Udom, Another Cromwell?

By UbongAbasi Ise

“Of all the bad men, religious bad men are the worst”- C.S. Lewis

Oliver Cromwell is one exciting and controversial figure in history who ruled England during the period of commonwealth and protectorate from 1649 to 1658. Most historians would describe Cromwell as a leader in medieval era who evoked so much love and reference, and at the same time, inspired more fear and hatred. Be that as it may, Oliver Cromwell was a religious enthusiast in pursuit of high moral purpose but he remains a leader whose body was executed after death. His body was exhumed by the monarchy and hanged at the Tyburn gallows where criminals were usually executed. 

Oliver Cromwell the Lord Protector of England, and Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, belong to different times, places, races, governments and cultures.

There are, of course, multitudes of dissimilarities between the two leaders. Fundamentally, unlike Cromwell, Udom Emmanuel did not come to power by joining the army from parliament but he came in through democratic backdoor as many pundits hold.

But one trait both men share in common is unbridled love for God, and their undaunted zeal to Christianize their governments. Both men see bible as “a mere book to keep the poor in order,” as Charles Kingsley writes. While Oliver saw himself as a deep spiritual person and a vessel in the hand of God, Udom Emmanuel claimed to be the spiritual leader in Akwa Ibom State with no recourse to religious fathers.

Yes, the Governor has demonstrated this portfolio recently by seeking to erect an 8,500 capacity International Worship Centre to the glory of God while unpaid pensioners and unemployed youths are wallowing in primeval poverty. With the minimum of 8500 audience seated at once, the Governor is at the liberty to command the biggest religious gathering in the State, and only the State’s spiritual leader deserve such platform. When Governor Udom, on 2^nd January, 2017, declared to be at the helm of religious leadership in the State, many might have dismissed it as a mere rhetoric, but after a year we have seen him laying a foundation of his religious ministry.     

            Nigeria is a secular state as the constitution pronounces, and therefore every component of Nigerian state is expected to abide by the constitutional principle. For a leader who swore to protect the constitution but fail to pay obeisance to the secularity of the constitution, becomes grossly unfaithful to his promise thus placing a big question mark on his moral rectitude. Akwa Ibom State may have a predominantly Christian population but this does not mean everybody in the state is Christian. There are those observing African traditional religion; there are few Muslims, and those whose religious belief systems drift from the mainstream. After all, constitution permits religious freedom.  

            If Udom could initiate, coordinate and oversee the execution of a building project that is meant for those sharing Christian faith, then is this not unfairness to non-Christians who might have contributed in voting him into office, and accordingly pay tax to the state coffers? Although, the Governor says the fund for the project comes outside the purse of the state government but we should bear in mind that whatever is in the garden egg is a garden egg.

            Since the name, International Worship Centre, is generic, maybe any religious body, be it traditional worshippers, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, or  many others, could hold their programme there.   If Mr. Udom Emmanuel says International Worship Centre is a general platform for the religious purposes, then this can only bestow a sense of fairness to the citizenry but becomes a travesty of respect towards constitution.

            Instead of industrialization, all we see is ecumenicalism. We expected Udom Emmanuel to single-mindedly pursue industrialization because that is all we need to develop rapidly given the state’s potentialities. But unfortunately the Governor has misfired. Too bad that this Governor makes the whole world believe Akwa Ibom is at the El Dorado of industrialization. How many tons of products have our industries produced? Have we even experienced buyers coming into the state in droves to buy the products massively produced by our industries? Industrialization is not all about establishing firms that are not working optimally, but it is all about redirecting the economic mechanisms towards transforming all we have to tradable products. Akwa Ibom did not vote a leader that would come to make her a model Christian State but a hub of industrial activities. 

            A financial intelligentsia like Udom Emmanuel, should have made the Banking Layout along Udo Udoma Avenue a financial hub and a significant feature in the financial landmark of the state and country but out of the religious propensity the place is about to become a caricature of pilgrim terrain. We expected the Governor to build a strong indigenous banking sector whereby his dakkada philosophy could aptly be energizing the state’s economy. I always put it straight that the state cannot just dakkada without domestic financial strength. Take example from other parts of the country: the Yorubas have the controlling influence on First Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, Sterling Bank and so on; the Hausa/Fulani have Islamic Bank, Unity Bank to name just a few; the Igbos have Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank and several others. Those banks are generously giving strong financial backings to the economic growth of those regions and business operators depending on their ethnic backgrounds. But where is our own? Where are the likes of Merchantile Bank and Cooperative Development Bank? How is Akwa Savings and Loans Limited faring today? Do we really need another worship centre after which our geographical space has been inundated with worship centres with different appellations?

Governor Udom Emmanuel (Middle), and Pastor Enoch Adeboye,

General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (Right)

 during a foundation laying ceremony of International Worship

 Centre in Uyo, recently

It would be recalled how hundreds of Akwa Ibomites both elites and common people, followed our God-fearing Governor to a grand religious event at Reigners Bible Church on December 10, 2016 where the roof caved in, killed and injured many Akwa Ibomites. Instead of the state government to take care of these victims, they are left to suffer on their own. unconfirmed report has it that management of medical centres are breathing down the necks of Reigners victims for medical bill, but instead of Udom Emmanuel to be responsive to this, he decide to look the other way, and come up with irrelevant building project. When God wants to bring retribution upon a king, he first of all makes him to go mad and come up with inane conceptions. Udom should be careful this project would not bring his name to disrepute.

            International Worship Centre is a complete saga of waste, a senseless blunder, and it is quite a pity that the voice of the majority condemning the project is getting drowned by the sycophantic minority who are fanatically supporting all the inanities of political leaders. It is too bad that in Akwa Ibom the noises of minority are louder than the shrill voice of the majority. Udom can be religious with his own government, but he should be sure that the posterity would not condemn his bequest the way Cromwell was condemned after death.

Yes! I am UbongAbasi Ise. For comment, send SMS to 08189914609| Email: ubongabasiise@gmail.com

Source: The Sensor Newspaper