By Samuel Udoma
When in the drizzly evening of Thursday, the 13th of September, 2018, news like a breezy harmattan wind across a guinea corn field, filtered into the grapevines that Prince Ime Uwah, an illustrious scion of the iconic Uwah family of Uyo, a five star business entrepreneur with the Midas touch, a core believer in the Divine Vision and Mandate of His Excellency, Gov Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, a hugely popular and celebrated colossus with an outrageously humble mien, a grand patron of The African Church and above all, a doting family man had rekindled his desire to serve the good people of Uyo Federal Constituency at the nation’s Green Chambers, it caused quite a stir in the political atmosphere of Uyo, if not Akwa Ibom in general and sent the social media wheels into a celebrative overdrive.
Within minutes of the whirlwind news, his upscale Eni Gardens resort located in the city centre was thronged with people of the constituency and beyond, friends and allies who came not only to confirm the cheering news themselves but to also revel in the drinks of goodwill which were aplenty.
A single piece of news about a single individual had instigated a near political tsunami in a federal constituency and inspired an outpour of unrepressed happiness in the recesses of the people. The people’s yearnings for a representative who would be able to be “one of them” was finally fleshing up and was being divinely choreographed. Joy was uncontrollable and by morning the next day, the political permutations was in top frenzy only that this time, the people knew who and what they wanted.
The torturic memories of their abysmally, under-performing and “sit-don look” Rep was about to become a distant thing of the past while The Rainmaker, who would open up the heavens to pour out and flourish their meadows was about to ascend the throne of their constituency.
Elsewhere, within the constituency tremors of true change was shaking the very foundation of years wasted in ineptitudinal representation, cabal tendencies and money politics. The dynamics had changed overnight and the perfect bit to complete the jigsaw of representation in the area had finally been found in the little Nazareth of Atan Offot.
These are indeed happy times.
The display of the polar feelings of joy on one hand and the consensus sigh of relief heaved by the people of Uyo Federal Constituency on the other at the news of Prince Uwah resurgence in the race is a testament to the representational mixed feelings or simply put lacunae that the people were forced to put up with for more than three years now thanks to the “sleep-through-plenary” style of incumbent, Hon Mike Enyong, popularly known as Baba Ntan. In fact, in a recent survey ratings, conducted by The Mail, a highly respected local tabloid, Hon Enyong was adjudged as one of the worst performing Akwa Ibom representatives in Abuja, an inglorious accolade only bettered by the “lost in Abuja” Senator Nelson Effiong(APC, AKS), who was considered the most dismal National Assembly member from Akwa Ibom since state creation in 1987.
Thus, for a top Federal constituency as Uyo, it could only have been “time up” and red card to jaded representation.
Like an African proverb goes, “Once on the wrong route, the best decision is to make a reversal and start all over again on the right one despite the distance spent in the wrong route”, it would be an understatement to say that Uyo was in the route with the wrong man.
A major constituency like Uyo deserves nothing than a true “Mayor”, who can easily identify with the people and bring government home.
It is here that Prince Ime Uwah comes in like a fresh wine. He represents a generational paradigm shift, from the old to the new: from delusion to inspiration, from nightmares to dreams, from alienated politics to people-first service. In all ramifications, he ticks all the boxes. He is humble, he is urbane, and above all, he is at home with his towns people whom he truly loves.
For the PDP, his choice would be a real masterstroke. With his business and social clout in the capital city, which is the domain of the governor, he would help douse the flames of negative vibes often directed at the governor. He would provide a readily accessible link between Uyo people and the government and the benefits of such a symbiotic relationship would be manifold.
As Uyo Federal constituency decides, one can only say, “Let The Rainmaker Reign”!
