2023, Enoidem and His Traducers
Uwemedimoh Umanah, PhD
I want to begin this brief piece by making a recourse to the caution of Winston Churchill (1874-1965), a British statesman and Prime Minister, that, “you will never get to the end of the journey if you stop to shy a stone at every dog that barks.” The sage was alluding to the fact that human beings ought to be focused and avoid actions which tend to distracts them from attaining their goals.
Recently, some pundits and revisionists, who are bankrolled by certain politicians from Uyo Senatorial District, have “inflamed” the political atmosphere in the state over the consultations made by the National Coordinator of Maintain Peace Movement, Emmanuel Enoidem, regarding his ambition to contest the senatorial seat for ISD.
These traducers of Enoidem, erroneously hinge their arguments on the fact that Chris Ekpenyong, the incumbent Senator has over a year and five months to complete his tenure; therefore Enoidem’s consultation is rather too early and demeans the office and emotions of Ekpenyong.
The second strand of argument purveyed by a group, I refer to as, ‘merchants of lies’ is that Enoidem’s position as National Coordinator of Maintain Peace Movement is at cross -purpose with his ambition to run for the senatorial seat of Ikot Ekpene. This lame, illogic and ad hominem argument is allegedly purveyed by some media handlers of a certain governorship aspirant from Uyo Senatorial District, who believe Enoidem’s loyalty to Governor Emmanuel is a threat to the gubernatorial ambition of their principal.
Both arguments hold no water and smack of the hoax of the Greek Trojan Horse of April 24, 1184- which Ancient Greece deployed to attack Troy.
Rather, the question that begs for an answer, at this critical point is, why are Enoidem’s traducers more interested in the politics of ISD than those of Uyo and Eket Senatorial Districts where they come from? Why is Enoidem’s position as the MPM Coordinator causing unnecessary ripples and insomnia to supporters of two gubernatorial aspirants from Uyo Senatorial District? These questions, among other compelling deconstruction, give further clarification to Gil Courtemanche’s thought, that, “propaganda is as powerful as heroin; it surreptitiously dissolves all capacity to think.”
First, It must be noted that the petitions by these ‘merchants of lies’ against Enoidem is NOT about him. It is inextricably intertwined with the succession agenda of Governor Emmanuel, which in the conjecture and estimation of these ‘merchants of lies’, has to FAIL. In their considered opinion, any aspirant, EXCEPT, the one ordained by the Governor, should emerge as the gubernatorial standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2023.
Secondly, the recent calumnious campaign against Enoidem is not in any way related to his endorsement by stakeholders of ISD. Factually, the endorsement has continued to enjoy acceptability by majority of people in ISD. The reason for this is that the event had in attendance, most of the major political potentates of the area. Besides, endorsements and consultations are known democratic practices, which no democrat should see as an affront, because, it doesn’t reduce anyone’s tenure. On the contrary, it helps in leadership recruitment by affording electorates an opportunity to evaluate the credentials, character and pedigree of would- be leaders.
Above all, Barrister Enoidem is not consulting stakeholders in his capacity as National Coordinator of MPM. Before the advent MPM, he had aspired to the senate to the knowledge of every right thinking member of rhe Akwa ibom state political community. This,therefore, reduces the ‘consultation argument’ by his traducers to a figment of the imagination of idle minds.
Thirdly, and above all, the ‘merchants of lies’ want Emmanuel Enoidem brought down, by all means, having realized he has uncompromising integrity, character and a consistent history in elections matters- which makes him an asset for the consummation of the Governor’s succession plan. Thus, they are jittery at Enoidem’s position as Cordinator of MPM, his wealth of political reach/ machinery and operational art- which he would certainly deploy with alacrity, to ensure the Governor has a worthy successor.
In conclusion, permit me to say that, It takes but one person, one moment, one conviction to start a ripple of change. Enoidem is a victim of a win-win political horse trading, characterized by the shrewdest bargaining by contending forces.
He “must be brought down”, for the Governor’s succession agenda to fail and for “them” to be Governor of Akwa Ibom State at all cost in 2023. This is, certainly, not an option for Governor Emmanuel and every force of good, Also, for Emmanuel Enoidem, there’s no stopping to shy a stone at barking dogs!
Uwemedimoh Umanah, PhD, a Development scholar, writes in from Abak.
IBOM VOICE MEDIA 