Umana Okon Umana’s Umbrella of Unity Abasifreke EFFIONG As at the last weekend, barely two months ahead of political party’s primaries, a mock census has revealed that about 23 aspirants have so far indicated interest to contest for the position of governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015. The census shows that 22 aspirants are already consulting to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party, while one aspirant has shown interest to lead the contest against the PDP in the All Progressive Congress. For the records, these are the aspirants on the platform of the PDP, who have either concluded their consultations or are at various stages of consultations. Umana Okon Umana, Bassey Albert, Ime Albert, Effiong Abia, Helen Esuene, Assam Assam, Asuquo Asuquo Okpo, Udom Emmanuel, Ita Umo Udo, Benjamin Okoko, Nsima Ekere, Ekpenyong Ntekim, Robert Umoette, Larry Esin, Peter Esuh, Mike Sebastian, Effiong Ntekim, Samuel Akpan, Edwin King, Okpolupm Etteh, and Jerome Isangedihi. In the APC, the former Minister of State for the FCT, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe is the only person who indicated interest to run the race. As it is presently, almost all of these aspirants have secured campaign offices, floated campaign materials and engaged in various forms of sublime campaigns. Some of them no doubt have already violated electoral procedures, by engaging in full-fledged campaigns using outdoor media, as well as the conventional mass media. It is also noteworthy that supporters of each aspirants have been in very high spirit, exuding optimism and trust that they will carry the day. Some others have engaged in black propaganda and destructive campaigns against those in the opposing camps. This is a typical election mood. On their parts, the aspirants have developed campaign thrusts that envelop what they intend to offer the people of the state, if they eventually emerge winners at the polls. In all of such thrusts, a common denominator which is like a sandwich, is industrialization. Though this is a common thrust, their campaign slogans differ and communicate various ideals the aspirants believe will reveal their strong points, and consequently stir attractions to their camps. On the other hand, it has been observed that some of the aspirants have more than one campaign theme while others do not have a clear cut campaign slogan. Let me attempt to capture a few, albeit, the popular ones. For Obong Nsima Ekere, it is “Think Akwa Ibom, Think Nsima Ekere” and “You Know Me, I Know You”; Professor Edwin King is floating “Trust” as his slogan. Benjamin Okoko’s appellation is “It’s all about you”, for Bishop Samuel Akpan, it is “The King’s Mandate”; Bassey Albert has adopted “God’s Factor”; Barrister Asuquo Asuquo Okpo prefers “Faith”; Umana Okon Umana promotes “Umbrella of Unity”. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel does not really have a definite campaign slogan, his campaigns are floated with several chaotic slogans: “Udomified”, “Udomesticated”, “Transformation” “Right Thinking” “Udom’s size”, “Continuity”, this is just a few. Political campaign slogans studies have shown that slogans function within a web of other factors to enhance the popularity of an aspirant in many elite societies. Such slogans too are used as reinforcement for maniefestos. Among all the campaign slogans, Umana’s “Umbrella of Unity” is the most striking so far. Umbrella of Unity is pregnant with edifying meanings when juxtaposed with other campaign slogans especially those that seek to promote sectional, ethnic and personal intentions, such as “Think 2015, Think Akwa Ibom South”, “Think 2015, Think Oro” and “Think Akwa Ibom, Think….” Instead of making his slogan self-centered as done by almost all the aspirants, Umana Okon Umana has kept his open as a canopy to accommodate all shades of opinions. Such slogan, Umbrella of Unity is the best for Akwa Ibom State at this point when the style of leadership has greatly severed the Unity of the state, stirred ethnic tension, inter-group intolerance, and moral dichotomy between the youths and elders, the leaders and followers. Even when the government pretends to preach the gospel of Unity, it is obvious that there is a disconnect between its intentions and actions. While our government tells us to pray for the unity of the state, while we were yet praying, the same government incites the youths to revolt against the elders; while the government veils itself with a disposition of a democratic state, it is stealthily advocating guided democracy; while it is pretends to be soliciting the co-operation of the people, it is castigating the same people as blackmailers and petition writers; while it says it will honour the people’s will, it is busy trying to impose it will on the people; our government preaches tolerance yet it abhors criticisms and loathes public opinion. The present condition of our state calls for sober reflection. In the luxury of that self assessment, we will discover that more than the development and industrialization of our state, we need unity, else industrialization will not thrive, it will be lopsided. Development will not be evenly distributed, if the people continue to swim in the skewed influence of the present government. Whether we like to confront the truth or not, we have lost the Unity of our dear state. Such hate that we now harbour in our minds, convey in our messages against our brothers has dented the purity of our hearts and melted the glue that bonded us in one love as a people. We have lost Akwa Ibom State. What remains of a great state whose unity was envied by others when our collective strength as a people during the on-shore/off-shore dichotomy struggle made us indomitable and a threat against the forces that raped our land; are now patches of autonomous ethnic groups bound within the territory called Akwa Ibom just by the border lines that made it a state. The biggest to the smallest unit has assumed autonomy. The Ibibio is now an independent nation; the Annang struggles to annihilate Oro and vice versa. Eket is an autonomous nation, her people brag, they can sustain themselves independently. Obolo and Ibeno are threatening to secede. This is the picture of our state, and nothing is more important now than bringing Akwa Ibom back together again under an Umbrella of Unity. Unity is a spiritual need, it propels other factors that function in the physical. Such needs as job creation, industrialization, sustainable economy, security, human rights, quality education, agriculture will manifest when the government and the governed do not work at crossed purposes. By choosing the slogan, Umbrella of Unity, Umana Okon Umana shows that he understands both the seen and unseen, physical and spiritual needs of the people of the state. Umbrella symbolizes Unity and its also the logo of the PDP on whose ticket Umana seeks to win the peoples’ mandate to lead the state. Umana’s umbrella does not only seek to unite the people of the state but also integrate members of the PDP in the state who have been dislodged from the umbrella, especially the elders. Umana Okon Umana has the requisite experience and maturity to handle state affairs and stabilize the polity. He is confident that he has the experience, capacity and competence to lead the state. The former SSG said when he was asked why he was running for the position of the governor: “I have the experience and competence to run the state at the level of governor. I yearn for an opportunity to take the state to a new level of prosperity and peace”. He added, “I know how far we have gone and the areas we need to work on. Also I am aware that we still have a lot to do especially in the areas of industrialization and job creation. We must look beyond oil and derivation revenues as we reposition the state for the future. We must create wealth; and we will make a conscious and deliberate effort to deal with the other soft issues of development like health, education and security in addition to the expansion of core infrastructure, road network, seaport, power, science and technology”. The above extract is a compact manifesto Umana Umana has presented. This in sum captures the noticeable needs of the state and her people, hence he possesses the best credentials to manage the state. Umana Okon Umana is a symbol of Unity. There is no doubt about that. He believes that whatever the peculiarity of the time and event is, everyone should be given his right, and an opportunity to exercise that right. No wonder he has consistently pushed against imposition and advocate government compliance with public opinion. In the wake of the zoning crisis which has unnerved the confidence of party members in the leadership of the party in the state, Umana has been in the forefront to seek a level playing ground for all qualified party men and women irrespective of senatorial district. By this, Umana Okon Umana demonstrated that he does not only talk unity, he builds bridges even within the party to ensure that there is unity. Umana Okon Umana according to testimonials have a strength of character. He values friendship. He is trustworthy, dedicated, meticulous and gives every responsibility he is charged with the attention it deserves. He is called “Mr. Competence”, “Mr. Character” “Mr. Honesty”, by his friends, admirers, supporters and opponents. Everyone seems to say good things about him. The Umbrella of Unity is most appropriate to accommodate all the people who wish to follow it. Umbrella of Unity is the best offering, a reliable refuge for Akwa Ibom people in 2015.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 11:06:45 +0000
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