*Victor Antai’s Iconography*

By Tom FredFish

Section 192(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria provides for the appointment of State commissioners. The objective is to enable the Head of the Executive branch; that is the governor, to appoint some citizens to assist him in the onerous task of governance. 

This logic has been underscored by many state governors in Nigeria who upon swearing in their commissioners charge them to generate ideas that would propel the speedy growth and ignite fire of confidence in their ability to deliver the dividends of democracy to the citizenry.

One Commissioner in the Udom Emmanuel administration who is assisting the governor to interpret and drive the implementation of his 5-Agenda is Mr. Victor Antai the current Commissioner for Culture and Tourism. Since his appointment in June 2015, where he first held sway, as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and now Culture and Tourism, Mr. Antai has so far exhibited tact and reasoning in the two assignments he has led. 

As commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Antai consistently rallied the elders, youth and women from the 31 local government areas of the state to support the administration of Udom. He empowered many youth leaders with cars, skills and cash to enable them start business ventures of their own in line with the Dakkada philosophy of the governor. He was also constantly in touch with the traditional rulers briefing them on government policies and how it will improve the standard of living of their subjects.

On his redeployment to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, many people had though his light will dim, but they erred. Mr. Antai has proven that performance is not about the office one occupies but the person who occupies the office. He moved on to revive the Ministry which had lost its sense and taste of creativity over the years and introduced viable programmes that is reawaking the rich culture of Akwa Ibom state through arts.

The successes recorded at the concluded exhibition of contemporary Nigerian Arts and Crafts tagged “Usoro Uso” celebrating Creativity in Akwa Ibom is still fresh in the hearts of Akwa Ibom people and lovers of Arts in Nigeria. But Mr. Antai was not done yet. As the ovation recorded by Usoro Uso is still high and resounding, Mr. Antai gave critics who never believed in the creativity of the Udom administration an upper-cut with programme of events to celebrate Akwa Ibom State thirtieth anniversary; showcasing the enigmatic and collective history of our unity in diversity through iconography tagged “Orange September”. 

Orange September put in other words, is an attempt to reboot, re-jog and recast the mindset of Akwa Ibom people to who we are; people who are industrious, optimistic, hospitable, sociable and adventurous. Orange September is another avenue at social reorientation through socio-cultural affinities, propagating what we are and that if we stand up for what we believe, greatness is achievable based on the Dakkada philosophy.

It is thus represented by an iconography: “Colour Me Orange”. This semantic which irked some critics has spurred the youth towards the programmes and activities of the Udom administration and increased the governor’s popularity. Colour Me Orange is crafted in iconography that represents the soul of the state as it is beyond age, sex or ethnicity, political parties and foes. As the last count, over two hundred thousand youths have been coloured with more queuing up for tinge. Some have even decided to colour themselves with Orange T-shirts, caps, hand bands, bags and shoes.

The many activities lined up for Orange September are: Orange festival: a cultural display; Dise: a display of pictorial exhibition; Orange Musical Festival: sounds and rhythms of Akwa Ibom: Styles of Akwa Ibom: Ndoko Akwa Ibom: Miss Akwa Ibom Musical pageant 2017 and Ndidia Nnyin: a tasty display of our culrure.  Ndidia Nyin coined to showcase over 200 Akwa Ibom unique cuisines such as Asa Iwa, Asa Ibikpod, Ekpang Iwa, Iwuuk Ukom ye Ndise, Ikpong Aniimbo ke Ntuen okpo among others has attracted a lot of attention and commendations from many stakeholders who see it as a means to market the state culture and tourism beyond rhetoric.

Dr. Udeme Nana, a former aide to former governor Victor Attah who could not hide his delight for the event noted “Ibom FoodFest, showcasing more than 200 different local cuisines? Some unique thing is really happening here and one must commend the fertile brain behind this effort. Someone said the other day that culture and tourism is key to a more sustainable economy and I fully agree. All hands must be on deck to explore and exploit this potential”.

With the acceptance garnered by the Orange September events and the benefits it would generate, there is no doubt to the thesis that ‘commissioners are more likely veritable instruments to drive government policies to the grassroots’ as exemplified by Mr. Victor Antai. 

Though a plausible feat, because of the general belief that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism cannot do better than organizing pageantries, Mr. Antai should be encouraged to work harder. However Mr. Antai does not agree that credit should be given to him for these lofty ideas. He attributes everything to being a mere servant that is interpreting the ideas of the governor, Udom Emmanuel who has led the path for others to follow.


Tom FredFish is a Media Consultant and Youth Activist based in Uyo.