NDITO -EKA,
It could appear to some of us that this is the time to play safe by staying off 'sensitive' issues. Unfortunately, therein lies the real danger.
First, I will openly admit Pastor Michael Bush as a brother and one of the sons of our dear state that I am very proud of. Within the next few days, the BushHoue Media will be the first of it's kind on the network in Nigeria. That is Akwa Ibom on the national platform.
Next, I will respect his opinion and freedom to decide on his plans and preferences for 2015. Again, I will hail his courage at coming out early, very early to openly stand up for what he believes.
Finally, I wish that many of us could be this bold.
That said, it is my humble opinion that we should feel free, very free to ask him questions. This is different from questioning his calling as a pastor or passing derogatory remarks on his person or calling. Those do not address any issues or solve our problems. I was looking forward to very topical and engaging questions on the long time vision of his group with respect to the plans and programs of his candidate to actualize the Akwa Ibom dream/project. In my opinion, we are making what I have always considered a fundamental mistake of being a little emotional and in the process, taking our eyes off the ball.
2015: When my mother died in 2001, those that knew me were really concerned about what would happen to me knowing how much she meant to me. I was expected to cry my heart out. I didn't. For me, the "ball" was to give my best friend a befitting burial. To do this, I needed to 'shine my eyes' very well. I therefore took a personal decision to cry only after the burial. Even my enemies were happy With the quality of the burial I gave my mother. After the burial, I needed some rest to recover so that I could give her a befitting cry. Unfortunately, by the time I had recovered fully, I became too happy with the very successful burial to remember to cry again. The point here is that we have to choose between emotions, and 'getting the job done'.
What are the criteria that we should use to judge who should be good enough to govern us come 2015?
Exactly what should we look out for as the primary qualities that we must not compromise in the person that we should choose as our governor in 2015?
Between where a person comes from, and the quality and personality of the person, how should the 80-20 rule apply?
I have sat at a meeting of professionals and sometimes come out with impression that we are sometimes unfair to politicians. Alternatively, I could say that the politicians have done such a good job on professionals that it is sometimes challenging to differentiate between them. Therein, again, lies our tragedy.
How sincere are we in addressing the Akwa Ibom project, or is it the case of "dakada yak ntie?"
If Michael Bush chooses to support Umana O Umana, I'm not sure of how wise it is to call him names. I feel it makes more sense to engage him on issues and seek answers to issues concerning his candidate that bother or interest you.
Sometimes I have enough information to appreciate the 'attacks' from some people. This never negates the facts that two wrongs never make a right. That said, it is my submission that Umana has every right to aspire, Bush has every right to choose to support him, no less than your right and others' to decide if to follow/join them or not. Until we come to terms with these fundamental rights, we will continue to engage each other in avoidable confrontations that will do on one no good.
Back to 2015, one night, I asked myself an uncharitable question. It was "should a very competent candidate by every parameter come out for the 2015 governorship election and I get to know that he was actually a blood relation of Obong Attah, would I go ahead and vote for him?" Or would I rather settle for another that could be less qualified so as to avoid a family rule?
My honest answer was that I would almost definitely put competence first. On the other hand, should the two candidates be EQUALLY qualified, I convinced myself that the principles of equity will be my next criteria.
I have read most informed submissions on this forum on the need to consider Eket senatorial district for 2015. In my opinion, sentiment is on their side. However, they have to do more that betting on it by doing a through groundwork of fishing out a candidate that even the worst of their enemies will have little to fault. Trust me, they have some.
Rather than calling Pastor Bush names, let us emulate his courage and start to throw up candidates so that we will have enough time to research on such people and ask questions. At the end, we would be satisfied that within human limits, we had come to throw up, supported and voted in a man that we felt was the best that we could get based on informed knowledge.
This is not the best time for tears, sentiments, or emotions. The work at hand is too sensitive to get distracted. If it is too soon to start, let us agree that time is the issue. If it isn't too early, then let us be bold enough to set the rules for the game and watch those that are confident enough to step into the ring to be screened by this reputable forum.
Exactly what do we want, and who do we think could make the list?
Ndito-Eka, you will agree with me that this is strictly a personal opinion.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Arc Nya-Etok Ezekiel.
Nigeria.
Arc. Ezekiel,
Human beings are naturally emotional and emotion has lived with us since the Garden of Eden. You may try as much as you can to rational your actions with 'logic'; when you gave your best friend and mother a befitting burial you went to such great lengths that even your enemies were happy in order to avoid pain, embarrassment and loss of status or respect for not giving her such grandiose burial. You can rationalize it as much as you want but you were motivated by these emotions after all. Many studies have indicated people are more motivated to avoid pain than they are to seek pleasure. (What is the logic behind people buying big houses or mansions; why are more people signing up to work out in the gym this time of the year, why do women wear make-up or bald men buy Rogaine or have cosmetic surgery, buy flashy cars, and get a college education? Answer: to avoid pain, embarrassment and loss of status or respect if you really think about these things.
I agree with you that Michael Bush has the constitutional right to associate with Mr. Umana O. Umana for the later's 2015 campaign just as many others do not want such association or being sold that name. What happens in the last over four years in Akwa Ibom State where Mr. Umana is currently the SSG and especially in "isong Ibibio" defies logic and you cannot with bold face dismiss or separate their emotions from the mention of Mr. Umana O. Umana's name. He is joined to the hip with Gov. Akpabio and therefore his name elicits their pain, mistrust, suffering, fear of loss (relatives, jobs, security to life and property, civil rights including freedom of speech, etc.) they have gone through in the last nearly five years. In his usual way he may dismiss his responsibilities to the people in his capacity as SSG just as the failure of the federal government project cannot be blamed on Madam Ngozi as finance minister but professional engineers, according to him. But that is unacceptable to the people. As we say in Ibibio language, something happened for shrimp to develop a hunch-back; that adage though looses its ingredient in translation but you know what I mean.
You know as well as I do that over 200 structures were reported to have lined up to support GOA in the months leading up his second term election and he bankrolled all of them. That memory, because it is still too recent hasn't faded in people's mind and for that reason Mr. Bush is seen in that same light to capitalize on his outift. A toad does not run across the street in the day time for nothing; Mr. Bush is alleged to have been bankrolled by Mr. Umana to form Ibom Medallion project and set up his propaganda machine. It is not surprising why the outfit is not used as a platform to funnel through every candidate including Dr. Oduok who has also indicated to run in 2015. Please don't play on our intelligence because the motivation here is to make money. Greed and making money are basic human emotion and desire respectively. There is no difference nowadays between pastors and professional politicians, they are as greedy as politicians for easy money and please do not try to sugar-coat this.
You are aware the election of 2011 is yet to be settled in the Tribunal. Why does this not appeal to your sense of logic, decency and respect to step back and caution Mr. Bush that it's so early to talk about 2015 when the fate of 2011 election is yet to be decided by the Tribunal. In your opinion you sound like an apologist for this ill-conceived early outing for 2015. Or don't you have any regard for the court system to wait at least until the Tribunal delivers the judgement or are you selective where logic can be applied? How can you and Mr. Bush see into 2015 when the rain has not cleared yet? Or have you people figured out again what the decision of the Tribunal ahead of time is as in the result of the primary election released more than four hours before formal announcement, like in announcing the result of the general election more than 24 hours before INEC's, like in GOA attending a Thanksgiving Service the Sunday before Tribunal dismissed election petition case in favor of PDP/Akpabio in Uyo, as in celebrating the Monday before Appeal Court in Calabar announced the dismissal of ACN/Sen. Udoedehe's appeal against PDP/Akpabio? It is an open secret GOA had no clearance from his party PDP and you people will never produce one for the public to view plus he is facing forgery allegations of Dr. Nwodo's signature. These and other four items are good reasons to remove GOA and arithmetically there is no 2015 so why are you people on the forward match for 2015 this early? Already more than 100 Hiace vans are bought for somebody's 2015 election campaign, what a shame? You are asking people to back off from Mr. Bush but you are asking nothing from him in return. There is not going to be any cake-walk the next time my friend.
The late President Yar'Adua had the courage to push the early-birds back into the house in 2008 when politicians and pastors started pushing for their candidates this early and I am not sure about Jonathan. The people know what they want and they cannot solve their problems while the same hands that caused them are still on the till.
Happy New Year to you and family!
Eno AdamsNN/ Hayward, CA
Eno,
You nailed this right. I have been sitting and wondering why humans refuse to give sympathy to other humans. 2011 election is not yet decided, but the called "educated" have already fast forward to 2015 decision. 100 Hiace bought already for 2015 election,but this past Xmas most civil servants could not put food on the table for their loved ones. Is pastor Bush telling me that he does not know that some civil servants were not paid for 2-3 months in the past year? Is Arc Nyaetok not aware of this bad situation too? Is there nothing like priority when we are looking at issues? Why are these good people not advocating for the il-treated? It is absurd. Fast forwarding to 2015 with same old same old sucks.
Ikpafak Akparawa-awan Aniema DFW
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