Etim Etim
From my observation, many PDP members in Akwa Ibom State have been seriously troubled by the movement of Gov. Eno into the APC. The symptoms of these traumas come in various forms. But there are many coping mechanisms to deal with the loss of a privileged political status. I have been an Opposition all of my political life, until June when APC became the government party in the state. I joined APC in November 2014 – and that’s the only party I have ever joined. Based on my experiences, the following guidelines will help some of my friends in PDP who are finding it difficult to adjust to their new life as Opposition politicians:
1. Accept your circumstances with grace and equanimity:
The first step in dealing with your new experience is to accept the defection of Pastor Umo Eno with calmness, fortitude, and grace. Although his departure has not been a pleasant experience for you, it is important that you come to terms with the fact that the governor acted within his constitutional rights and that he broke no law. Many other governors have changed parties before.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelMr. Debo Ologungba, a lawyer and National Publicity Secretary of PDP, said this much on Thursday on Arise TV. He acknowledged that, by joining another party, Eno was exercising his rights. Akwa Ibom PDP, therefore, must accept the governor’s defection as one of those circumstances in life which you can never change; an irreversible occurrence! It is therefore impolitic for some people to come to Social Media and be wailing on why the governor should return to PDP; why he should return his mandate to PDP (whatever that means); why he is wearing a Yoruba cap, and how he has betrayed PDP. Such whining and wailings are all signs of PTSD, which I wrote about in my last intervention. Gov. Eno has moved on, and he won’t return. The earlier you accept that, the better it is for your mental health.
2. Opposition may be hard, but it is not the end of life. The experience could actually strengthen you:
In dealing with life in Opposition, it is vital to acknowledge that Opposition is not the end of life. Yes, you may no longer enjoy certain benefits and patronage, but if you are well adjusted, you will enjoy your new political life. You will, however, have to be creative in offering alternative ideas to those of the government. Opposition does not call for emotional outbursts and insulting press releases. Opposition demands intellectual rigor; calm, respectful, but assertive disposition in the manner you make your points. You may suffer financial difficulties, dejection, and abandonment, especially if politics or government patronage were your only sources of income. But you have to comport yourself and deal with the situation with self-respect and integrity.
There is no need to go about complaining about everything, from the shape of the governor’s cap to the number of his children in schools! You are only making a fool of yourself by indulging in unceasing bemoaning. In the past, Opposition elements in Akwa Ibom suffered all manner of indignities. People like Umana Umana, Don Etiebet, Nsima Ekere, and Ita Enang were called names, brutalized, and persecuted. Chief Don Etiebet deserves my respect for all that he endured, and yet, he has remained dignified and gracious.
Kudos also to Senator John James AkpanUdoedehe, who has lost many elections in the State and suffered untold dishonor; yet has maintained a great deal of self-respect and dignity. In those turbulent days when the Opposition was like living in bondage, some of us relocated our families to Calabar and Abuja, while we operated clandestinely in and out of Uyo. But that era is gone. Thank goodness, Gov. Eno is quite benevolent. He will never brutalize an Akwa Ibom person for holding a different political view. But he will not suffer fools gladly, either!
My colleagues and I in APC Media gave Gov. Udom Emmanuel so many headaches that he had to call the management of The Nation newspaper to complain about our series of articles. We were critical, logical, and very redoubtable. We earned the respect of the National Headquarters of APC.
3. Opposition is a thankless job:
No matter how hard you fight as an Opposition politician, you may still end up losing election or elections every season. The more you lose, the more frustrations and despondency will set in, and you may end up decamping to the Party in government. Before Gov. Umo Eno came into APC in June, many APC members who were in Opposition for years had moved into the PDP. The frustration of losing so many elections could be so hard that an Opposition politician could suffer a nervous breakdown. Do not be too embarrassed to seek help (including medical help), and do not be too embarrassed to defect to APC if you can’t stand the pain further. Pastor Eno will welcome you with open arms. We are all Akwa Ibom.
4. Be prepared for internal wrangling:
Opposition parties, more often than not, break into factions the longer they stay out of government. Serial electoral failures typically result in internal fights, power tussles, blame games, and factions in the party. The setting up of a Caretaker Committee to replace Akwa Ibom PDP EXCO may just be the beginning of the emergence of factions or camps in the party. I will not be surprised if the Igwat Umoren faction goes further to rent another property to serve as the party’s secretariat. This will further weaken the party. We saw that in Akwa Ibom APC and in February, I wrote a full-page article on it titled ‘’Akwa Ibom APC: Two Secretariats, many troubles’’. If Akwa Ibom PDP falls into two factions, APC will swallow one faction!
5. But who is the PDP leader in Akwa Ibom?
Senator John Akpanudoedehe is the leader of ADC in Akwa Ibom State, but who will lead the PDP? There are speculations that former governor Udom Emmanuel is poised to become the leader and financier of the PDP in the state. Many even think that he’s the brain behind the Caretaker Committee gambit, and that he is stealthily instigating, either directly or through proxies, the series of acerbities being thrown at Gov. Eno in recent times. But some insist that the former governor will never take any political decision that may set him on a collision course with the Tinubu Presidency, especially since Mr. Udom Emmanuel had assured the President of his support for reelection. If the former governor turns around to support another person, the implications would be far-reaching. ‘’Tinubu does not take prisoners; he crushes his opponents. Given the EFCC case the former governor has, he may wish to play his politics with caution”, a senior Akwa Ibom citizen told me, almost under his breath.
Conclusion:
Exciting times are ahead as 2025 grinds to a close. I look forward to robust engagements with whatever remains of the PDP in Akwa Ibom as the 2027 elections draw near. But I will not tolerate emotional outbursts and mudslinging.
Have a Good day!
Etim Etim
ETIM ETIM is a journalist, banker and author. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian, a Regional Manager in Access Bank and is currently a Columnist in Prime Business Africa, The Cable and Businessday newspapers.
He is also the Chief Executive of Stein Meyer Communications, a major media consultancy and the author of the best-selling book, "Akwa Ibom Heroes: Inside Story of the Fight for Abrogation of Onshore-Offshore Oil Dichotomy" and co-author of another book, "Osinbajo Strides: Defining Moments of an Innovative Leader".
