By: Sampson Sampson
In the season of politics/elections, many things are possible and dubiously considered as fair. But there are still areas that should not be broached in order not to threaten the foundation of peaceful co-existence of a society. Such areas are usually called “no go areas”. Apologies to Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd) who introduced the phrase during one of his administration’s organized Constitutional Conference.
At a PDP rally in Ikot Abasi on Friday, January 18, 2019, Governor Udom Emmanuel threw caution to the wind, crossed that borderline of sanity and betrayed himself as an unrepentant tribal bigot when he virulently denigrated the Annang race indeed other tribes, describing them derogatorily as “outsiders.”
Udom had tried to court camaraderie with the people of Ikot Abasi. He said he had told his brother, referring to Nsima Ekere, the APC governorship candidate that both of them are Ibibio sons and so should not allow outsiders, referring to people outside the Ibibio ethnic group to cause them quarrel and abuse each other.
He did not make mistake in referring to Annang people as outsiders same as Orons, Obolos, and Ekets. In privileged positions, his kinsmen occupy all the privileged positions while others are outsiders to his administration. In terms of provision of basic infrastructure and human development empowerment, he prefers ‘’insiders’’ to ‘’outsiders.’’ What an unfortunate remark and belief in the 21st century!
Governor Udom then narrowed his recriminations to the man he loves to hate being his predecessor and by extension the race he currently holds in contempt and aversion. Udom then descended to a despicable low by referring to the man and the Annang race as “uncommon evil, uncommon devil” among other debased descriptions.
As an Ibibio son who has Annang friends, I have been empathetic ever since that faux pas by the governor. I have wondered how many of them have coped with this undisguised public pronouncement of the alienation of their race by a governor they voted massively for in 2015. I have also reflected on the damage this barbaric comment has done to the once well known social cohesion that existed among all the tribal groups in the state.
But I fear whether the governor is reflective and discerning enough to appreciate the import of this misguided jive. As it is widely known, hate beclouds and reduces a supposedly reasonable man to a moral absurdity. This is what Governor Emmanuel is suffering from.
How does one regard a governor who was voted for by the whole state but who has through a tendency for clannishness and hate reduced that huge constituency to a hamlet? Great leaders show emotional intelligence because they do not bear grudges and do not exhibit tribal phobia. Even in the face of compelling circumstance, they do not easily betray emotions. But Governor Udom has this emotional disorder which predisposes him to rant when the need does arise and bicker over nothing most times in a manner that is beneath his exalted office.
Senator Godswill Akpabio did not initiate Nsima’s ambition as governor. As a matter of fact, the ambition was nursed since 2006 and he contested the governorship primaries with Akpabio and has contested 2014 primaries since then. When Akpabio defected to APC, he met him in the party with the same ambition and merely subscribed his support. Today, Akpabio and his race are being excoriated because of this innocent action.
Governor Emmanuel has often demonstrated that he is emotionally unstable. This character flaw has led to many blunders on his part. Today, the Annangs are worried and have equated his remark with what is in the Scripture: “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh”. May be Udom is giving a hint to the Annangs of what they should expect from him. Many of them are already complaining of marginalization. Would this not add impetus to this fear?
Sampson hails from Akwa Ibom
