By Edifon ABASI-OBOTt
The Special Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Political and Legislative Affairs Barr. Ekong Sampson has identified hope, justice for all, bridge building, handshakes across borders and a prosperous Nigeria as the major ingredients that Abiola and June 12 stand for. These, he says are being driven only by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ekong Sampson, who has been an ardent disciple of the Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and a believer in the June 12 struggle, stated this while fielding questions with a Planet FM radio presenter, Sampson Akpan, aka “Politics Today”.
According to Barrister Sampson, components of what the PDP is also driving in Nigeria are what Chief Abiola stood for. He noted that Chief Abiola committed much of his wealth towards the prosperity of Nigerians, worked through sports, built bridges, paid huge sacrifices to make sure Nigerians enjoyed their country.
In his words, “the essential character in June 12 is the bridge building component of that struggle. I can say clearly that if Chief Abiola were to be alive today, he would be campaigning for the PDP because PDP represents what Abiola lived and fought for.
The Akwa Ibom political mogul said June 12 has become a rallying cry and a signature that impunity cannot last forever. This, he added, should be a defining metaphor for 2019, that Nigerians are prepared to participate in the democratic space and to defend democracy hence, their wishes must be respected through the conduct of free and fair elections.
He described June 12 as a strong consciousness in the country and said it is befitting that Chief Abiola and others are being honoured, but maintained that there is also a challenge for Nigerians to truly live the June 12 ideals.
“As we immortalize Chief Abiola we must learn lessons from the undercurrents that drive his imprint in history and defend what drove their essence. We must be able to protect the character of their struggles and, to me, the character of that struggle is embedded in the principles of democracy; that the wish of the people must be respected,” Ekong Sampson stated.
Furthermore, “we must show that we believe in the ideals that drive June 12 and to me the bigger picture is the bridge building narrative because June 12 brought Nigeria together across the religious, ethnic and other narrow considerations. That is the Nigeria of our dream,” Sampson said.
Sampson described Chief M.K.O. Abiola as a symbol of resistance against tyranny and impunity, and June 12 a lesson that the place for the infamous is the dustbin of history. He maintained that if anyone in Nigeria could build bridges across religious divides and ethnic matrix, as well as extend handshakes across borders, we can say Abiola was well on the way, but expressed regrets that Nigeria could not maximize the opportunity.
Bringing it back home, Ekong Sampson likened Governor Udom Emmanuel to Chief M.K.O. Abiola in bridge building.
According to Sampson, between Chief Abiola and Governor Udom Emmanuel you find two accountants, two leaders who are committed to history, with strong passion to invest in the future. He identified hope as a strong intersection between the two great leaders, stressing that Governor Emmanuel believes passionately that there is great hope for our state. That, he maintained, is the reason the governor is working so hard, talking with investor and bringing in industries.
In his words. “I got to know Chief Abiola in my early years as a sports writer. Abiola gave humanity respect, not really minding where a person came from. Udom Emmanuel, likewise, believes humanity must be protected and that is why the State government attaches a lot of premium to health care delivery, spending a lot of money and time to make sure our people get the best medical attention,” Sampson said.
Sampson highlighted that Chief Abiola built bridges strong enough to rally Nigerians from all tribes and religions around him. Governor Udom Emmanuel plays politics of inclusion. He said Udom believes that everyone should come aboard and build Akwa Ibom State. This, he pointed, is evident in the massive return of Akwa Ibom people to the PDP family, which he termed the superstructure that upholds the State.
Just like Chief Abiola, in Udom Emmanuel you find a leader who believes in sports as a major superhighway into the future. Just as sports in Nigeria then could not be discussed without mentioning the contribution of Chief Abiola, one cannot discuss sports in Nigeria today without situating the contributions of Governor Udom Emmanuel, Ekong Sampson said.
Also speaking of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, he declined speaking whether or not the human right law mogul would have accepted or rejected the Award, but readily said that Chief Gani would have raised some concerns about the Nigeria of today. “Gani would have challenged our leaders to play by the rules and not to be vindictive. He would have challenged us against impunity. Above all Gani would have challenged our leaders against indulging in acts that would compromise the fabric of Nigeria’s unity,” said Sampson
