After the meeting, in which majority of the attendees were deceived as to its real purpose, organizers of the so-called "Uko Ibibio" issued a Communique, which described their dubious organization as "an all-purpose organization of Ibibio in the Diaspora and a global platform for developing and advancing strategic Ibibio interests in Nigeria and around the world..."
When the so-called "Communique" was issued, the organizers (notably Clement Ikpatt, Andy Kenneth Andy, and Moses Edem) listed a long list of those they have sent a copy of the Communique. Those they listed included “HE Chief Godswill Akpabio (CON), Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, HE Obong Nsima Ekere, Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Samuel Ikon, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Obong Umana O. Umana, Secretary to the State Government, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, Ibibio Elders Forum, Special Adviser to the Governor, Political Affairs, Ifim Ibom Ibibio, Ntisong Akwa Esop Imaisong Ibibio, Nkuku Afe Annang, All Paramount Rulers, President, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, President, Oron Development Union.”
On papers, the names and the connections appeared impressive but misleading to inattentive reader. What Clement Ikpatt, Kenneth Andy, and Moses Edem did not put down on the Communique was the truth; the real reason for the formation of “Uko Ibibio.” They lied! This writing is to unveil their lies and expose the main reason “Uko Ibibio” was formed.
Somewhere around December 2011, Umana Okon Umana had visited the United States. While in the US, he contacted a gentleman by the name of Kenneth Andy Kenneth. Umana informed Kenneth of his interest in contesting for the Governorship of Akwa Ibom State in 2015. He made an appeal for Kenneth to help him mobilize Akwa Ibom people in the United States for his campaign. Umana promised that he would find a way to transfer money so that Kenneth could finance the campaign in the USA. Kenneth Andy agreed, only if he could solve one problem.
Kenneth, as many know, was very close to Victor Attah’s Administration and is known to have at one time held a significant position in the PDP Chapter of Akwa Ibom State. His service in Victor Attah’s administration brought him in close proximity with Umana Okon Umana, who himself was a Commissioner in the same Administration. Kenneth Andy Kenneth and Umana Okon Umana have known each other for awhile, which explains why Umana would trust Kenneth to the level of selecting him as his campaign point-man in the United States.
When Godswill Akpabio succeeded Obong Attah as the Governor, for some undisclosed reasons, Kenneth Andy decided to immigrate to the United States. Since his arrival in the United States, Kenneth, besides being relatively new to the country, is not very well known by members of Akwa Ibom State community in the United States. Some people say other than a few people in the Houston area, in which Kenneth resides, he is not known anywhere else. So, when Umana Okon Umana designated Kenneth to be his campaign point-man, the problem Kenneth faced was who to contact that would help bring out people to support the campaign of Umana Okon Umana.
Either through referral or through previous familiarity, Kenneth contacted Moses Edem and bore out his dilemma. “No problem,” Moses Edem told Kenneth, “contact Clement Ikpatt” And that is how “Uko Ibibio” was born.
When Clement Ikpatt, Moses Edem, and Kenneth Andy began to solicit for membership to Uko Ibibio, those invited to the inaugural meeting were not told the truth on the real purpose. Many were deceptively invited on the false premise that the meeting would be about “discussing important issues that will bring Ibibio together.”
But when they called in, nearly all of the attendees were taken aback when the organizers told them that the purpose of the meeting was to support the candidacy of Umana Okon Umana for Governor and Godswill Akpabio for Senate in 2015. No discussion mentioned the unity of Ibibio. Every discussion was about the virtues of Umana Okon Umana and Godswill Akpabio. Many were disappointed and some brave ones, such as Dr. Edem Andy, issued a public disclaimer (please see attached).
No one quarrels with the organizers of “Uko Ibibio” for forming a group, after all, this is a free country, in which everyone the right to assemble. But what needs condemnation is the blatant lies of those who claim to support Godswill Akpabio to always use the name of the Ibibio to lie to unsuspecting indigenes of Akwa Ibom State. And Ibibio people are becoming tired of the nonsense.
Perhaps the reason the organizers lied about the motive of the meeting is due to the truth that anything connected to the name “Akpabio” is no longer appealing. And Umana Okon Umana, being a protégée of Godswill Akpabio, should have known very well that he would never go anywhere as long as Akpabio‘s name is invoked to whatever ambition he has in Akwa Ibom State. However, and no matter what, if the organizers of “Uko Ibibio” had any regard, or respect, for those they invited to their meeting, they should have at least tell the invitees that the main purpose of the meeting would be to form an association of FOUOU (Friends of Umana Okon Umana).
There is nothing wrong with forming FOUOU. In the past, there have been associations in support of Obong Victor Attah (FOVA), Godswill Akpabio (FOGA), and there was one for Senator Akpan Udoedehe (Positive Change 2011). What is wrong is deceiving the people to attend a meeting which many might never have shown any interest or waist their precious time to attend, using Ibibio name as a bait. Such a deceit may be a clear signal to Umana Okon Umana that God has already cursed his ambition for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State. As Jesus told the Jews who believed him; “Then you will know the truth, the truth will set you free” John 8:32.
Those who have opted to join in the deception of the organizers of Friends of Umana Okon Umana (FOUOU) should remember the sayings of the wise; “When you sit and dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Do not eat the food of a stingy man; do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. ‘Eat and drink,’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.” Proverbs 23:1-8 (NIV).
Those who don’t believe in this wise saying, before they go back to the so called “Uko Ibibio” to support Umana Okon Umana, should think of what happened to those, such as Ambassador Sam Edem, Bassey Inuaeyen, General Akpan, and Effiong Bob, who supported Akpabio and Umana Okon Umana in their quest to govern and thereby loot Akwa Ibom State within the past only God-knows-when.
May the Good Lord bless Akwa Ibom State.
Written by
Ikpafak Thompson Essien
The Voice of the Poor Masses
Defender of the Oppressed
Social Critic
A native of Ibibio nation of Ubium Republic extraction, now living in the safe and beautiful city of Portland, Oregon, where no AKPF, ADUMA, ADV, and Akwa Ibom State politicians can reach.
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