One thing I haven't been able to confirm is my looks. I have heard some people call me handsome especially in the market each time I go there to assist my wife shop for some food items. The women selling in the stalls always shout to me handsome man come and buy this, come and buy that. But then when I was a teacher in a secondary school, I overheard some students whispered among themselves how ugly I looked because of my left hand which I was so "very fortunate" to lose when I was a child. I wasn't angry with them because I didn't see what they saw or rather what they thought they saw. Rather what they said inspired me to feel the freedom that comes from being able to choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it. I couldn't see it with them. For each time I look in the mirror I fail to see my image. Sometimes I thought it's the way I stand in front of the mirror but I have tried different angles but failed to see differently. What I rather see in the mirror is my heart. I see kindness and handsomeness, I see tenderness and understanding. Above everything I see light. Because there are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. I chose to reflect light to my world.
Democracy is a complicated revelation. In democracy there are politics to create, election to hold, rights to assert, grievances to settle and institutions to build. But if you chose to assert right and grievances to the extent that building institution is pushed to the background then you exude darkness rather than light.
Before the election and during the political campaigns many Akwa Ibomites, this writer included had a lot of nuts to crack with former Gov Godswill Akpabio. Naturally there was misgivings over some of the style of Former Gov Akpabio. Some transferred that aggression to Gov Udom Emmanuel who was perceived as being the godson to ensure he doesn't ascend that office. But from an unavoidable twist of fate Gov Udom is here today.
The grievances settlement steps have been taken by those who feel aggrieved. They've taken mature and peaceful step by approaching the court. While that is ongoing, there is no need heating up the system by making a mountain out of every mould hill. Like in the current issue of list of commissioners nominees.
I believe commissioners are mere advisers and their choice is the prerogative of the governor. The state should switch to next mode which is building of institutions. We should allow our governors opportunity to build sustainable institutions that would serve the people. Rather than engaging them in protracted squabbles. I am not against healthy opposition but it must be healthy. I recalled His Excellency Victor Attah's regime. He started well but was distracted somewhere by frequent attacks. Same thing with Gov Godswill Akpabio. He received so much venom and couldn't help but switched to defensive mode which he never recovered from throughout the later part of his regime. While all these went on the loser was the common man in the street. But at least both Attah and Akpabio had some sort of start. But Gov Udom hasn't even started. Yet so much bad blood. We can't continue like that as a state.
Although Akwa Ibom State is the largest oil producing state in the country, it is bedeviled by resource-curse or paradox of plenty. As a result effect of the oil wealth hasn't really trickled down to the common man. Although this can be hypothesized to happen for many different reasons, including a decline in the competitiveness of other economic sectors, local and persistent distractions of those saddled with managing the resources also play a major role. If we continue this way our oil wealth would become a mere paradox especially to the proverbial common man.
All I am saying is if we give the governor the freedom to recognize the responsibility that comes with freedom to determine other people's future, we would be in a better position to hold him accountable if he failed to deliver. This is from my heart. I would say the same if any other Akwa Ibomite was in government house and faces similar hostility. I also look in my mirror, none of the nominees for commissioner was from Abia or Lagos States: they are all our brothers and sisters. We all have a heart to love, let's use it for once.
James Abang Writes From Atte-Okiuso Village,
Urueoffong/Oruko LGA (08037277620 SMS)
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