Not long ago, I watched The Cupboard, a movie that falls into the category of what is now known as the new Nollywood. Shot with good cameras, acted by largely good actors, scripted well and directed with eyes and ears for details. It is a simple story of a man who has four children whose biological fathers he does not know. Even his wife knows not the fathers of the children. They are all products of artificial insemination, a fact the kids only know after the man’s death.
As expected, they are disappointed. In their mother and in the father. They plan to go away from the family and see if they can survive on their own. One of them decides to stick with their mother. Her argument: a father does not have to be biological to be a father. And this brings me to the father and son I write about today. The father’s name is Godswill Akpabio and the son is Obong Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA), who left the banking industry as a vice president in 2007. They are not biologically related. Some will say Akpabio, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, is the godfather or political father of OBA, who for seven years, was Commissioner for Finance, a position no governor or president gives to anyone he does not trust.
Akpabio trusted OBA, saw him as a son and bestowed the exalted office on him. Like an average father, the governor expected absolute loyalty. For the better part of Akpan’s presence in the executive council, he played the good boy. But no thanks to the 2015 governorship race, things have fallen apart between the duo. The son disagreed with his father’s succession plans. Not that he queried the father’s right to support a candidate, he just simply asked the father to allow others run too and not be goaded into adopting the anointed. The result: he was kicked out of office as commissioner. And the battle-line was drawn. He was not the only one kicked out. Others who got the same treatment still link their fate to their refusal to back the succession plan.
Let’s get this clear: Akpan too wants to be governor. He says he is in the race not just for the fun of it but because there is a prophecy that he will govern the state. So, he is running with the vision.
OBA is not the governor’s only political associates or son who has parted ways with him. There are others who the governor now sees as wanting to take power through the backdoor. The governor is not happy with being dared by Akpan and co. So angry was he that towards the end of July he declared at the sod turning ceremony for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Akwa Ibom: “Christ did not say that there will be no Judas. Even our God Almighty recognised that even the people he worked with, and called them angels, that one of them was going to betray him. And that was Lucifer, what did God do? He threw him out of heaven. Has he entered heaven till today? Those who have betrayed the governor will not enter Government House.”
When the governor made this statement, the crowd was silent. Not pleased with their silence, he said: “I thought you would say amen.”
The people had a Hobson’s choice and screamed: “Amen!”
He repeated again: “I thought you would say amen.”
Again, the people screamed amen. He said that a third time and got the same response. He then continued with his story.
He said: “You empower your children so that they will be a pride to you. You don’t empower them so that they come and betray you. That is the lot of the world.
“I go back into the Bible, the Game Changer. I saw the story of Absalom. And I said may God take away the spirit of Absalom from our midst. Who was Absalom? The son of David, the father trained him and empowered him as the would-be King of Israel. Because of impatience, Absalom wanted to take over before the age of 30. He wanted to kill King David. And the King said, leave him to his fate.”
He then asked the crowd: “Did it end well with Absalom?”
The crowd responded: “Nooooo!”
He then went on to explain what happened to Absalom: “As a young man, he died, while his father continued. I am assuring the Game Changer (PDP National Chairman Adamu Muazu) and the President that those who want to take power through the backdoor will die. They will die! And the PDP will continue. In Akwa Ibom State, those who want to betray, who were supposed to be our political children, of course they will end like Absalom. But if they change their minds, then they will obtain favour from the sight of God.”
Perhaps the background of what happened shortly before the governor made this statement may provide an insight into those he had in mind. What I have been told is that the speech might have been inspired by OBA’s supporters who were said to have embarrassed the governor at the Ibom Airport when he went to receive the PDP National chairman.
In an interview with our man in Uyo, Kazeem Ibrahym, OBA diplomatically ‘finished’ his political father. He said the story of Absalom was quoted out of context. His reason: “If you read your Bible very well, then you know that despite Absalom’s behavioural deficiency, King David was still in love with him. I want to say that if the governor was referring to me as Absalom, then he should love me to the end.”
He added: “When the National Chairman of the PDP visited the state, I was outside the country. When I returned and heard the story of Absalom and the fate that awaits aspirants, I called the governor by myself and asked him if he was referring to me and he said no. So, I left the matter at that.”
He said he has rejected ministerial and senatorial positions and is holding on to this fact: In 2007, Attah wanted his son in-law to become the governor but the people preferred Akpabio. Akpabio has his candidate, whom he has not openly acknowledged. OBA says the governor is using the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA) to support his Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as the next governor of the state. Will he fail like Attah or succeed in choosing his successor? The governor is optimistic. OBA is too. He says he will take the oath of office as governor next May 29.
It is instructive to say that the PDP has zoned the governorship to Eket Senatorial District, where Emmanuel comes from. OBA, who is from Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency of Uyo, says he is not bothered about this because he will not be governor by zoning but by divine prophecy. It remains to be seen who will have the last laugh: the father or the son?
My final take: Let God’s will be done and the rule of the law must be followed. No violence; subtle blackmail is not a sin in politics. Name calling is part of the game. But please no one should act God.
An adage says: “Advice is a stranger; if he is welcome, he stays the night; if not, he leaves the same day.” I hope my advice is welcome and stays the night.
