By Batos Nwadike
The rhythm sounds like the song we raise while going to the stream on harmattan mornings in the village to drive away cold and evil spirits as kids during the war. Our elder sisters and brothers taught us that. It used to be very lovely, and by the time we call out the words like ten times each, we are at the stream, warm. In our local parlance, we used to say ” mmiri, anwu, mmiri, anwu, mmiri, anwu” meaning rain, sun, rain, sun, rain, sun!
In this case, both entities share near similar surname, Akpabio, Akpoti. For this essay, we would use Akpabio for the male and Natasha for the female. Both of these adversaries, Akpabio and Natasha, came to the senate through the court. If not before the election, it was after the election. They share some similarities. We can not rely on their integrity to decipher who they are. They do whatever they like as in like a rolling stone with no destination. Akpabio and Natasha don’t care about what people think or see them as in terms of character, demeanour, perception, or outlook. They just don’t give a damn.
Take a read: Akpobio was a PDP commissioner for eight years in Akwa Ibom state. He was a PDP Governor for another solid eight years. He came to the senate as a first timer, and PDP made him senate minority leader. A principal officer of the senate. One morning, he abandoned his position and fled to join the APC. He didn’t care about his followers in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria. Is that not use, and dump attitude? Very, very cavalier in outlook and depth. Even in 2023, he announced his presidential campaign to become president of Nigeria. Many people, thousands glued to him, spending their time and resources following and working for him. At the crucible of the fullness of time, when it mattered, he stepped down for Ashiwaju, thereby perishing a lofty manifesto and campaign. Another use and dump. Natasha, i am given to understand she has one or two marriages to her kitty not due to death do-them-part but out of her idiosyncrasies. I hear that her reasons were not conscientious for abandoning the various matrimonial homes. To her, marriage may not be a sanctimonious institution but like a commercial arrangement. Hmmm!
Juxtaposing these antecedents, both man and woman have not allowed God and man to have peace in appraising and relating with them. It is evident that their cavalier world view leaves much to be desired or rely on. So, meeting in the Senate has front forwarded two extreme mannerisms that will never be compatible. Despite the Senate rules and ethics and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the battle was bound to occur. Natasha Udughan is the Ezenwanyi( Queen) of the Delta, and Akpabio is the tiger of Ibibioland. Both of them may want to cancel each other. Though the Queen coming from the Delta seas maybe very devasting with arsenal released to her by the other Queen of Ogoniland- Ms Joy Nunieh.
In Nigeria, character, antecedents, pedigree, do, not matter in the leadership selection process. If you have your money to buy nomination forms and the war chest to prosecute your campaigns, and the money to buy security agents and pay your way through the judiciary and of course little more for pastors and native doctors ‘ chikinah’. It is finished. One can grab any position, no matter how exalted. Therefore, what the fuss about sexual harassment or multiple marriages? The entrance of Mrs Uno Akpabio into the matter is purile. It is a widely excusiable behaviorism in Nigeria that men with one wife judeo- christain errorneous culture keep a litany of female lovers all over outside the knowledge of their wife. Mrs Akpabio may drag out her rivals if she does not play down her stand-off. Ditto for Natasha! Some more men may jump out with stories. This debacle may just drag and become messy because all have sinned and come short if the glory of God.
I employ the Akwa Ibom tiger to leave this battle, come and go, and chart the course of settling out of chamber.
Dr. Batos Nwadike( Oyi of Igboland) Is The President Of Leadership By Example League International( LELI) And Former Presidential Candidate Of People’s Mandate Party( PMP) In 2011 Elections In Nigeria.