Echoes of Ahmedinejad in Akpabio’s recent actions

By Ayo Akinfe

Over the last two weeks, we have been bombarded with images from Iran, with the Western media doing everything within its power to portray the recent elections as a sham in which the ruling regime is seeking to hold on to power at all costs. To be perfectly honest, I for one am at a loss at to whether the Iranian elections were free and fair or not but the images brought me closer to home and made me think about Nigeria.

In Iran, because the state has firm control of the media, it is impossible to ascertain the true state of things and have a valid, unbiased and accurate figure of the ballots cast in their recent elections. For all we know, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad may have won the election as declared, by the same token, he may have lost it by a landslide.

One thing we do know for sure is that he is in no mood to relinquish power and will do whatever it takes to hold on to the Iranian presidency. Last Friday at weekly prayers, Ahmedinejad got the country’s supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni to abandon his impartiality and throw his support behind him.

President Ahmedinejad backed this up with a warning to the protestors, making it clear that they had to call off their protests of face the full wrath of the law. While all men of goodwill must condemn this heavy-handedness and use of the apparatus of state to pursue personal interests, we must also call on the Western powers to be even handed in their approach to all these things.

I for one think that the Americans and Europeans should be as vociferous in their condemnation of election rigging and the abuse of state power when it takes place in places such as Nigeria too. One just needs to look at what Governor Godswill Apkabio is doing in Akwa Ibom State to draw the parallels.

With a keen eye on re-election in 2011, Governor Akpabio is removing any form of opposition that will stand in his way. He is removing key and able people from sensitive positions within the party and the state and doing everything within his power to ensure that rather than face re-election, all he has to do is enjoy a coronation.

In all fairness to Governor Akpabio, what he is doing is no different from what any other Nigerian governor does but in his case, he had the added misfortune of having to face his predecessor. Unfortunately for Governor Akpabio, the former Akwa Ibom State governor Victor Attah refused to rubber stamp this naked lust for power and consequently a tussle ensued.

In what has got to be one of the most unbridled acts of power lust and power drunkenness, Governor Akpabio got the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to expel his predecessor from the party. This is despite the fact that Obong Attah is a member of the party’s board of trustees and a more senior member of the party than his excellency.

Obviously the matter attracted the attention of the powers-that-be in Abuja and Governor Akpabio was forced to feign ignorance of the development, claiming the expulsion was carried out by the state party apparatus in whose activities he had no say. I suspect that there may be a few more governors who resort to this kind of action as the 2011 elections draw closer.

No doubt, all our other 35 governors will be watching developments in Uyo closely to see if Governor Akpabio gets away with his gamble. If he does, it will set an ugly precedent and we can be guaranteed that the wolves will be unleashed in each and every state capital soon.

If this were to happen, it may well indeed spell the death knell for our mirage of democracy that is already on its knees. After the charade of 2007 in which former President Obasanjo and his friends simply appointed whoever they liked into office, the last thing we need now is another sham.

Fortunately for us, the law courts have reversed some of these disgraceful so-called elections and handed power to those rightfully elected but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels or pat ourselves on the back. We have to bear in mind that many of our political operatives like Godswill Akpabio, are Abacha men who marched for him and are identical to the dictator in character.

Many of these governors will not hesitate to destroy anyone in their path in the quest to remain residents of state house for another four years. One just needs to see the desperate measures Akpabio is resorting to realise how much danger we are in. His victims have included non-politicians like Christy Essien-Igboekwe.

Not only is he using the state PDP chapter but Governor Akpabio has also resorted to the use of the traditional Ibibio and Annang organisations and as should have been expected, he is also being personally vindictive. Last year, Governor Akpabio turned down Obong Attah’s request to use the Ibom Le Meridien Hotel and Resort for his 70th birthday anniversary.

That the Akwa Ibom saga is in the news at all is because former governor Attah still has a lot of credibility in the state and a lot of Akwa Ibomites are not prepared to see a good man dragged down. Also, Governor Akpabio has little to show for bring the highest recipient of oil revenue in Nigeria and questions are being asked about where the state’s money is going.

I for one was surprised to read that Governor Akpabio plans to spend N33bn on a white elephant Tropicana project. Had it not been due to the spat between the two chief executives, Obong Attah would not have exposed this and no doubt, a substantial amount of that money would have gone towards the governor’s re-election campaign.

Expecting all former governors to be as brave as Obong Attah and stand up to the successors might be wishful thinking. Many of them imposed their successors on us, so are likely to turn a blind eye to this power lust, so it falls to the Nigerian people to take up the cause.

Many of our public office holders are enviously watching Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and wondering how they will follow suit. They are most likely waiting to see if the Akpabio litmus test succeeds. If it does, only heaven knows that they will unleash on us.

Maybe the PDP hierarchy can redeem itself a bit and restore a little bit of credibility by making it clear that this naked lust for power that Governor Akpabio epitomises is totally unacceptable. Although it will not solve the problem, it will help.

Ayo Akinfe

aakinfe@aol.com

Robot  # 1 | 23.06.2009 07:00

://nigeriavillagesquare.com/images/stories/Authors/Akinfe. Echoes of Ahmedinejad in Akpabio’s recent actions By Ayo Akinfe Over the last two weeks, we have been bombarded with images from Iran, with the Western media doing everything within its power to portray the recent elections as a sham in which the ruling regime is seeking to hold on to power at all costs. To be perfectly honest, I for one am at a loss at to whether the Iranian elections were free and fair or not but the images brought me closer to home and made me think about Nigeria. In Iran, because the state has firm control of the media, it is impossible to ascertain the true state of things and have a valid, unbiased and accurate figure of the ballots cast in their recent elections. For all we know, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad may have won the election as declared, by the same token, he may have lost it by a lan...Read the full article.

wizard  # 2 | 23.06.2009 09:02

Not quite sure what to make of this. Is this a pro - Obong Victor Attah article?

kekerete  # 3 | 23.06.2009 15:45

What is the difference between the two; Attah and Akpabio? Can't really see, except maybe age.

CIkpatt  # 4 | 24.06.2009 11:38

Ayo Akinfe: There is nothing wrong with Gov. Akpabio having "a keen eye on re-election in 2011". The overwhelming majority of Akwa Ibom citizens and Nigerians from all walks of life acknowledge his progressive and performance based leadership that is fast turning Akwa Ibom State into a very modern society. Gov. Akpabio IS NOT removing any form of opposition. It is reckless for you, Ayo, to make such a thoughtless statement knowing that the Constitution of the Federal Republic not only forbids that, but that indeed some in Akwa Ibom State are banding together to form opposition. Better you research your information before asserting idiotic statements as facts. It is not Gov. Akpabio's duty to consolidate opposition against himself. He is not going to do that because such will amount to disrespecting the wishes of progress minded Akwa Ibomites who want him to continue in office. So, get it right and get it good: It is not about the man - Chief Godswill Akpabio, but it is about a flagstaff leadership and progressive administration so rare in Nigeria that the good people of Akwa Ibom State will fully exercise electoral rights to keep. It is about a promise keeper massively engaging infrastructure development in the State and besting all leadership records ever in the young Akwa Ibom State. It remains for the opposition to gather momentum and self propel if it can. All politicians in Akwa Ibom State know how much of a tall order it shall be to convince the voting majority against giant strides of the Gov. Akpabio administration. It is clear that your motives for writing against Gov. Akpabio is because of personal support for Chief Victor Attah. Your comparison of the peoples' governor to the fringe Iranian President betrays your lack of understanding of detailed circumstances about subjects in your comparison. Note carefully that the majority of Akwa Ibom people take great offense to your comparison. Even if you are copying from your hero - Chief Attah - who earlier likened our governor to Saddam Hussein, Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin... you are an outsider whose insanity and disrespectfulness of the Akwa Ibom people will not be tolerated. You don't have any business talking trash about the Tropicana Project: It is not a Federal project, it is in your state, and it is not going to be a white elephant. So, mind your business and let the overwhelming majority of Akwa Ibomites looking for that out to economic diversification hope and encourage the government toward completing the Center as the cornerstone of tourism in Akwa Ibom State. You can cry and whine till the cows come home, but the Tropicana Center is good for Akwa Ibom State and will be profitable for Akwa Ibom State. You talk nonsense about the web press contract given to Christy Essien Igbokwe by Chief Attah. Again, you pass for a lazy commentator who cannot spare few phone calls or visits to ascertain facts. Questions you should ask are: <*>Was the web press supplied and in what condition? <*>Was it worth the amount of money Chief Attah shelled out for it? <*>How many batches of the Pioneer Newspaper did the web press ever print? <*>Why was that the case? <*>Is it wrong for the Gov. Akpabio administration to demand accountability, knowing that the people have been shafted and taken undue advantage of? <*>What is your freaking business in it, by the way?

Obugi  # 5 | 25.06.2009 13:57

The govt of Akwa Ibom is doing a great job with what they have. There is something humble, ordinary, and straightforward about the business and political managers and elite in that state. It's curious. I don't know why they're so different from others, but they are. They just tend to take a straightforward, workaday attitude to things. Beats me!!! I've done several contract jobs there in the past 3yrs and recently, too...including road contsruction. I like the place so much I maintain a rented a house in Uyo. Cross River State is doing just as well, I do business with companies there. Akwa Ibom & Cross River are some of the best kept secrets in Nigeria. I only wish we in Abia State had as good a government. Obugi.

DaBishop  # 6 | 25.06.2009 14:29

=Obugi;366736>The govt of Akwa Ibom is doing a great job with what they have. There is something humble, ordinary, and straightforward about the business and political managers and elite in that state. It's curious. I don't know why they're so different from others, but they are. They just tend to take a straightforward, workaday attitude to things. Beats me!!! I've done several contract jobs there in the past 3yrs and recently, too...including road contsruction. I like the place so much I maintain a rented a house in Uyo. Cross River State is doing just as well, I do business with companies there. Akwa Ibom & Cross River are some of the best kept secrets in Nigeria. I only wish we in Abia State had as good a government. Obugi. Obugi ma friend... Never knew you woz a rubber Baron in Akwa Ibom...(McDonalds shall miss ya) Interesting.... Bia Mazi,...You don repent?

Obugi  # 7 | 25.06.2009 15:46

Bishop, =DaBishop;366741>Obugi ma friend... Never knew you woz a rubber Baron in Akwa Ibom...(McDonalds shall miss ya) Interesting.... Bia Mazi,...You don repent? Whatever.....to God Be The Glory :p ! Get Yours ! Obugi.

pav  # 8 | 26.06.2009 06:37

this is my first time to go through ur desk, just want to say u are well come.