By Osondu Ahirika|
Another facade of political bickering is being fashioned for Akwa Ibom State and her unsuspecting people. It is contrived by a negligible, albeit, vocal schemers to foist another false fault line on the partisan pursuits of the people.
I refer to the segregation of players on the political scene to so called, ‘Returnees’ and and ‘Homeboys’. To the errant few that struggle to peddle this scam on the political calculations of the State and its power configuration, the ‘Returnees’ are the political appointees, who were resident outside the state, and became key players in the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration. It needs be emphasized that, this schism is patented to and being reinforced the Udom Emmanuel era is by those who refuse to let go their offense, that, going by their script, Governor Emmanuel who was never factored into the power equation prior to his advent on the political stage in 2013, returned from Lagos to emerge from the leader of the State of in the hard fought 2015 succession battle.
Chike and the River is a children’s story written by the renowned Chinua Achebe, peace on his ashes. First published in 1966 by Cambridge University Press, I read the book as a Literature in English text in junior Secondary 2. The plot is about eleven-year-old Chike, and who moved with his uncle from Umuofia village to Onitsha. There he saw for the first time, the River Niger and longs to cross it to the city of Asaba, but he doesn’t have the sixpence he needs to pay for the ferry ride. A feat he eventually accomplished with the help of his friend S.M.O.G, and adding to his experience, series of adventures. Fact is, in its underlying thematic thrust, Professor Achebe sought to etch the narrative that, traveling is an impactful aspect of learning and education. Chike became a celebration of exposure on account of this as he became a notch above peers, who were still locked in the darkness of Umuofia village.
Little wonder, an event is held annually by the Ibibio nation of Akwa Ibom State in honour of Obong Sampson Udo Etuk, Ibibio Union’s first president in whose time the union sent its Six “merchants of light” to study abroad in 1938 on scholarship. The six included Herbert Udo Udoma from(Law) , Dr Ibanga Udo Akpabio (Education) , Obong Bassey Udo Adiaha Attah, Obong Etuk Antiaobong (Medicine), Asuquo Udo Idiong(Medicine) is a and James L. Nsima(Law).
Long before other Nigerian ethnic nationalities recognized the importance of travel for education, the Ibibio fathers did. It paid off as the generation of those Merchants of Light, have continued to make the difference and shape Akwa Ibom and Nigeria till date(check out Former Governor Victor Attah, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Udo Udoma, and and Mr Ekong Etuk). I nurse no ambiguity on the notion that I those six ambassadors, on their return became a big hit and added value to the state and nation. History can’t deny this.
I recall that as a child, in 1980, my entire village still had to line on the dusty roads to our village bearing palm fronds and women with new wrappers, to welcome our son, Rev Wilson Nwachukwu from the United Kingdom where he went for University education sponsored by the Anglican Church.
He was handed automatic employment as the Principal of the only Secondary School then in our entire federal constituency, if I am not mistaken.
Nwachukwu of blessed memory became the sole oracle to whom all parents went for career counseling and choice for their wards. We never treated him as a Returnee usurper, and and that’s how we all benefitted from his stock. So what has changed?
Akwa Ibom State can hardly have its tale written without the ensign of being a land of Returnees overall. I was a junior secondary two student when the State Akwa Ibom was created out of Cross River State. I saw the unprecedented joy and celebration that greeted the development. Then an Exodus followed as waves and droves of immigrants, made a homecoming, from Cross River State to begin new life in their home State, find their rhythm and help build the state. Those that staged the, ‘come back home’ , were not limited to Cross River State alone. From Lagos State, Kaduna, Kano and the diaspora, Akwa Ibom people returned to their long awaited Promised Land. Nobody was branded a returned. I recall, the we gave up our apartment at Inim’s Estate at No. 205 Aka Road for the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, AKBC, to occupy when it was created. Many of us homeboys, gladly gave room to squat homeless returnees. Everyone was upbeat and very friendly to push the Akwa Ibom dream.
Of leaders, Then Wing Commander Idongesit Nkanga, who I draft in the as the first indegenoius governor of Akwa Ibom State was a returnnee, posted by the then Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to take charge. He made indelible mark with imperishable legacies between 1990-1992.
Obong Akpan Isemin, a former staff of Agip Oil and Avery Nigeria Limited, who took over from him was also a returnee.
Then came Arc. Obong Victor Attah. He was also a returnee, having made his mark as a renowned architect and town planner in Kaduna and other parts of the North. His successor Chief Dr Godswill Akpabio was brought in from Lagos to become Commissioner in Attah’s cabinet. This man went on to become governor and like his erstwhile boss, Obong Attah, he did excellently well.
How incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel entered the scene will be studied for generations as an act of God, as indeed, all the legends of his predecessors are. But suffice it to say that, from his prime position in the finance industry as a major player in Lagos and the world, here we are now. And those who gloat his divine predestination and hold in impotent contempt his favoured estate, now wail that, he is a returnee who has no stake in the State’s project. Haba! When did we change the rule book? Why the bitterness against our brothers who have been called home to bring their wealth of experience, exposure and contacts to add value to the State? During Obong Attah’s tenure, we had the Abuja Front and Home front division. Is this its updated version?
Folk’, all well meaning citizens should rise against that prejudice and never allow it gain foothold in our political lexicon. It is a fraud by people of limited mindset and is fed by a complex.
I recall long ago, when a certain lady, by the name Lincoln, returned for a long holiday to our neighborhood from Lagos. We, the resident homeboys hated him and held him in contempt because, he wore classy jeans, looked trendy and spoke a lot of English and Yoruba with his siblings. He became, as we feared, the main attraction for young girls in the area, and somewhat, a standard by which we felt, rightly or wrongly, measured. We contrived plots to ridicule and villainise him.
We waited and prayed he should leave sooner than later. Our nightmare became real when he gained admission to study Law in the University of Uyo. It was apparent this – ‘haunting apparition’, was here to stay. We had to deal with it. Given the benefits of hindsight, I realize our folly and how inferiority complex manacled our better judgment and potential.
Folks, it’s time to return home and that nursery rhyme, ‘oh my home 2x, when shall I see my home? “, already playing in my soul, just as my neighbour’s MP3, player with’ I’m from Akwa Ibom, want to go home, I Akwa Ibom ayaya,’ by Mish, is ringing loud on my back.
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