Date Published: 03/04/10

JOHN THE JOURNEY MAN FOR GOVERNOR By Thompson Essien 

For the progressives in Akwa Ibom State, the campaigns of calumny mounted by few  selfish political elements in the State against the person of Chief (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, the governor of Akwa Ibom State are “well rehearsed accusations which now sound like a cracked record with its pin stuck in its groove”. But for majority of Akwa Ibom people, it is a despicable conduct which exposes them and their ilk like Senator John James Akpanudoedeghe as warped elites that Akwa Ibom has had the misfortune of having. The commissioner was therefore being too public relations minded. Well, that acquiesces with the demand of his office, which seeks decent public communication.

Senator Akpan Udoedeghe who joined the campaign two days to the PDP primaries was the campaign manager during Godswill Akpabio’s campaign for governorship even though people insinuate that it was for a fee and other perks. The campaign which he could not even effectively co-ordinate lumbered on and Godswill Akpabio emerged as governor of Akwa Ibom State. Keen watchers argue that Akpabio’s election had more to do with providence and the relational bridges Godswill Akpabio had built while a commissioner especially in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. The campaign committee, pundits submit, was a mere formality. They hinge their observations on many facts one of which is that very few productive meetings were held by the campaign organization and that most of the sub-committees that were constituted never held a single meeting throughout the campaign. Also, that the despotism the campaign manager often displayed during the few meetings of the campaign committee were incapable of enhancing the fortunes of the pursuit.

But Governor Akpabio was not bothered by Senator Udoedeghe’s evidential incompetence. He proceeded to overlook his ineptitude by nominating him for the office of minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he clinched and served as a minister of state in the Federal Capital Territory. He left the office during the last cabinet re-shuffle in a blaze of veiled scandal and publicly acknowledged incompetence testifying to the journey man he is.

Those who are familiar with the character traits and idiosyncrasies of Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe had argued that his choice as the campaign manager of Godswill Akpabio campaign organization was akin to a misnomer. They had noted that the relationship was unsustainable as the two characters are diametrically opposed and lacking any point of convergence. While Governor Akpabio is a consummate gentleman and a well honed professional, Senator John Udoedeghe is a rabid, pugnacious and rapacious fellow that is a victim of chequered upbringing and poor quality education. They had therefore identified them to be on parallel courses which irreconcilable differences were soon to be public knowledge. Today, we have that scenario in our hands.

The genesis of the altercation  is that Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe, currently a governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State had asked Governor Akpabio to fork out a whopping N3billion (Three Billion Naira) to enable him purchase the Oku Iboku newsprint. The governor’s refusal incensed the Senator and turned him into an implacable foe leading to the latter’s regrets, according to him, of making Akpabio a governor. Even though the (un) distinguished Senator has attempted to add a credible postscript to the issue by stating that he only wanted the governor to give him a guarantee for the three billion naira, majority of people are not persuaded by the incongruity served as excuse for the contemplation of such massive pillaging. Those who know Senator  Udoedeghe’s mindset state that his submission is a complete antithesis to his business approach and that the claim is deficit of truth.

Senator John Udoedeghe has turned the governor’s candid refusal to join in the conspiracy of misapplying the resources of Akwa Ibom State into a personal war with the governor. He makes utterances that even bring the important offices he has held into disrepute. He has exhibited tendencies that seem to accentuate his background and confirm the public view that his early hood association revolved around motor parks. And that even with the adult education he eventually and reluctantly acquired, nothing has changed. That is why it is convenient for him to employ the platform of falsehood to throw unrestrained tirades at the person of Governor Akpabio. It is unfortunate but that is our elite.

There is a compelling need for us to examine this our (un) distinguished senator very closely. Those who know him admit that he started out as a driver having had a father who owned a driving school. Nothing wrong with that except that he has refused to purge himself of a driver’s mentality. Aggressive and uncouth, he meandered his way into politics and became the chairman of Uyo Municipal Council. Commendable. In 1999, when the political turf was drained of quality materials as people were unsure of the sincerity of the military, John Udoedeghe who had nothing at stake indicated intention to represent Uyo Senatorial district in the Senate. Atuekong Don Etiebet, who was the PDP Chieftain that called the shots then single-handedly, awarded him the ticket to the senate to placate Ekpo’s camp. But in one of the few meetings of Godswill Akpabio campaign committee which he was the chairman, he openly disparaged Atuekong Don Etiebet. And very recently, he took a swipe at the man again using different media channels. That is the stuff the senator is made of-ingratitude.

When the campaign train of Godswill Akpabio went to Abak, it was a packful of political gladiators. Many of them spoke. When Dr. Ime Umanah, an elder and chieftain of the party took his turn to speak, he thanked the Ibibios for conceding the governorship to Annang. He noted that it symbolized justice and equity stating that after eight years in Annang, it should also go to Oron. That statement demanding justice and equity for all had hardly issued from Dr. Umanah’s mouth when Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe shouted him down. He hurled invectives at an elder who merely attempted to awaken our collective conscience to the imperative of justice and equity. And today, he is a misguided governorship aspirant that would go and campaign in Oron, in Annang, in Eastern Obolo, in Ibeno, in Esit Eket etc.

I have talked with people who are close to this vain and instinctive character. A story is said of how some Akwa Ibom people visited him in Abuja including people of Annang extraction. His compound which was strewn with exotic cars caught the admiration of the guests and one of them remarked about his exotic taste for cars. The bigotted senator retorted that before now, such cars were only driven by Annang people. The comment was both sarcastic and capable of deepening ethnic cleavages in the state that he seeks to rule. Curiously, when he made this sordid statement, he did not care a hood about the sensibilities of Annang people that were there. That is the governor of Akwa Ibom State come 2011. Ridiculous. Absurd. Shocking.

Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe seems to be a victim of myopia, which may have transcended to the level of incendiary bigotry that seems to have seized him. It is perhaps what has also informed his tragic low achievements inspite of the various plum public offices he has held. He is not known to possess the will to build relational bridges. This has obviously translated into narrow relationships, which have also correspondingly translated into inhibitive vision. As John Ruskin put it: “when a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package”. Senator John Udoedeghe has continued to make himself a small package despite the celebrated exposures and the abundance of God’s grace upon his life. He, indeed, deserves our collective sympathy. Otherwise, how does he explain the fact that despite his famed opulence which he publicly flaunts, his brothers are still engaged in despicable menial chores that bring into absurdity the fact that they have any relationship with this man of the moment with obscene wealth. That is our senator and governorship aspirant. Sadist.

Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe believes in the power of money far and above any other consideration. For him money talks, opens doors, does all biddings. He certainly does not believe in the power of the people nay the sanctity of the ballot box. His only faith in people is obviously through thugerry; a penchant for which he is famed. I would like to advise our (un) distinguished senator to align himself with the counseling of Henry Ward Beecher who noted thus: “No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is not according to what he has.” This is our Senator’s dilemma. He estimates his wealth from the ledger card and not his heart. Unfortunate.

The former minister’s intention to vie for governorship even against the collective will  of the people is indicative of his mission to sow discord amongst Akwa Ibom people. It is a selfish mission. The Holy Book in Philippians 2:3-5 says: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” The senator claims to be a born again christian because he has a chapel in his palatial mansion , but is his attitude like that of Christ? Has he considered other interests? I have always argued that one can be a better Christian with one’s life than with one’s lips. We wish him well in his inordinate ambition. But how far would he go without his people who have admonished him not to waste his time. We hope he would not be over-wearied by this tedious journey for it shall be long and arduous.

Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe has suddenly and certainly chosen the road to Damascus to navigate his political career which has been in a glorious trajectory this past over one decade. It was William Shakespeare who said that public life is made poorer when people choose power over purpose. The senator is driven by incorrigible lust for power that is precipitated by the vulgar trappings of wealth that surround him. But let him know that only God makes Kings and God can never be mocked or induced. He is the unalterable who allows His will to prevail. Is Senator John Akpan Udoedeghe God’s will for Akwa Ibom in 2011? Time will tell.

Just recently during the funeral ceremony of the late paramount ruler of Ibesikpo – Asutan, Nsonyin Okon Ekpo Ekpo, Akpanudoedehe in an unprecedented but bizarre manner published  a condolence message where he ascribed to himself the title of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Political analysts said this was a manifestation of his desperate moves but it attracted the wrath of Akwa Ibom people as religious and traditional rulers cursed and rejected him for attempting to arrogate powers to himself without the constitutional mandate of the people.

But more was to come as the man in what has been described as the greatest gathering of touts claimed he had launched his campaign office. But it was remarkable that the occasion was devoid of any fanfare as indeed no politician worth his salt identified with this ill-fated gubernatorial misadventure. Akpanudoedehe who seems to have realized this acknowledged the futility of his ill-motivated ambition when he took a swipe at the PDP in a recent interview and claimed he would be the candidate of a mega-party! In other words, he has seen defeat staring him in the face already and may indeed be looking for an escape route through “settlement”

Mr. Essien wrote from Nsit Ubium,Akwa Ibom State