Anietie Essia

The most difficult and awful job anyone can do is to be paid to be a spokesman of an opposition party that is trying to find fault by desperate means in an administration that has performed superlatively, far beyond the benchmark. One can only imagine the frustrations, the suicidal impulses, the emotional backache, the psychological trauma and the overwhelming sense of guilt consistent with such job description. This is the horrible experience that Akwa Ibom chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is going through, and to say the least, it's quite pathetic.

In an attempt to convince the people that they still exist, the APC has shown another survival stunt consistent with drowning groups by calling a press conference where its Acting Chairman in an effort to impress his paymasters, perhaps to find a way to survive this probation stage of his stewardship, lamely and confusedly accused the administration of Udom Emmanuel of not doing enough to justify the allocations collected so far; and equally regurgitated the vomits of Sen. Ita Enang on unemployment.

No one actually expected anything less from a party that is on a life support machine, and worse still, a faulty one. But as a responsibility we owe the good people of Akwa Ibom State and posterity, it is expedient that one should remind the APC that there is no way that such report of unemployment statistics in Akwa Ibom can be accurate with the avalanche of industries spread across the state; the ingenuity of our hard working youths and entrepreneurs, the self- Independence of our creative citizens and the massive empowerment windows opened by this administration.

The issue of accuracy in statistics is influenced by many factors. Before one can talk about the statistics of unemployment in Akwa Ibom, one should attempt to probe the basis of such report. It is also necessary that one should know the population of Akwa Ibom currently. Can somebody tell us the population of Akwa Ibom State or Nigeria at the moment with clinical precision? Besides, how did they come by the percentage? Was it a guess work?

When one talks about unemployment rate, what does it mean? Do we include those that don't want to work, and never applied for a job anywhere? Are we looking at those that are unemployable: without the basic qualifications for such employment? Or only those seeking for jobs? How did the NBS come by such statistics?

In developed climes, for instance the United States of America, during the peak of the pandemic in April, about 22 million residents of The US reportedly declared they were unemployed. They had lost their jobs, and there was a data collection system that validated such claims. So, how did NBS get their unemployment figure?

When a party is trying to discredit a performing administration by mere saying that nothing is on ground to justify the amount the Government had received so far, it makes one to wonder whether they are still living in Akwa Ibom. One of their respected leaders, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo when he visited Akwa Ibom to commission some of the signature projects of this administration, the Metering and Syringe manufacturing companies, extolled the dexterity and leadership qualities of Gov. Udom Emmanuel. The Senate President Admad Lawan poured same glowing tributes on the governor when he visited the state. Various service chiefs that visited Akwa Ibom could not hide their admiration of Gov. Emmanuel for his achievements so far even with limited resources.

It's rather disappointing that the party members in Akwa Ibom have eyes but cannot see; they have ears but cannot hear and nose but cannot perceive anything good. Is this not worse than being dead? Is APC still alive?

Again, the question that still task a concerned mind is, what is the relationship between Gov. Emmanuel's administration and HIV/AIDS prevalence in the state? Before Gov. Emmanuel assumed as Governor of Akwa Ibom, there was HIV/AIDS, there were STDs, there was malaria and typhoid, just name them. Is AIDS airborne? What should a Government do that this administration is not doing in this regard? Is the Government selling retroviral drugs? Have they stopped enlightenment and sensitization campaigns that are necessary to put citizens in the know of the dangers of unprotected sex and premarital sex? Must APC disgrace itself in every given opportunity?

On the issue of high school drop-outs, it is very shameful to admit that APC in Akwa Ibom has finally lost its bearing. When people don't have what to say, they say anything. Is it not very ridiculous to even mention such a figment of one's imagination?

As stated earlier, Dr Ita Udosen, Ag. State Chairman of the APC is trying to show the party that he has what to offer. But what he considers as his best shot is simply a frustrated effort to impress his party, peradventure to confuse them to confirm his appointment.

But being in the opposition does not necessarily mean one should always attempt to blackmail, lie against and smear the ruling party, even when it is performing creditably well. The APC should try something harder.

Again, by trying to defend a man that is rejected even by his ancestors and dynasty (Ita Enang), it is a clear sign that APC is like a sinking ship that its wreckage would be beyond remedy. The comments the governor made about him could not be faulted, not even by Ita Enang. He knows what the governor said and it shouldn't be a debatable subject.

It is very clear that the prophets of doom in the APC never thought that Gov. Emmanuel will achieve anything with limited funds, but to their greatest surprise, he has made Akwa Ibom people proud. That is why they are using every resource at their disposal to insult the governor. But what can the last kick of a dying party do to anyone? The party is lifeless, the pulse is gradually seizing, and sooner its obituary shall be announced.

Akwa Ibom people should as a matter of necessity ignore whatever the APC have to say. Gov Emmanuel is doing his best to ensure that the future of Akwa Ibom is secured, and by the grace of God, it shall be a done deal at the end of the Completion Agenda. As for the APC, it has totally lost its bearing, and a disastrous crash is imminent.

What do I know?



Madpeople

All of them are clowns.

Government doesn't have any data to debunk the NBS stats till date.

Now why have they never queried the NBS stats in the past?

Udom isnt doing enough