By Dele Sobowale
READ a tale of two defectors: Fani-Kayode and Ribadu(2) here
“A clown is like a man sitting on a throne of ice; wondering when it will all melt away.” Red Skelton. (VANGUARD BOOK ..p 29).
Let me conclude my series on the “dandy duo” who defected to the PDP from the APC (can you spot the difference please?) – each of them bringing with them more liabilities than assets to the parties they join; and increasingly becoming political jesters. For sure, none has ever won an election; none has a political structure of his own. All they bring to a political party is noise and nuisance value. Wait and see. Let me remind our readers about one of Ribadu’s escapades.
*Fani-Kayode
Shortly after escaping from Nigeria, in 2009, to avert possible arrest for allegedly taking with him EFCC files, Ribadu landed in London; where he wrote a deposition for the London Metropolitan Police, LMP, accusing ex-governors Attah, Ibori and Tinubu of converting the sale of the V-Mobile shares of their states to their personal accounts.
It was defamation with respect to Attah and Tinubu and I said so in a three part article in October 2009 – published on this page then. Attah and Tinubu were later vindicated of the venomous lies spun by Ribadu. Till today, Ribadu had not, as decency dictates, written to the LMP to correct the defamatory statements; neither has he written to Attah and Tinubu to apologise for his wickedness.
Yet, when Tinubu offered him the ACN platform to contest for President in 2011, he grabbed the chance. If that is not CORRUPTION, please somebody, tell me what is. The man would say anything, do anything to obtain applause.
As for Macho Man, I knew he was gone the day he went to “have lunch” with President Jonathan – who must have a sense of humour. GEJ must have smiled to himself as one of his loudest critics in the APC responded to the announcement LUNCH IS READY!!!
Only Macho Man, Fani-Kayode, failed to realize that the only free food is found on mouse-traps. He is stuck now.
Both of them are intelligent but not wise. What a waste of intellect.
Both of them are intelligent but not wise. What a waste of intellect.
IBIBIO OF AKWA IBOM REGROUP UNDER ATTAH –1
“The stone that the builders rejected…..”
Victor Hugo, the French philosopher, said it all. “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Unless something extra-ordinary occurs, the Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State, constituting about 65% of the population, organized a welcome home event for Obong Victor Attah, the Governor of the State 1999-2007 – who is an Ibibio.
“The stone that the builders rejected…..”
Victor Hugo, the French philosopher, said it all. “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Unless something extra-ordinary occurs, the Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State, constituting about 65% of the population, organized a welcome home event for Obong Victor Attah, the Governor of the State 1999-2007 – who is an Ibibio.
The Ibibio on September 5, 2014, at Asan Ibibio, have regrouped and selected Attah as their leader. That step is a game-changer – which yours truly had long anticipated.
In 2007 and again in 2011, the Ibibio had done something which few majority ethnic groups in any state of Nigeria would do voluntarily – they conceded the governorship to someone from one of the smaller ethnic groups.
In 2007 and again in 2011, the Ibibio had done something which few majority ethnic groups in any state of Nigeria would do voluntarily – they conceded the governorship to someone from one of the smaller ethnic groups.
Rightly or wrongly, most of them now feel marginalized and charges of ingratitude can be heard on every lip. Now, they feel they must be masters of their own collective fates in the future. But, realizing that they would throw away the opportunity to assert their power, they have reached for the man who can, with no fear of serious dispute, be described as the FATHER OF AKWA IBOM STATE to lead them.
The choice of Attah appears, not only logical, but destined as well. To begin with, Attah is no longer a candidate for any office himself. So he does not stand in the way of anybody’s ambition for Governor, Senate or even President. Furthermore, he is widely acclaimed for his fair-mindedness, high moral principles and personal integrity. Such individuals are difficult to get in Nigeria today.
At any rate, contrary to the false propaganda, widely publicized by his political enemies, the people of Akwa Ibom, not just Ibibio, know, better than casual visitors who easily get duped of facts, that Attah laid the foundation for most of what is the economic development of Akwa Ibom today. Let me point out a few.
GSM was rolled out in Akwa Ibom State at the same time as Lagos State and Abuja because of Attah’s unusual foresight resulting in the state investing in V-Mobile. In one giant leap, Akwa Ibom, a backwater state, was connected to the world before thirty-three other states. He embarked on an airport project and advanced the project to the point where the first flight landed in Uyo Airport sixteen months after he left office.
The first phase of the State’s Independent Power Plant was commissioned by President Obasanjo before May 2007; Le Meridien Hotel and an 18-hole Golf Course were also well-advanced and he built and equipped a Dialysis Unit, with three dialysis machines and donated the Unit to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital among other major projects, too numerous to list in a short article.
But let me quickly go to the point of this essay. The PDP and President Jonathan have their work cut our for them. With the Ibibio solidly behind Attah, anybody in search of votes in Akwa Ibom in 2015 would be best advised to start talking to Attah or risk losing the votes in AKS.
Unfortunately, the PDP has a tradition of placing all the states’ political structures under the state governors. Akpabio is Anang and the majority Ibibio are no longer ready to follow his lead. That is the political dilemma – to which there is at least one credible solution. Certainly, nobody expects me to disclose the possible solution on the pages of newspapers. But, it is there.
ELDERLY PEOPLE’S DAY OCTOBER 21, 2014
This is the second reminder that this year’s Elderly Peoples Day, that means 70-plus, will hold on October 21 D.V. Donations and sponsors are urgently needed.
Remember the old folks. They brought us into the world. Remember the Fifth Commandment. God will bless you.
This is the second reminder that this year’s Elderly Peoples Day, that means 70-plus, will hold on October 21 D.V. Donations and sponsors are urgently needed.
Remember the old folks. They brought us into the world. Remember the Fifth Commandment. God will bless you.
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