Those Akwa Ibom People Must Watch Out

By UbongAbasi Ise

Let me begin with a roll call: Mr. Udom Inoyo, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, Senator John James Akpanudoedeghe, Mr. Akan Okon, Barr. Onofiok Luke, Senator Ita Enang, Senator Effiong Bob, Mr. Mike Enyong, Obong Paul Ekpo, Mr. Idongesit Ituen, Obong Umana Okon Umana, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Udom Emmanuel. Some legislators in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Federal House of Representatives and the Senate are part of this list. The above are some of the key names rumoured to be aspiring for political offices, while others are expected to play critical roles in the 2023 electioneering if Covid-19 virus gnawing at all of us would allow humanity to return to normal life.

The prospective contenders for power in 2023 should be reminded of one fundamental concept that every tragedy comes with the advantage of shifting the paradigm to favour the unexpected class of people. For instance, the influenza pandemic which took over the killing of mankind from where the First World War stopped in 1918 had decimated the estimate of 17 to 50 million of the world’s population. The outcome favoured suffragette movement as women in the Western world were allowed to vote and to take up men-only jobs because of the shortage in males’ population. The Second World War tragedy which consumed millions of humans punctured colonialism and the thitherto conquered peoples regained their independence. In the like manner, this Covid-19 tragedy ravaging the world today would not disappear without resetting the system. In Akwa Ibom, if it is not going to change anything, it would definitely lessen or reduce to the barest minimum the kind of politics imbued with paroxysm of hates and sustained through ferocious partisan politicking. The prevailing tragedy may reintroduce into politics the doctrine of humanism. Manifestoes and political parties may not matter much; all that is expected to count is politicians’ personal sacrifice for the sustenance of humanity in this era of hunger spread to the common people by coronavirus. It could still be otherwise; it depends on the unforeseen. 

As the only proven antidote to this pandemic, governments at various levels have ordered people to stay at home till the evil virus vanishes away. Even the Akwa Ibom State government, after a period of aloofness, gave a directive to its workers on Thursday 26th March, 2020 to sit-at-home for one week, while closing down the state’s borders against interstate movements. These containment measures taken in-extremis are not without the adverse effect because whether Coronavirus spread to Akwa Ibom or not it would still bring inescapable starvation to the majority. It is like a case of running away from the virus outside and be running into the arms of hunger inside our homes. Lockdown policy births tedium, rendering struggling people helpless. There may not be any confirmed case of Covid-19 in Akwa Ibom State at the moment, but issuance of stay at home order, closing down of transport system, banning of mass gathering, and shutting down of non-essential markets within and outside the state have altered familiar commercial patterns thus resulting in eventual economic slump. The prices of foodstuffs have skyrocketed beyond the reach of the common citizens. Most shops are running out of stocks and how to restock them is now a near impossibility because of lockdown taking place in other parts of the country and the world. 

Containment policy against the spread of Covid-19 has strong economic implication as noted above. People are desperately in need of reliefs that could enable them stay at home throughout this period. While the public workers may not feel much pain because their entitlements are guaranteed, Akwa Ibom State government has not announced any palliative for the private to prevent the employers from disengaging their workers. Others are those that could not eat if they are not going out to work. Those suffering most are the self-employed. In this case, there is no better time people need philanthropists than now. 

It is time for the 2023 hopefuls to reach out to the people rendered vulnerable by the horror of this pandemic. Just like the candidates of the 2019 general elections went around with wads of Naira, bags of rice, drinks and other items, distributing them and begging the electorates for supports and votes to help them grab power, those nurturing ambition to vie for the presidency, governorship, and legislative seats at various levels should reenact the 2019 generosity. 

Who will vote in 2023? They will be the livings that would survive this desperate time. Let the press and pundits keep munificence records of the politicians that may be aspiring for offices in 2023. This would help us evaluate contenders that are humane and selfless enough to merit our votes. This is the time for politicians to show that streak of populism and to be cultivating and growing base of loyal supporters ahead of the elections. They should not wait to be goaded. If they don’t think about the people now, there will never think about the plight of the people when they get to power. It is time to start keeping records for their campaigns. This writer is aware of Inoyo Toro and Ini Emembong Foundations reportedly owned by a politician and a would-be politician to provide kits, masks and sanitizers in a bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the state. This is commendable. But attention should also be paid to the area of economic needs of the people created by the pandemic. 

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



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