APC VINDICATED ON AKPABIO’S THIRD TERM STRATEGY

By Abia Ante, Okobo

The advertorial on page 24 of The Nation of today, 29 June 2015, has significance that is beyond the meaning of an ordinary political commentary. This is because it comes from rare courage in the conquered and pocketed ranks of Akwa Ibom PDP (conquered and pocketed by Godswill Akpabio). Second, and more important, it has vindicated the Akwa Ibom APC which insisted during the campaigns that Akpabio picked Udom Emmanuel, a weakling and JJD, to front for him so that the emperor could continue to rule by proxy.

The APC had argued all along that the tiny minority that parroted the zoning propaganda were blissful victims of deceit by Akpabio. The APC had said that there was nothing like zoning, that Udom was selected for the selfish, hegemonic interest of the Akpabio family. But sadly, they sang on in pathetic ignorance.

Now after the Akpabio militia has imposed Udom on the state, a residue of courage within the state PDP has found its voice and summoned up the guts to say that Akpabio has remained in charge one month after the expiry of his mandate, naming nominees for commissioners, appointing key aides for Udom, retaining use of the official jet of the state and relocating to the presidential wing of Government House in Uyo. They are crying that Akpabio should go home and leave Udom alone. Interesting! Those who dine with the devil have no right to complain when the horned dragon imposes his price. That was always at the heart of the contract of deceit and manipulation.

From the look of things, the logs appear to have fallen off the eyes of some of the deluded choristers of zoning and the mantra of ‘Udom is right.’ Is Udom still right? Those who had joined the chorus of zombies in expectation of appointments are left ruing their foolery. But let’s ask: Do they have a right to deny a coup plotter the illicit gains of his successful putsch?

Udom, who must be delighted at this belated kick by those whose hopes for appointments have been dashed, cannot complain because he brought nothing to the dark art of coup plotting and execution except the consent for his name to be used in the grand deceit, which in itself is no big deal because other lackeys could have eagerly taken his place if he had said no.

It is laughable that this latter day plucky wing of the state PDP is looking up to the state House of Assembly to rein in ex-governor Akpabio. We would like to know how that is feasible when the principal officers of the House, from the Speaker down, are Akpabio’s handpicks.

There can never be a winning accommodation with Akpabio for the state. The only winning way for the good people of Akwa Ibom State is a clean break with the Akpabio plague. A remedy lies in a total rejection of anything that makes Akpabio a part of the administration of the state.

The opportunity for such clean break comes again in the brightening possibility of re-run elections in the state.