AKWA IBOM POLITICS: UDOM VS NSIMA 2019: WE HAVE WATCHED THIS MOVIE BEFORE

The first time AKS witnessed a really thrilling political movie was in 2011 titled AKPABIO VS UDOEDEHE. But the movie was an anticlimax. The rest is history.

But in 2015 we witnessed the debut of one of the greatest political thrillers of all times titled "UDOM VS UMANA:2015". The film which production started in 2008 had multiple directors too important to mention here. But there were some roles that cannot escape mentioning like that of Engr Ita Awak as the colorist and Sen Udoedehe as choreographer. 

There were also extra 22 crew members code named G22 headed by Obong Nsima Ekere. That movie would remain indelible in the memory of Akwa Ibomites who were opportune to watch it live.

In the beginning Obong UOU was the lead actor. The movie was moving at a very flat pace and those who saw part of the script thought the movie would end with the lead actor being sworn in as governor. But all of a sudden, I mean frighteningly sudden, the lead actor swapped his role halfway and assumed the role of the antagonist. Jesus Christ! Who changed the script? Or was this in the script all along? And then "bad man" emerged not one not two but many. 

This promoted intense excitement, suspense, a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, anxiety, and nerve-wracking tension. There were hate speeches on radio, internet - everywhere. At a point the audience (general public) were not sure if the new protagonist, Mr. Udom Emmanuel would survive the role.

He did, he survived despite the scene at the election tribunal, where one of the actors - Barr Olanipekun (SAN) declared that Akwa Ibom INEC conducted no election known to man; despite the reverberating scene at the Appeal Court that virtually painted APC with a new color called hope; despite one of the most hyped "reception known to man" which was accorded the APC candidate, Obong Umana O. Umana on his return from Abuja after the Appeal Court ruling. That was the day all the literary elements of that movie converged. 

The scene was tension soaked and the suspense element took a turning point. Some viewers even changed their bets on the outcome because of the thrilling events of that scene. But that didn't change the outcome. I wondered why? A lot of people can still not come to terms with why the outcome didn't change. I found out. I would tell you why: and the reason would shock you.

Now we have a new film UDOM VS NSIMA 2019. To many this seems a new film. If it is a new film then the production process is already displaying an inherent defect. From what we are seeing there seems to be inability of the producers to conceal what film directors call the "Easter egg". 

Good film directors use subliminal messaging and hidden visual cues as instruments to foreshadow movie plots giving the audience that amazing feeling of discovery as the plots unfold. But Udom vs Nsima movie seems deficient in that technique and the outcome is already known from the first scene.

For instance, Obong Nsima Ekere, it seemed, has already assumed the role of the antagonist or what children call "bad man" in the movie. One would have expected him to be patient for the producer to properly assign him a role. In one of the scenes subtitled AKISAN Convention 2017 which was shot in Atlanta Georgia, he forcefully took over the role of the State Governor and delivered an address. Though it was a major Akwa Ibomites gathering he either forgot or deliberately refused to recognize the State Chief Executive - just as expected from a character playing the role of antagonist or "bad man". He went all out to demean the lead actor and stole the moment. But the climax of the movie is still very far away. Characteristically in most movies "bad man" steals every plot except the main plot (climax). You know the job of "bad man" in a movie is to stall, oppose, humiliate, beat up or sometimes even shot the "actor" in a movie but "actor" no dey die.

In that same scene in Atlanta Georgia the script writer introduced a sub-plot to give the audience something to ponder about. He introduced a more subtle and intelligent actor who also featured in that scene (His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo). In his own speech he observed the political morality of recognizing the state governor despite his higher political profile.

Please read the closing remarks of Obong Nsima Ekere at that convention and compare with that of the Vice President and see what is called political maturity.

In his closing remarks Mr. Vice President paid respect to whom it was due in line with laid down conventions. See below Prof Osinbajo's closing remarks:

"Let me thank my friend and brother, His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel and the Government of Akwa Ibom State, the people and indeed your Association for this meet and wish you well. Please accept the goodwill of all Nigerians on this occasion"

Compare with Obong Nsima Ekere's closing remarks:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you one more time for honoring me with the invitation to share some aspects of my vision with you. God bless Akwa Ibom State"

Hahaha! The difference is clear. I wanted to blame Obong Nsima Ekere; I wanted to say no wonder Prof Osinbajo has gone this far in life. Humility is strength. If the VP who is not an indigene has the humility to observe the "political morality" of recognizing the state governor in the gathering of his people in far away Atlanta, how much more an indigene?" Especially against the backdrop the same indigene virtually disparaged the same office during his thanksgiving. When this was pointed out his surrogates blamed typographic errors. I wanted to blame him but I won't because of knowledge. The knowledge that they are all acting a script inadvertently or by design.

I know Obong Nsima Ekere. He would not deliberately act in a manner that demeans the office of the governor. We all know that such action could draw some cheers from opposition elements and losers. But for a winning strategy, I doubt. But who knows what is in the script of this movie?

There are a few persons that truly understand the clinical choreography of power and its limits. Nsima Ekere is one, he has tasted it. The Holy Book teaches how not to seek for power. Psalm 62:11 is unambiguous: "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God" says the Holy Book.

King David at the most difficult of times still respected the office of King Saul and would never lay his hands on him. Because he knew that God put Saul there no matter what.

Acting regally but with humility and confidence portrays a destiny to wear a crown. This was how David acted. But those who would not wear it tread with arrogance and overconfidence which push them at the end to pass the goal they aimed for and move into peril. Both Absalom and Adonijah were examples.

But that is a lesson for power seekers; but we are previewing a movie in progress: UDOM VS NSIMA 2019.

From experience, no matter what the Holy Book says people would still act their parts in the script called life. For God has scripted this universe under specific universal laws and allows it to operate without further interference. It seems to me that it is not the role of some actors in life's movie to mirror their actions from the Holy Book. If it were Obong Nsima Ekere, I believe, would have suspected that the movie UDOM VS NSIMA for which he has assumed a role is not a new movie. He would have seen signs that this movie is a continuation of UDOM VS UMANA with a few changes in the castings. Above all he would have seen the last lines at the end of the script Udom Vs Umana repeating itself in the script in the movie he is involved.

Let's see the last lines in the two scripts in question as reproduced below:

"See what I've done; I've personally chosen Udom son of Gabriel, son of Emmanuel of the tribe of Onna. I've filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood--he's an all-around craftsman" Exodus 31:1-2

Is anyone surprised that the man is quietly industrializing the state? Craftsmen don't talk, they work.

The truth is that the script writer loves Akwa Abasi Ibom State. As a father He is pained by the paradox of deprivation and abject poverty in a state that produces the highest oil revenues. It is not in the script writer's character to make happiness an occasional episode in a general movie of pain. His word says that His thought for us is that of goodness. He wants us to be happy always. 

So everything you witnessed in this script is to achieve that objectives. The state must look inward though painful at first. Udom is equipped to lead that journey and until he gets to point where the script writer unhooked him, no one would stop him.

This writing would not stop Obong Nsima from playing his role. I expect him to even do more. I expect the same political hype, the same intensity, sometimes abuse and all the conditions and pressures that came upon the lead actor (Mr. Udom Emmanuel) in 2015 to play out between now and 2019. But at the end UDOM VS NSIMA would not be different from UDOM VS UMANA because the script has not changed. (Fade)

James Abang R828 Writes From Atte Okiuso Village, Urueoffong/Oruko LGA