The political field in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria is white. The political gladiators are busily sharpening their knives in a do-or-mar politics to outfox their opponents. As it is, the politicians in different political parties want to use the December 2 local government elections in the state to test their popularity. This an attempt to capture more seats in a bid to control majority of local government areas preparatory for the 2019 governorship race.
Already, electioneering campaigns at the grassroots level have peaked. Political activities between the two major political parties in the state- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Party (APC)- have been heightened preparatory to the elections. Nocturnal visits are on the rise. Consultations are increasing. Barbs, spins and tantrums are being used as cheapest commodity in the political market place to woo gullible electorate.
Under the present political dispensation, it may not be an easy ride for prospective political office seekers to grab their positions easily without a fight from lethal opponents. For the first time in the history of politics in the 30-year-old state, the two key political parties- PDP and APC- have fielded chairmanship and councillorship candidates in the 339 electoral wards in the state for the forthcoming council’s polls. It may no longer be a ding-dong affair for any party to go away with landslide victory, which hitherto was the swan song on the lips of unpopular politicians. With the unfolding political situation, the two visible parties are battle-ready to slug out to secure victory at the polls.
It could be worrisome for any party that is a gatecrasher- party without solid base or structure at the grassroots level. Are the parties prepared for the elections? Are some candidates being funded to make the needed impact or to occupy space? Of course, any party that has an upper hand in winning more chairmen and councilors in the forthcoming elections would tower in the 2019 governorship race. So, the success of the council’s elections would open the floodgates to the party having a master key to ultimately control the soul of the state in 2019. Baring some unforeseen political dynamics, the election is a great pointer to the man who would smile to Hiltop Mansion, Uyo because the race is going to be keenly contested by the two contending parties. Other political parties (as it appears) without strong showing and huge followership are mere passengers and are in entangled in the web of oblivion.
Politics like football is business. In the trading line, the various participants- sellers, middlemen and customers- have interest on their cards. Interest, no doubt, is the main item on the political menu of every politician. As the revered Nigerian President, the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe once said “In politics, there is no permanent friend nor enemy, but permanent interest.” So, the parties are hiding interest but working undercover to sway support of the electorate in order to win votes to their side and become the overall winners.
Last Friday, November 17, more than 5,000 youths under the aegis of Eket Senatorial District Youth Alliance (ESDYA), staged a solidarity march from the Unity Park, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo to the Government House, Wellington Way end, Uyo where Governor Udom Emmanuel received them.
Emmanuel told the youths that he has deliberately deleted Ibaka Deep Seaport from the internet to checkmate false propaganda against his administration. “There are projects we are doing which cannot be completed in two-three years. I heard people talking about the deep seaport, I purposely removed Ibaka from the internet.
“Before now, when we have meetings about the Ibom deep seaport and you read it on the internet, the next day the saboteurs will put something else in the newspapers to make sure the seaport doesn’t work,” Udom said.
The message entered from one ear of the youths and flipped out from another. Excited Emmanuel struggled to talk in order to appease most of them who might have visited him based not really on the fact that some of the youths love his performance but basically on the need to share in the state cake. It appeared most them came on the basis that they would be sorted. Of course, they were right as the governor “landed well” and they youths- some ailing; others famished and many unemployed hilariously cheered the governor.
It was difficult to determine if it was a political masterstroke by PDP to test its popularity in the state or to tone the strength of the rampaging APC.
However, a day after the PDP’s youth solidarity rally, APC rolled out its political arsenals. I t might not have been coincidental. Saturday, November 18, APC went to town to spread the news that the country’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo would be in town. The party organized a mega political rally at Uyo Sports Stadium to drum their manifesto and programmes into the ears of the electorate. In fact, APC temporarily shut down Uyo based on the number of people who attended the epic rally climaxing the flag-off of its December 2 local government elections in the state.
