AKSG News: AKWA IBOM GOVERNORSHIP POLLS AND THE LEGAL BROUHAHA

By Joe Iniodu

Opinion (Posted: May 17, 2011)

The governorship election of April 26, 2011 which was effectuated alongside the scheduled House of Assembly election and the earlier postponed Uyo Senatorial District election has continued to attract myriads of commendation arising from the universal benchmark that governorship election met and a few minor cynicisms from those who are seeking power at all cost with scant consideration to public interest. Persons covering the latter group have raised claims that they were poised to win the governorship election but for Akpabio, who has become their common enemy. And to translate their fantasies into another mirage with its attendant deepening illusion, they are all headed to various courts and tribunals with the hope to snatch the governorship seat from the incumbent governor.

Some of these claims border on the absurd. Let us take the case of Engineer Frank Okon, a one time Special Adviser on Technical Matters to former governor, Obong Victor Attah. Engineer Okon is in court insisting that Governor Akpabio's nomination paper was signed by Chief Nwodo as National Chairman of PDP while there was a restraining order in court preventing him from acting in that capacity. Fine point of law if there is any iota of fact associated with that claim. But does it mean that if the National Chairman who may have been mired at that time in legal controversy which impeded his legitimacy of holding that office did not sign Akpabio's nomination form, someone else being a legitimate occupant of that office would have signed Engineer Frank Okon's nomination form? Did the former National Chairman merely hold to the reins of office violating a court order in order to perfect a plot against Engineer Frank Okon? Bringing the scenario that preceded the nomination, the actual nomination and post nomination and aligning self with morality, can Frank Okon sincerely say that he stood any chance in that nomination? In approaching the court, what would Engineer Frank Okon adduce as the personal injury he suffered with Chief Nwodo being the signatory to Akpabio's nomination form? Is this not a work of mischief?

I have raised the foregoing questions because Akwa Ibom people are at a loss over the resurgence of his name and subsisting court case at this critical moment of our electoral history. It is a known fact to all Akwa Ibom people including children that Engineer Frank Okon does not command any clout that could have translated into his winning the 2011 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State. No miracle would have produced him. Anybody with any perspicacity in politics would share this view unequivocally.

Mr. Frank Okon's matter can only be described from the perspective of conspiracy and mischief. These are deducible from the scenario which surrounds his court bid. Engineer Okon knows that he cannot wrestle and gain the office of governor of Akwa Ibom State this 2011 no matter how much he tries and whoever his sponsors are. He knows that he never worked to become governor of Akwa Ibom State and that God cannot grant an act of faith without work. Mr. Okon appears to be a pawn in the hands of people that delude themselves with the notion of being powerful when they are truly enfeebled and emasculated. Let Engineer Okon know that he still has years ahead of him to pursue his life's dreams. He must not allow expired politicians to cause him to injure his huge social network which could come in handy in his future pursuits.

Another person who claims that he would have been governor but for the default on INEC ballot paper, is Mr. Steve Ibanga of PAC. Both the man and his party are little known. Politics has a way of throwing up the ridiculous. Mr. Ibanga knows that his ascension to Hilltop Mansion would have been the 8th wonder of the world; as it has all the trappings of gross impossibility. But politics has allowed him the liberty to lay claim to something that even his sincere imagination cannot offer him.

Mr. Steve Ibanga, the power behind the resort called Little Streams in Ibesikpo claims that he was coasting home to being the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2011 but for the fact that the logo of his party was excluded from the ballot paper. Having discovered what stood between him and Hilltop Mansion, he has headed to the Tribunal to seek a cancellation of the governorship election. Is Mr. Steve Ibanga sincere with the claim that that exclusion has hamstringed his becoming governor of the state come May 29, 2011? Would he say he did sufficient work to merit his becoming the governor of Akwa Ibom State? When did he discover that his party's logo was not duly printed on the ballot paper? Did he complain as expected or simply laid ambush to trivialize the governorship election exercise? Does Chief Steve Ibanga who hails from Ibesikpo, the homeland of former governor, Obong Victor Attah consider his actions noble vis-a-vis the promotion of peace, stability and mutual co-existence in the State?

I volunteer these questions to serve as lessons and sensitizations for us and to shape actions we take daily in the course of life. Whether in the service of ego or other leanings, let us always ensure that our actions serve broader interest. And any interest which tends to subject the collective destiny of a people to persistent tottering has failed in the noble cause of promoting public good. Chief Steve Ibanga's action would fail to cater for broader interest and is likely to subject the collective destiny of Akwa Ibom people to persistent tottering.

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its gubernatorial candidate are deafening in the claim that ACN won the governorship race in the state even as the state Chairman of ACN has aligned self with the verdict and congratulated Governor Akpabio. Using the benefit of spurious survey and statistics, a section of them claim they won the election clean and square in 22 local government areas. They allege that the elections especially that of the governor was marred by irregularities despite the verdicts of local and international observers which upheld the elections as meeting universal benchmarks. ACN in approaching the Tribunal does not appear to be seeking a cancellation of the election. They want the result upturned in favour of ACN and its candidate. A case of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop as ACN is not known to have done sufficient work except in few local government areas of Uyo Senatorial District.

Senator John Udoedeghe, in an interview he granted The Nation attempted to validate the claim that he won the election. But he has failed to create a link between this claim and the reality that played out on the day of that election; a reality which attested to the fact that his brand of politics was sectional and intense with the demon of ethnicity. As a revered thinker posited, sometimes it is difficult balancing optimism and realism, intuition and planning, faith and fact. He concluded that knowledge of the balancing is what it takes to be an effective leader. The candidate has failed to factor the above into context and balancing them to enable him see how and why he lost that election. To achieve this, he must acquiesce with Bill Easun's cerebral assertion which observes that: "realistic leaders are objective enough to minimize illusions. They must understand that self deception can cost them their vision". Senator Udoedeghe must soar above the illusion that he won when he did not, find the requisite gallantry to congratulate Governor Akpabio and that way leverage the system from un-needed distractions.

The elections of Akwa Ibom State exemplified their fairness in the various outcomes. The National Assembly elections illustrated the strength of the parties in their strongholds. Anybody who had even ordinary instincts to forecast polls knew that PDP, despite its pervading number was going to lose in Uyo. That played out at the National Assembly and governorship elections. It was also clear that since Godswill Akpabio had performed so eloquently well, he had become the toast of Annang people, who are his immediate kindred. It did not therefore have to be rigging for him to secure 100% in many Annang homelands where he had become the priceless bride. It rather was strange in places he did not. Anybody who appreciates our brand of politics would know that those who leave for less popular parties go to take offices and forage for what they can get and not conviction and commitment. It is not impossible for ward chairmen to jump ships on such days. Senator Udoedeghe should not use such untenable yardstick to assert that he won the 2011 governorship election for too many odds stood against him in that particular election.

Politics which no doubt is a game of interest thrives on the support of the majority. It is why candidates often step out to test their popularity with the people in a process called election. And since only one person must always emerge the winner, other contestants are expected to demonstrate the enduring virtue of sportsmanship spirit. They are usually referred to as gallant losers as they exercise the nobility of spirit that is indomitable. Such people always know that another opportunity would come and that only God makes kings.

Prior to now, we used to hear of such politicians and would always wonder if they were angels from a different clime. But today, such conducts are being replicated on our clime. Recently, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimiji Bankole openly congratulated a candidate who defeated him in the just concluded National Assembly election. Just last week, Governor Ikedi Ohakim congratulated Owelle Rochas Okorocha who defeated him in a keenly contested governorship election in Imo State. Governor Ohakim stated that Imo people have spoken and that, "Imo is bigger than all of us". I urge our people to look in the direction of civilized values where politics is played with a strong undertone of service and not the "do or die" creed. I enjoin the troika of Messrs Frank Okon, Steve Ibanga and Udoedeghe to extend their kind congratulations to Governor Akpabio while the latter should gracefully accept their hands of fellowship and integrate them in the onerous task of moving our state forward.

Mr. Iniodu, a public affairs commentator contributed this piece from Abak