 |
| File photo: Gov. Godswill Akpabio
(N/B: scroll down to listen to the audio of Gov. Akpabio's speech at the end of the story.)
|
By Nse Peter
Governor Godswill Akpabio during an inter-denominational
church service on Sunday, at Ibom Hall ground, Uyo, to mark the 27th
anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State, threw modesty to the winds and
outrageously asked youths in the state to rise up against political elders as the
state prepares for 2015 governorship election.
Governor Akpabio, known for making controversial and
unpopular statements, was addressing an estimated crowd of about 2,500 people,
including a handful of clergymen, who had gathered at the instant of the state
government for a thanksgiving as part of a-week long activities for the
anniversary celebration.
Akwa Ibom State was created on 23 September, 1987
by the then military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.
In a speech which was broadcast live through the state-owned
AKBC radio and television stations,
and also to a global audience through some cable TV stations and Internet live
streaming, Godswill Akpabio charged the youth “this is my last anniversary
celebration with you, but I am challenging you – Akwa Ibom children – the future
belong to you, not to your elders. Your fathers have done their bids, don’t
look at them. It is time to do positive rebellion. Rise up and protect your
future.”
The crowd, mostly made up of women clapped and cheered on
the governor.
Renting a crowd is a common phenomenon in most political
gatherings in Akwa Ibom State, although Think Akwa Ibom! cannot confirm if the
crowd in the event was a rented one or not.
Akpabio who sounded angry throughout his speech castigated
the state political elders, accusing them of corrupting the system with ethnic
and money politics. “In one day (alone) they (the elders) bless two people
(governorship aspirants) because of Ghana
Must Go.” Ghana Must Go, which means large amount of money in a sack, is
euphemism for corruption in Nigeria.
The governor said, “the youth of the state, you have a
responsibility, the future belongs to you, not to the elders – particularly the
elders who grew up in the 1960s when tribalism was brought to Nigeria during
the carpet crossing in the western region. Some of those elders are still
moving about with tribal things in their pockets, and they speak with both
sides of their mouths.
“Some of our elders can never be united because they grew up
in a period of tribalism, a period of ethnic jingoism.
“On this 27th anniversary, my challenge to the
Akwa Ibom youth today is to rise up and protect the uncommon transformation.
What did I say? I say rise up and protect your future… There must be
sustainability, and the only way you could do that is not to look at the
elders.”
Akpabio in his speech made a veiled attempt at rubbishing
the administration of his predecessor, Obong Victor Attah, saying for instance
that two of the turbines he met at Ibom Power Plant were refurbished, and not
new ones, and also that most of the roads he inherited from Attah’s
administration have completely broken down. He said he has asked people in the
private sector to buy the multi-million dollar Ibom Power Plant which was initiated
by Attah.
Apparently mocking the recent reception of Victor Attah by
the Ibibio people, Akpabio said: “when I leave as governor, and when you want
to receive me, please let it be the whole of Akwa Ibom State, do not
sectionalise it. Today, I am governor of all. When I leave, do not make me a
local champion. When you are receiving me, let the people of Eastern Obolo be
there, let the people of Oron be there, let all the Ibibio be there, let all
the Annang be there.”
Ibom Hall, where Akpabio made his speech, was built by the then
military administration of Idongesit Nkanga as a symbol of unity among the
people of Akwa Ibom State. But ironically, the governor’s speech, in-house
analysts in Think Akwa Ibom! argued, will likely raise more political and
ethnic tension in the state.
(Below is the audio of Gov. Akpabio's speech at the event.)
No comments:
Post a Comment