By Chinedum Nwajiuba
Senator Akpabio.
Preamble
Before proceeding, we need to be clear on an unsentimental reality of Nigerian politics. Ethnicity and religion are relevant factors. Anyone stating the opposite may not be sincere.
We should also agree that a strong trend towards performance and character is emerging. This is a key lesson from what has happened with the 2023 election. Related to this is that a strong youth movement interested in a different Nigeria has also emerged. This youth movement, in an ICT-dominated world, may be better informed than the politicians. This new world is different from the past, and very little can be hidden. I advise the political class to accept this and work for the Nigerian people, conscious that Nigerians are aware of what they do, even if they sometimes act as if they are uninterested.
This new generation is not only angry, but it is also anxious for a change in their conditions, and the conditions of the country. This has far-reaching implications. I advise the political class again, especially those taking over the governance of the country this month of May 2023, that the old times and old ways call for demonstrated change, which the millions of young angry Nigerians can relate with. The drum beats have changed, and the dance steps should change.
One state that offers a lesson from the 2023 election is Abia state and her governorship seat. The order instituted in 1999 from the reign of His Excellency Orji Uzor Kalu, which has held that state since then, has been toppled by the people of Abia state. People know, and people are watching. The APC and the other parties need to pay attention.
To the subject and why Godswill Akpabio should be Senate President, I present the following position:
1. This position is primarily addressed to Senators elected from the Southeast, Senators who are Igbo from outside the Southeast, followed by other Senators in the 10th National Assembly, and finally other Nigerians.
2. The position here is that the Southeast should support the emergence of Godswill Akpabio as the next Senate President.
3. In justifying this position, I proceed by posing some questions:
3.1. Why does it seem important in 2023 that the Senate President should be zoned to the south, especially the Southeast and Southsouth when we should know that if left open, the Northwest can put up a strong fight for that position?
3.2. Why is the APC openly canvassing zoning, something not in her Constitution, unlike the PDP, which has that explicitly in her Constitution, even when the PDP is not faithful to her Constitution? What has changed from four years ago, when the Southwest had both the Vice-President (number 2) and Speaker (number 4), while the whole old Eastern Region got nothing?
3.3. Why is it that in zoning the Senate President position by the APC this time, it is said to be to the south, and not specifically to the Southeast, Southsouth or Southwest?
4. These three simple questions should be reflected on.
5., ranking Senators, meaning those who have been in the Senate before now, have more advantages. My sincere advice to members of the political class, from the President-elect to members of the National Assembly, whether of the APC or other political parties, is that the period we are in recommends that we do not heat the polity. In effect, those elected to the Senate for the first time, are not likely to be elected Senate President, and advise we focus on those who have been previously in the Senate.
6. I also strongly recommend party discipline, and no attempt by members of the APC to align with those of other political parties to work against their party position. Note that the foundation of the failure of President Jonathan in the 2015 election, was laid by some of his party men in pursuit of their ambitions when against the PDP zoning of the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives to the Southwest, Aminu Tambuwal of the Northwest and Emeka Ihedioha of the Southeast aligned with members of the opposition ACN to grab the positions of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. That created a scenario where the Southeast having taken her PDP-allocated Deputy Senate President and Secretary of the Government of the Federation also had the Deputy Speaker. The picture emerged of an angry Southwest feeling not part of the 2011-2015 Jonathan government, a matter President Jonathan did not seem to appreciate until very late in his government. The rest is history. Therefore, APC senators should focus on the Southeast and Southsouth.
7. There is a need for caution by the APC. There is also therefore a need to build a broad-based government. This is informed by the fact that this is the first time since 1999 that going by INEC results, out of 36 states plus the FCT a President, Tinubu of APC, is elected by winning 12 states, the same as PDP’s Atiku with 12 states, and LP’s Obi with 11 states plus the FCT. This is fairly equally shared into three. NNPPs’ Kwankwaso took Kano (1 state). The figures of votes announced for each candidate; Tinubu at over 8 million, against Atiku’s plus Obi’s votes of over 14 million, shows that this is also the first time a very minority-elected president is taking power since 1999. As is emerging, it seems clear to many Nigerians that the result of, for instance, Rivers state can easily be seen to show an LP victory, which in the least creates a picture of a Tinubu winning 11 states, Atiku 12 states, and Obi 12 states plus the FCT. I believe the implications of these are well known to the many brilliant persons who are around the President-elect, and who want him to have a successful tenure. Please, I write this without prejudice to what is happening in the tribunals. We are governed by law and must deal with the extant official situation.
8. In that case there are two contenders. One is from the Southeast – Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, and one from the Southsouth – Senator Godswill Akpabio. They come from two neighbouring states of Abia and Akwa-Ibom. They were the Governors of their states for 8 years. They have Senate experience as well as Senate leadership experiences; Orji Uzor Kalu as Chief Whip and Godswill Akpabio as Minority Leader. However, Godswill Akpabio has been a Minister and Orji Kalu has not. As Governors, Akpabio ranks higher in the rating of performance and testimonies of his excellent performance abound. This record of performance is important to the youths of Nigeria.
9. Nevertheless, I emphasize that while both are eminently qualified to be Senate President, the political class should be conscious of the time we are in, be sensitive to the desires of millions of Nigerians who feel excluded, and choose which of them whose emergence will reassure especially the restive youths, and those hungry for evidence of good governance, as well as committed to developmentally active governance.
10. The evidence suggests that Godswill Akpabio has an edge on this. His emergence will go down better with the youths of Nigeria, as well as those who are deservedly asking for an active government that drives development urgently, with grand visions.
11. It should also be important to the Executive arm of government, which of the two candidates she can work seamlessly with. While both are Alpha males, and men of strong will and no pushovers, yet, in terms of temperament and record of relationships with political associates, and the people, Godswill Akpabio also has an edge. The evidence is also known to Nigerians.
12. The question that should be of interest to all patriotic Nigerians, and more so for the Southeast, is who should be preferred? Because of Nigeria’s ethnicity-defined politics, it should be easy to say the southeast should support the aspirant from that zone, but I am not sure that is what we should be doing now. I believe the next Senate President should be Godswill Akpabio and I believe that is what is right for Nigeria, and could also be better for the southeast. I also believe that the strategic and long-term interest of the Southeast recommends this.
13. There are persons in Nigeria who wonder why the Southeast supported our Ijaw brother Goodluck Jonathan enthusiastically, sometimes even more than the Southsouth, even when the Southeast received the least capital allocation all through his tenure, and even when the Southeast was told that the longer Jonathan stayed in power the further away the turn of the southeast becoming President. The Southeast/Igbo stood with, the kinsman of Frank Opigo, and also the kinsman of George Kurubo. Those who know the situation, know those were some of the wisest actions of the Igbo in their circumstance in Nigeria. The Godswill Akpabio aspiration is also another opportunity for the Igbo to show wisdom. The Southeast should support the kinsman of Philip Effiong. Some may even see it in the light of Nnamdi Azikiwe and Eyo Ita. Let the stories end. Let the southeast support Godswill Akpabio.
14. Back to the questions I posed earlier. My conviction is that most patriotic Nigerians, including our colleagues in the Northwest, believe that the next dispensation should be more inclusive of Nigeria’s diversity. That is patriotic. The last 8 years have been challenging, as many people know. Let the political leadership try a different approach.
15. I see an acknowledgement that in the last eight years, out of the three foundation regions of Nigeria in 1960, that negotiated Nigeria’s independence and unity, the old Eastern region was excluded from the height of leadership. I see the present effort as a way to reverse that and give the country better opportunities in the coming dispensation.
16. I also see this as an opportunity to address the feelings of marginalization by the Southeast. This is also legitimate.
17. However, Nigerians need to truly understand the drivers of the Igbo feeling, and how best to address that. While appointing or electing Igbo people to high positions is important, that is not necessarily an end in itself.
18. I recommend a dispassionate study of what the issues are, and I dare state that not every Igbo occupying a position will assuage the Igbo. Some may even aggravate the situation. When a people have lost a struggle, their reintegration is rarely achieved when they have leaders appointed for them from the school of, you lost your war, and I told you, but better from we lost our war and we move forward. That seems something Nigeria has not quite understood and why the southeast/Igbo continue to feel alienated. The British-appointed warrant chiefs were never accepted by the Igbo. While other people lose wars and run away as refugees, as the Igbo lost territories, they moved inwards. These are lessons on how to deal with the Igbo. It may not be different from the lessons of the victors over Germany after the First and second world wars. One delivered another war, while the second delivered a country lacking interest in wars. The commentaries post-January 1970, and those Post May-2015, were for the Igbo, not similar. There are lessons in these. People reacting to comments by their rulers in diverse ways is also not new. France experienced that with Queen Marie Antoinette in 1789. There was a famine during the reign of her husband, King Louis XVI. She responded, “Let them eat cake” when her people asked for bread. Again, Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, when his people asked for a reduction of their burden (1Kings12).
19. There are Igbos who due to their antecedents, the Igbo may not see as representing them. It will be helpful if persons from the Southeast/Igbo who emerge in top positions supposedly zoned to them are persons the Igbo will feel comfortable representing them. This is an uncomfortable truth that many people may not want to hear. For instance, where have the Igbo occupants of high offices been in the recent years of difficulties around insecurity and which of them could even speak up, or which of them are the boys doing those things prepared to listen to? Many of them cannot even go home, and many require extreme and exaggerated security apparatuses to appear anywhere in their home states. That is a lesson for those who believe that any Igbo occupying a high position represents the Igbo and brings value to the challenges Nigeria faces.
20. I want to state specifically, that if it is about the Senator who will emerge as Senate President and the majority of Igbo will feel that person represents their aspirations for development, that will be Dave Umahi, the current Governor of Ebonyi state. While not casting aspersion on anyone, the Igbo Senator-elect most likely to create a broad feeling of one in whom we are pleased is Dave Umahi. As stated earlier, the youths are asking for evidence of performance and character in governance. APC and the government she is forming from May 29, 2023, need persons with evidence of performance. Dave Umahi, and then Godswill Akpabio fit this.
21. However, if due to the ranking matter, Dave Umahi is excluded, I recommend a key position for him, in the 10th Senate, and even in the coming Federal Government.
22. Godswill Akpabio, is someone the Igbo will have a lot of confidence in. He is Annang in Akwa Ibom, and his wife is Igbo. Igbo people know who-is-who in the old Eastern Region, and can bet on him. What the Igbo want more than anything is good governance. In his conduct and performance as Senate President, the Igbo will find confidence in what he can do. Godswill Akpabio is also best positioned to address what is most important to the Igbo, which is development, and in this specific case, he should be able to deliver on a key Southeast/Igbo interest, which is a seaport. Godswill Akpabio has demonstrated an uncommon capacity for development and should deliver on the Azumiri seaport in Ukwa in Abia state, just by the borders with his Akwa Ibom state, and close distance to Aba.
23. In addition, since this republic commenced in 1999, the Southeast has had 5 Senate Presidents, while our kith and kins of Southsouth have had no Senate President, but one (1) Deputy Senate president from Delta state (Old Western region). In addition, the Southeast has had Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker, sometimes simultaneously. This period requires that the Senate President go to the Southsouth while the Southeast gets the Deputy speaker and other important and visible positions.
24. More important, it is time to end the Lagos Port gridlock, by developing a world-class port in the old Eastern Region. This should help Lagos become more livable, de-congest Lagos, and even draw some persons out of Lagos, as some quarters will wish. Indeed, this should be a national priority, that will also help the Nigeria economy. Smaller countries and economies in Africa and elsewhere, have diversified regions with seaports. Nigeria has no excuse not to.
23. I reiterate that what the ruling party should do is ensure that the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House is from the Southeast, where there are persons like Hon. Chinedu Ogah, Ikwo/Ezza-South of Ebonyi state, who has been acknowledged as representing his people excellently and should be encouraged to aspire, while the Senate President go to the Southsouth. In going for the Southsouth, Senator Godswill Akpabio, from Akwa-Ibom in the old Eastern regions, should be the Southeast and Igbo choice. That is what I believe the Southeast should support.
In the ending, I reflect on an extract from Michael Echeruo’s poem, Prospects:
“Where, O where is love? Those hills are not loved by me
Here hideout-bound
Watching alone the hills of the West”…, … “From east and north, The element lookout;
The hills are hunched up
Against the sky, bare:…”
Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba,
Umuezeala-Nsu, Ehime-Mbano, Imo State, 020523.
