Orgasms In The Mention Of Akpabio


By UbongAbasi Ise

Senator Godswill Akpabio is not a man that could be described in ambiguous terms, although, he can mean anything to any commentator. He is a man whose single word or deed, for whatever reason, would send tongues wagging or wowing. Plainly, the uncommon Senator is not only a phenomenon in the world of Akwa Ibom politics and Nigeria’s politicking, but a significant factor that reorders Akwa Ibom statecraft, and he has been a major force that influences development in the state. Here, yours truly may not be making any particular effort in canonizing him to saint or apotheosizing him to god, and won’t also consider demonizing him to some readers’ delight. All I could attempt is to state how his constituents feel about him in the face of varied-ranging perceptions of this much-talk-about Akwa Ibom politician.

 Unarguably, Akpabio’s eight years in office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State had marked the watershed in Akwa Ibom history. And at the same time, most naysayers are seeing his governorship tenure as the time the Pandora box was opened and all the ills, pestilence and anomalies of this world emptied on Akwa Ibom and surroundings. Therefore, they won’t find any taint on the incumbent state government despite all the shameful realities of its underperformance and ineptitude that instrumentally systematize pauperism of the majority. They wish someday the ground would open up and swallow all of Akpabio’s bequests in one gulp so that they would not be hacked off each time they perceive his legacies. To them, the 2019 general elections all revolve around Akpabio.   Therefore they would mobilize all votes against all the candidates of the All Progressive Congress, APC, no matter how sophisticated and well-meaning they are, just to punish Akpabio.


Surely Senator Godswill  Akpabio’s name has consistently featured as a major theme in the 2019 electioneering since his earth-shattering landing on APC from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, on August 8, 2018.  Since then, his name has fast become a flavor that spices up all the campaign rallies organized by any political party, be it the APC, the PDP, or any other political party involved in the ongoing contestation. Every campaign climaxes to orgasm once Akpabio’s name pops up whether in good or bad reasons. Not surprisingly, the PDP, in particular, could never finish their campaign without nitpicking Akpabio just to enliven their tired, rented, multi-coloured crowd. At PDP campaigns, after long marathon round of promises, they need Akpabio’s name to climax. It appears that without hitting the former governor, all their speeches and pronouncements are empty and hollow. Every average speaker automatically becomes orator of class once they clothe Senator Godswill Akpabio with filthy robes.  They forget to acknowledge the fact that demonization of the uncommon Senator only appeal to the gatherings of ilk-minded scoffers. They may pretend not to know that outside such arrangement, wrongful use of Akpabio’s name is not applauded anywhere in Akwa Ibom and beyond, and this might become an invitation to open mockery of those perpetrating the mischief.  

On twitter, I have seen some pathetic trolls who are not the constituents of the Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District swearing over their dead bodies that the lawmaker won’t return to the Red Chambers. Most of them don’t even have PVCs. Even if they do, by virtue that they are not the constituents of Senator Akpabio, the extant electoral laws would not permit them to do any voting at any of the polling units located within the confines of the senatorial district. All their malevolent intention is to remake the Senator in the image of Satan so that the entire Nigeria and international community would loathe him. But for how long will they continue to cut the nose to spite the face?  How long will they burn their energy, resources, and time to nail Akpabio just for the primordial pleasure of sheer vindictiveness? The uncommon transformer is not contesting presidential or governorship elections this year. He is not even struggling for the state or federal legislative seat, and he is not standing any Senatorial election apart from that of Akwa Ibom Northwest District. But his antagonists are creating maddening confusion to the extent that it appears as if the Senator is contesting all the positions available in the 2019 general elections.

No matter what happens, Akpabio is loved by his people. Majority of constituents or say eligible voters in his senatorial district, hold him in esteem, cherish him and find their pride in him. During the recent APC primary elections, all aspiring interests were voluntarily handing off the senatorial ticket for him because they believe in the strength of his representation. When the APC campaign train visited Ini/Ikono local government area via Ikot Ekpene, the entire Urua Torr, a market in the raffia city, suspended activities and went agog for Senator Godswill Akpabio. The people wanted their Senator to come down, and he humbly obliged. The stage was set for broom festival: women danced; men cheered; children felt proud to have set their eyes on this legendary leader. It took serious persuasion to release him to join Obong Nsima Ekere at Odoro Ikpe, the headquarters of Ini local government area. Even at Essien Udim APC campaign, Mr. Stephen Ekpenyong, the blood brother of Engr. Chris Ekpenyong who is contesting senate seat against Akpabio on the platform of PDP, was shunning his own elder brother to declare full support for the serving Akwa Ibom Northwest Senator.  At Oruk Anam rally, people swarmed around Akpabio with incredible gusto, and the people’s Senator had to stop one security personnel from manhandling the crowd and asked him to leave his people alone because they could not harm him. In Akwa Ibom Northwest and other part of the state, the love for Senator Godswill Akpabio is just like the adherence to religion.

Yes, he may not be impeccable, but leaders in Akpabio’s mould are rare to find in this part of the world where greedy hawks hold sway. He may be classified as a Level 5 Leader as propounded by American motivational writer, John C. Maxwell in his 2011 book, The 5 Levels of Leadership. Maxwell puts that Level 5 leaders “create opportunities that other leaders don’t. They create legacy in what they do. People follow them because of who they are and what they represent.” In Akwa Ibom State in general, wherever the former governor goes, people go. His followers admire his debonair disposition and trust in his uncommon transformative prowess. They are always conscious that he can transform them anytime because most prosperous figures holding key positions under the present PDP-controlled state government  were once groomed and nurtured by him until they become Iroko trees and who-is-who in Akwa Ibom politics. Those that were Akpabio boys then are those that are keeping the PDP breathing today in the state. They are all over all the arms of government. In the executive, there is Governor Udom Emmanuel who is struggling to get reelected in the forthcoming gubernatorial election; in the legislative arm, there is Barr. Onofiok Luke; the attorney general, Uwemedimo Nwoko remains the eyes of the state government in the judiciary matters. Let me also mention the gladiators like the dean of all commissioners, Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria Edet; Chairman of UCCDA, Enobong Uwah; Akwa Ibom Northeast Senator, Obong Bassey Albert; lawmaker representing Uyo Federal Constituency, Michael Ekpenyong (Babantan); the PDP National Legal Adviser, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem; the PDP state Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, and over 500 other powerful individuals that could not be mentioned here. Unfortunately, insults to Akpabio for these persons, are sign of loyalty for the PDP. So bad that these umbrella people that were uncommonly transformed by Godswill Akpabio are finding, single-mindedly, their political orgasm by way of seeking to clip the wings of their benefactor, and reducing him to size.

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

©The Sensor Newspaper


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