#2017 at 01:48PM | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

mbb-60 · 7 years ago

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The Ibibios are the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. They are also the dominant ethnic group in the state that contributes substantial part of Nigeria oil revenues. Their numerical and other advantages over other ethnic groups within the state is palpable. As a result they control the tempo of socioeconomic as well as political development of the state. Therefore irrespective of who is at the saddle - where the Ibibios lead, the state follows.

From early childhood I have come to respect the Ibibios whom I see more like their Ibo brothers in terms of hardwork, entrepreneurism, inventiveness and dynamism. My years in banking particularly in consumer banking sector as well as my later years in microfinance exposed me to the resilience and ingenuity of the average Ibibios. I can recall Mr. Inua Essien whom I met in Lagos and started out with a facility of N40,000 trading on custard and allied products; he graduated into enjoying a facility of over N30m within a few years producing his own custard brand. There were many others that made me proud in terms of mercantilism which is matchless in the South South region. In fact I call them the Chinese of South South. The Ibibios have also made giant strides in education and recorded remarkable progress in the military, medicine, law and other professions. Like the Ibos, Ibibios are quite ubiquitous with strong adaptations to any environment they find themselves. A typical Ibibio business man carries out his trade with high sense of integrity which has necessitated a long historical trade and supplier-credit relationships with their Ibo counterparts in Aba, Onitsha and Lagos.

When the state was created in 1987 with the Ibibios as the dominant group, many were hopeful that the new state would advance very quickly because of this great people. In all fairness some progress have been made.

But there is a dangerous phenomenon growing among them which (if not checked) might threaten the progress of not only the Ibibios but the state in general.

It is widely observed that the Ibibios go to great lengths at tearing each other down instead of helping to build each other. Although the sage Professor Ayandele, one time VC of University of Calabar pointed this out several years ago, the situation seemed heightened since 2014. I'm not talking about Internal competition which is common among people of every race and it is healthy to drive a system. I am not talking about healthy criticism which points out areas of weaknesses of a system or decisions with a view to foster improvement. I'm referring to bitterness that characterize the relationship between sections of the Ibibio race and manifest itself in offices, gatherings - even outside the country as it happened at Atlanta Georgia 2017, and social media etc etc.

Gloria Esurua in her recent article titled "Crab In The Bucket" captured what is happening among our Ibibio brothers using the crab analogy. She explained thus:

"Crabs put in a bucket, pot or basket, engage in a useless “king of the hill” competition. In this useless competition, each crab in the bucket, pot or basket has a very good chance of escaping, instead they grab at each other, preventing any individual crab who is attempting escape to do so; thereby ensuring the eventual collective demise of all crabs in that container. But here is the person who really gains from this pointless competition – the person who put the crabs in the bucket in the first place. Hold that thought!

The comparison (according to her) in human behavior to the syndrome described above is when a group of people or members of a group attempt to negate or diminish the importance of any member who achieves success beyond the others, out of envy, spite, conspiracy or competitive feelings, to halt their progress".

She inferred that this characteristic is associated with Ibibios who seemed constantly pulling down on each other.

Succinct as this sounds, the situation is not as simple as this analogy portrays. For instance, what can one adduce as the reason for the group of Akwa Ibom indigenes that conspired to front Barr Leo Ekpenyong to petition EFCC with spurious claims of embezzlement of the equivalent of $290m (N108b) by Sen Akpabio? Even when they know it is not true. Would it be spite? Envy? Or part of the inclination to shoot down any rising star from the state?

What would one give as explanation for why some federal appointees of Akwa Ibom extraction, whose appointments should have been a plus and avenue to drive development to the state rather see their positions as a launching pad to launch several vituperative arsenals against their home state government?

What is the explanation for the sustained vituperative acrimonies carried out against each other social media as well as in the papers- especially the local papers (which Akwa Ibom has the highest number in the country)? Sometimes I marvel at the kind of materials Ibibio sons and daughters write against each other, more worrisomely against their leaders with impunity.

In other climes the likes of Gov Udom Emmanuel is celebrated, jealously guarded and positioned for higher responsibilities. The likes of Fashola, Fayemi and Aminu Tambuwal etc didn't do what Udom is doing today but their people appreciated them and shouted their praises, the world listened. But just go through writings by some writers against the person of Gov Udom Emmanuel; take time and flip through the responses if on social media. You find out that 80% of the worst responses would be from Ibibios. What is the problem?

As I write Mr. Udom Emmanuel is steadily running a free education program in a recession. Even if he did nothing else, the dexterity to sustain this program at this time without suspending it for paucity of funds should be a great plus. Education is the greatest foundation for development. He is also steadily carrying out one of the most ambitious but technically auspicious programs of any Nigerian leader. The industrialization program which is the policy thrust of his government seek to move the state from civil service and oil dependent to self sustenance. It is on course. We are not in an "Akwa Ibom Got Talent Show" where one is expected to climb the stage and demonstrate some magical feats based on illusion. We are in the real world where foundations have to be laid on tough economic soils, studies have to be done to foster decisions and implementation have to be coordinated and carried out based on reality within available resources. This is graciously ongoing. While this is on there is also huge spending on basic infrastructures like roads, energy etc. Salaries are being paid. Gradually the industrialization is yielding fruits. Factories are opening for operations. Take note that these Factories are not standing on some leased existing physical structures; no, they are built from the scratch sometimes including connecting roads. This takes time. I expect our Ibibio brothers - most of whom are well positioned- to be scheming on how to buy off those industries and run them, or go into partnerships etc. But rather they deploy their resources to hire online charlatans and masquerades to de-market the program, poison the people's minds and subsequently future channels and markets. They also go to great lengths to demean the person of the governor- their son. Who gains?

Take a look at the national space where are we? Who speaks for us out there? When we sling ourselves with so much muds, outsiders view us with through the muddy picture, who gains?

I've discovered that this pull-him-down phenomenon is not in strict sense the characteristics of the Ibibios as a people. It is associated with the elites who see the success of each other as a threat rather than ethnic advantages. This problem has greatly affected the state over the years as leaders upon leaders have been fought to a standstill at home. Sen Akpabio only managed to escape but it seemed they are not yet done. I suspect they won't give up.

The contemporaries of Gen Akpan, Grp Capt. Idongesit Nkanga, Ewang, Nsikak Eduok and many others who made it in the military like David Mark are still relevant in the national scene but where are our own? Obong Victor Attah's contemporaries are in the National Assembly to use their influence and experience to speak for their people. The Yorubas have found a replacement for their leader Chief Obafemi Awolowo in person of Bola Tinubu. It is not because Tinubu is a saint, he is a man of like passion like many of our own but where are our own? We want to vilify them, pull them down, destroy them and as new leaders emerge - the likes of Udom we repeat the same process. As long as this process continues the state will be the loser because as a dominant group, the leadership to move the state forward must come from the Ibibios otherwise the state is doomed like the crab.

For the crab has a strong shelled body. It has the most powerful claws among its crustaceans family. Crab is amphibious - which means it can live both in water and on land. But despite this advantages the crab is one of the most unsuccessful member of the ecosystem. In fact it is facing extinction. The reason is simple. The crab simply has an active body but no head. Even its eyes are placed on his shoulders. Without a head to coordinate the body the crab is doomed.

Do I need to recount the advantages Akwa Ibom has over many other states? Geographical, educational, economics etc? But where would the state go without proper leadership from the leading ethnic group?

Little Ifiok, a primary 3 pupil asked his teacher:

Excuse me ma, if you mix Omo and Klin, will there be foam?

Teacher responded: Yes of course, why ask such a stupid question at the beginning of the term, are you going to pass this class at all?

Little Ifiok laughed and whispered to the other kids, what a dumb teacher! He said, how can you get foam when you mix Omo & Klin without adding water, are we going to know anything at all with this teacher?

How would the state get the required leadership from our ibibio brothers if they don't add water of love, tolerance, forgiveness, concession and work together even after any side loses to the other politically?

As the state attends the mature age of 30 today this writer calls for cease fire. We have faith in the capacity of the Ibibios to provide leadership to this state. Barring a few greedy ones and power mongers, the Ibibios remain a loving nation. They are one of the few ethnic nationals (apart from Yorubas and Ibos) that practiced mentorship and generational transfer of skills among themselves long before and after independence. There was also a strong culture of succession among the elites even the political class. Evidence abound in those days when you met them in Federal Ministries or multinational organizations where any Ibibio had discretionary powers. All these were attributes of people who would rather lift each other than pull down each other. In the spirit of the state's birthday, let the love and unity of purpose that bound this great people return. Akwa Ibom Isongho!

Signed: James Abang R828

Atte-Okiuso Village, Urueoffong/Oruko LGA, AKS.

#September 23 #2017 at 01:48PM

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