of Obong Umana Okon Umana, however, it is silly to see the
same people who couple of years ago were neglecting Obong Attah even to a
point of refusing to attend his wife burial, but today, they are
keeping ‘holier than thou’ faces just to pretend and be relevant to the
system. Let’s face reality, if Obong Attah had died during those
neglected years, where would these crops of politicians run to.
Nkem Owo once sang, “Know me when I am poor, not when I am rich…claim
relationship.” It behooves on Obong Attah to acknowledge the fact that,
his true loyalists are people who stood by him when the going was down.
The likes of Mr. Udeme Nnana, Thomas Thomas, Udoma Bob Ekarika etcetera
could be recognized as loyalists, because they were there under rain and
shine. I wouldn’t shy away from the fact that, Akwa Ibom problems are
heavier than Akwa Ibom people to solve. Yea, maybe, that was why PDP had
to send an emissary to beg Obong Attah when he had misunderstanding
with Akpabio. There is no need casting mud on Osondu Ahirika simply
because he bares his mind on issues. We all know that, if we leave
Ibibio crises to Ibibios to solve, even the so called elders will split
and take sides on the course of solving the menace.
If we must
be sincere to ourselves, who made Akpabio led administration to
allegedly clamp down on Ibibio tribe and tarnish the race. Who wanted to
stall Hon. Ephraim Akpan from emerging as the Chairman of Mkpat Enin,
was it an Annang man, or Ibibio man from another Local Government Area?
Who sent Uwem Ita Etuk out from leadership of PDP in the state? Who
spearheaded the impeachment and subsequent resignation of Obong Ignatius
Edet as the then Speaker of the State House of Assembly? Who brought
out Akwa Ibom Democratic Voice (ADV) to fight and subdue the powers of
Akwa Ibom Peoples Forum (AKPF)? Until we attempt these questions, Ibibio
will always be at war with each other.
Ibibio, though my nation
needs intercessory prayer, not advice, because we are yet to realize
that, we are walloping in hatred, selfishness and satanic attack. I had
thought that, by now, someone will approach Udom and Umana and make them
see reasons why they should shift the court case aside and embrace each
other. Yet, till today, no one has done that. Why do we choose to
partner with Annang sons in Frontiers Oil, Seven Energy etcetera? Yet we
can’t partner with Ibibio son to move our state forward.
I am
sure that, if by tomorrow, Tinubu or Buhari advises Umana to sheath his
sword, we will label them peacemakers. Why can’t the Ibibio negotiate
and solve this pending problem which is seeping through the pores of
healthy body and ravaging it beyond repairs?
Many politicians
are happy because their reasoning is that re-run will bring money to
their pockets. I wouldn’t join issues in that regard; I wish politicians
could go to interior villages and verify from old women which party
they will vote for if a re-run emerges in next ninety days. Those women
don’t joke with the party that bought them the last wrapper they are
tying to the farm. You may wish to find out if the wrapper was bought by
“Ufukeyo” or “Ayang”, I believe that, the response will convince an
inquisitive interrogator that, politics is far from activism.
I
am happy that, Obong Attah is now an elder statesman. Having served as
an Executive Governor of the state, though fate didn’t allow him to
produce a successor, I am hopeful that, he will in due time see the need
to merge the disgruntle elements in Ibibio land and as well tell them
the truth regarding the future of Ibibio land.
I know Obong
Attah to be a truthful man. I know him to be a man of his words, with
his new status, it is incumbent on him to note that the Ibibio have
disintegrated and that they are constantly at war with its members. He
should know that, both Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and Obong Umana Okon Umana
are Ibibio sons, hence, injury for one should be injury for all.
He should use his position to integrate the disintegrated race. As an
elder statesman, he should find out why Ifim Ibibio Stool tore Ibibio
monarchs apart. As it stance, whether we agree or not, Udom Emmanuel has
the support of Ifim Ibibio, via Akwa Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, while
Umana Okon Umana has the support of Uyio Ikpaisong Ibibio. If the both
stools can unite together, I guess the political tussle will be a thing
of the past. But before the two factions unite, Obong Attah, being an
elderstatesman, I guess, will find out the remote and immediate cause
for the division.
I join millions of Nigerian in congratulating
Obong Attah for quitting politics, I pray, Pa. Moses Ekpo, Senator
Anietie Okon, Lady Valerie Ebe, Obong Maurice Ebong and others that are
above ‘80 years’ should emulate such virtue.
