By Lawrence Etim
As a proud indigent of the Etim Ekpo local government area, I am writing this piece from a heart of love, with no atom of hatred, for Emmanuel Enoidem, one of the illustrious sons of the community. Since genuine love does not lie, it would be counter-productive if the truth is not told in this message of love.
Apart from his failure in the election for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district on February 25, Enoidem has recorded a number of failures that may not be publicly known. Shortly after Pastor Umo Eno assumed the office of Akwa Ibom State Governor on May 29, Enoidem lost his scheming to become the Secretary to the State Government.
Thereafter, he lost becoming the Chief of Staff. He failed to plant his favourite to superintend the office of the Director of Protocols, so he could have unhindered access to the governor.
Again, and very glaringly, the chosen person of the cabal he belongs to failed to clinch the position of the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Now he is embarking on a project to foist his houseboy, Gideon Uwa, the next transition council chairman of Etim Ekpo, with the prospect to getting him elected chairman later. Why did Enoidem fail to take advantage of the contributory pension scheme (CPS) introduced by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2004 to make provision for pension and gratuity welfare for his houseboy of about 20 years? Since his boss could not do it, the fact that Gideon himself failed to utilize the reform for his future tells another story of people going to schools without being educated.
From vying for positions at the national and state levels, he is now descending to his locality with a clanish and selfish mindset. To achieve this, he is plotting to become the Political Leader of Etim Ekpo. While no one should be accused of having ambition, whether directly or indirectly, it is wrong to pursue personal aspirations without following due process and laid down rules. Perhaps, because he knows that there are no fewer than four persons more qualified than him for the position, Enoidem wants to become the political leader through the back door and dubious method.
For instance, the meeting of the Etim Ekpo Council of Elders, which is also chaired by the political leader, is often convened by the leader, or the secretary of the body, in the absence of the political leader. But Enoidem has caused Etim Ekpo chapter chairman of the PDP, Aniekan Dan (aka Kase), to call for the meeting. Kase supposes to be working under the directive of the State Party Chairman, Aniekan Akpan.
Enoidem is also said to be holding nocturnal meetings with some political figures in the area, including the lawmaker representing Etim Ekpo/Ika in the House of Assembly and the immediate past commissioner from Etim Ekpo – Mfon Idung and Imo Moffat.
Unfortunately, Enoidem shows no sign of learning from the feet of Archibong Akpan (APEX), the immediate past political leader of Etim Ekpo. The deceased famous entrepreneur and politician did not force himself on the people.
Apex became Etim Ekpo's political leader when Chief J. J. Obot, who was holding forte before him, decided to openly support his son-in-law, Inibehe Okorie, whose ambition to contest the governorship election against Godswill Akpabio, was confrontational to the interest of the whole of Annang land that endorsed Akpabio for a second term. Apex did not lead by commanding the people, but by listening to the people to the point that his subordinates, including Enoidem, always had their say and way, sometimes against APEX's wishes.
Though he was the political leader, he was humble enough to always beckoning on Enoidem to run the show. APEX was humility exemplified!
With the likes of Prof Moses Akpanudo, a second republic lawmaker in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Nse Ekanem, former speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Dr Emmanuel Ukpong and Prof. (Bishop) Ahaziah Umanah still alive and sound, Enoidem’s ambition to become the political leader is inordinate. If his plan to become Etim Ekpo's political leader is not a coup, it could be a death wish against the revered elders. May God forbid such a devilish plan from coming to pass!
If the elders consider calling Enoidem to order as unbecoming of their highly respectful status, the middle age ones and his protégés, such as Mfon Idung, Mbetobong Okponette, Udeme Eduo, Imeh Afia, should summon the courage to advise Enoidem in his privacy to hold the brake in his quest to grasp power at all corners. His kinsman, Nse Ekanem, should also advise from his experience.
Here in Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi was once bestriding everywhere, but today he has been so relegated nationally and locally, even by his party.
Since Enoidem is bent on scuttling zoning structure, which everybody in Etim Ekpo knows is the turn of the Uruk clan to produce the next elected chairman of the council, where are the young men desirous of running for the next chairmanship position in the area? Advising Enoidem to shelve his selfish ambition, at least in Etim Ekpo, would not be insulting. Such advice could save him from further failures.
In the appropriate arrangement of things, Enoidem would not have had a chance to be involved in personal politicking in Etim Ekpo since he is in the legal team of Governor Umo Eno in an electoral petition pending before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. But because Enoidem is a nominal member of the team, while, in actuality, the filing and fireworks are done by the law firm of Paul Usoro (SAN) and Uwemedimo Nwoko (SAN). It is disturbing to loving minds like mine that Enoidem is not giving a thought to taking a leave off politics for at least a year to elevate his standard of legal practice.
Bitter as it may sound to some, this message is not told to hurt Enoidem, but to guide him to a path that could avert his free-fall. This is my contribution. If the people of Etim Ekpo fail to rise to the occasion, who would save Enoidem from his ongoing free-fall?
*Lawrence Etim, a public affairs commentator, writes from Port Harcourt*
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