PRESS RELEASE -
MOSES ESSIEN: A GUBERNATORIAL INTERVIEW TO REMEMBER
Going through the correspondences written by patriotic citizens
of Akwa Ibom State, saluting the courage, foresight and vision
of MOSES ESSIEN, a PDP gubernatorial aspirant in the State, gives
one some measure of hope amidst the ongoing political frenzy in
the state.
But of particular interest are the views of MR. UBON MARCUS, a
political scientist in training and writer of one of the letters.
Mr Marcus, whom I am sure, will be proud to publicly identify
with the gubernatorial aspirant given the tone of his letter,
made allusions to some matters of interest, which ESSIEN raised
and addressed during his last live interview on the NTA Channel
12, Uyo.
Although this writer listened to the interview and was impressed
by the passion and vision exhibited by ESSIEN in the interview,
MR. MARCUS’S sentiments as exhibited in his letter further drove
home the salient points of the interview. Just as PROF. GEORGE
MANGKAKIS alluded that we sometimes need another’s mind to keep
in working terms with our own, the thoughts of MR. MARCUS quickly
struck a similar chord in mine just as the said interview stirred
something in the hearts of many across the state.
The Television programme in question is dubbed “60 MINUTES”. It
is a programme transmitted live to the people of the state every
Friday at 3PM. This particular edition was held on Friday, the
26TH of September 2006. The interviewee, MOSES ESSIEN was resplendent
in flowing traditional attire popularly called “NIGER DELTA” with
a fitting cap to match. Though sartorially turned out, he did
not attract so much attention by his outfit, as much as by his
rhetoric. MR. MARCUS agrees with this fact when he said: “I had
previously seen (his) posters but did not pick interest in (his)
candidature---- because it has become obvious that majority of
(the aspirants) are aspiring due to parochial/selfish reasons,
not based on ideology and the desire to serve”. He concludes that
point by saying: “I am sorry to admit that I had generalized (him)
into that category.”
Truly as observed above, ESSIEN’S profile rose astronomically
after those 60 minutes at which time he was able to show his grasps
of the vital issues and his empathy towards the down trodden and
voiceless in the State. Politicians, orators, and demagogues have
a way of stirring emotions in the masses. These could either be
for good or bad. In this particular case, the pathos in ESSIEN’S
voice dispelled every trace of guile in his words or intended
actions.
ESSIEN succeeded in not only stirring sweet emotions in the people,
but in also drawing great attention to himself. The People of
the state are obviously more interested in his aspiration now
than previously, and it is expected that he will live up to his
present billing.
Some of the projects the aspirant indicated priority interest
in include a 300 Unit Housing Scheme in each of the 31 L. G. Areas
of the state; revolution of the agricultural sector given our
generous and arable land; repositioning of the educational sector;
innovations in science and technology, massive industrialization
of the state, and other such projects that will have a direct
and positive bearing on the suffering masses of the state. He
also spoke on the need to establish a seaport given the fact that
Akwa Ibom State has the longest coastline in West Africa.
His detailed analysis of the benefits of these projects to the
state shows his understanding that youth restiveness and crime
can not be stopped through legislation, but through deliberate
effort on the part of government and Policy makers in the creation
of jobs and economic opportunities for the people. On the issue
of empowerment, he rightly observes that it creates rapid development
in society, but that it should be properly defined. Empowerment
is not all about award of contracts to a select group of party
stalwarts or citizens as the case may be. Empowerment involves
sound education of the citizenry, it involves giving them other
forms of training, be it vocational or otherwise, exposing them
to relevant information at the right time, inspiring them to believe
in themselves and in their abilities, and letting them know that
Government is behind them at all times as long as they are proactive
and living above board.
On the issue of empowerment, MR. MARCUS, further emphasized that
LATE CHIEF AWOLOWO used his offices as both premier, and Finance
Minister under GOWON, to empower his people by providing them
free education. Today, there is hardly any field of human endeavour
that the Yoruba have not dominated- Politics, Academics, Banking
and Administration, law Commerce, etc. MR. MARCUS further advised:
“If you (MOSES ESSIEN) fulfill your promise of human empowerment
you will not only be providing for the present but sowing seeds
into the future of which posterity will always remember you.”
Another issue broached by the gubernatorial aspirant, ESSIEN,
was that of the capital projects of the OBONG ATTAH Administration.
He commended in generous terms the vision of the present Government
in birthing this projects whose completion will place the State
on a sound financial footing and offer her some measure of economic
interdependency with the Federal Government. He promised to the
admiration of all viewers of the programme that he would complete
all ongoing projects of the present administration, if elected
governor, and even extend an invitation to OBONG ATTAH to commission
them even as an ex-Governor.
And come to think of it, this last statement may even be more
prophetic than the author thinks, for if OBONG ATTAH eventually
becomes President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and he Governor
of Akwa Abasi Ibom State, does it not follow that only “President”
VICTOR ATTAH would be invited to officially commission a project
he started as Governor?
The gubernatorial aspirant equally scored high in his plan to
build for the Sports and fun-loving people of the State a FIFA
standard Stadium fully equipped with up-to-date facilities, an
International Conference Center and a multi-purpose hall with
more space and versatility than the present Ibom Hall…
The TV programme 60 MINUTES is a welcome innovation on the NTA
and the producers should endeavour to bring more gubernatorial
aspirants on the programme to enable the people have a firsthand
knowledge of those who want to be their leaders.
The interview of MOSES ESSIEN on the programme was a delight to
listen to and quite memorable. He should hold on to this vision
and not let it waver. At the same time citizens of the state should
begin to show more than a passing interest in matters like this
that concerns all, like MR. MARCUS has done. A times, the greatest
impetus genuine leaders need is encouragement from their people.
And as the great NNAMDI AZIKIWE did say, we equally say in paraphrase
to the good people of the state: “independence in all things,
but neutral in nothing concerning the destiny of Akwa Ibom State”.
(08028915618)
