Emmanuel Udom: The contradiction of self

He had mentioned that he was waiting for divine intervention to get a direction as to where his positioning would be in the little matter of his succession in Akwa Ibom. This led the whole state into a debilitating and irritating long wait for a decision that everyone else except maybe he himself knew would be anything but.

Now this position was fundamentally wrong in two very critical ways. Firs it alluded the power of succession in a political space to one source simply because that source was in control of collective resources with which he would build a rapacious and deeply controlling structure that would be unleashed on the system to achieve a pecuniary gain.

Secondly, it pulled in religion which we all know is the opiateof the masses. Religion especially in a State like Akwa Ibom creates numbness and an unwillingness to engage or oppose less ‘Jehovah’ pulls back and allows the rampaging witches that has been the bane of development of our State make a mince meat of opposing views.

These two tendencies are fundamentally flawed and innatelywicked as it weakens democracy, enhances continuous gridlock towards the flow of credible leadership and much more importantly subjugates the true will of the people which has to be sacrosanct at this point.

Magnus Onyibe that brilliant developmental strategist has opined that succession in Politics cannot be likened to succession in Politics. His take is that unlike in the corporateworld where competence and experience is usually the overriding factor, in Politics it is usually near Machiavellianas loyalty and protection of primordial interest is usually the basis for selection.

The choice of the unknown Pastor and Commissioner of lands by Mr. Udom goes a long way in strengthening the position of Mr. Onyibe. When you look at the strong field that has presented itself, you begin to understand Mr. Onyibe’sposition in this choice.

Pastor Eno by simply every basis of measurement is far behind to even the least of the aspirants. From the hugely brainy Udom Inoyo, to the politically connected Oba and the adroit Onofiok Luke and the super-efficient and deeply intelligent international businessman Akan Udofia you begin for a second there to ask yourself what exactly are we watching here? A pantomime?

Sad thing here now is the fact that we have not been told how and why he has been selected. We demand to know these things since it is our resources that would be used to campaign and ensure his entry. Who is he, what are his credentials, what are his vision for his state. What did the so-called elders of the state see in him to make him the dark horse of the race? Is it his versatility, his understanding of the dynamics of the state, his network, his geographical ancestary? What.

We have not been told but instead we now have a strong contender in our hands. A contender who for all intense or purposes barring any miracle would emerge the next Governor of a state in bad need of critical leadership at this point.

The contradiction in all of this, was the fact that  in all honesty I had expected a break from the native and illiterate style that threw up Udom and most of his ‘forebears’.

His background as a respected banker and a major corporate player ,one would have expected would have come to play at this point. He should have opened the field, pulled in as many tendencies, engaged much more openly in an attempt to land nearer consensus.  This would have been very brilliantespecially for one who was nurtured within the structures of strict corporate governance in these things.

To now go into a coven and wrap Religion around it is a huge folly. It will remove from his stature as he leaves the stage and dump him in the pool of the rest of them with no real legacy to lean on for his eight years in Government.

I am confident that this will not stand. It did not stand in the past even in his case and definitely will not stand this time around.

The field is different. The candidates are strong on ground and understand their mettle and they have already started making the right sounds making the coming days look quite interesting.

If you ask me, Udom and his travelers may just be the Goliath in this nerdy Story. The Stone is coming smack to the forehead. Watch out.