It is often said that a patient dog eats the fattest bone. I really don't know how true that is when the patience of a dog to get a juicy and fat bone is related to human relations, particularly in a society like ours where dogs not only eat bones but equally eat its kind and humans brazenly covert what belongs to others either using brute force and intimidation or by hiding under the guise of hidden statutes and bureaucratic maneuvers to deprive others (individuals or groups) of their statutory benefits and rewards.

If asked, I will say that the patience of a dog is not really my take in human relations. Such patience in a competitive society and in a fast economy can be construed for indolence and ineptitude. This has been the lot of Oro as manifestly demonstrated in the manipulations and deprivation she has suffered in terms of reaping and taking benefits from government in our current democratic experience.

This harsh, unfavourable remark and analysis of my community stems from a recent argument with a colleague following the on-going lobby and hustle for ministerial positions by politicians in the yet to be named Federal Executive Council of President Goodluck Jonathan. My colleague had vigorously tried to convince me that our patience as a community, which he likened to the patience of a dog, had finally paid off and so Oro should expect nothing short of a ministerial appointment in the forth-coming administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He argued that the cycle of maneuvers and hidden statutes with which Oro had been manipulated, cheated and denied her statutory rights and privileges in the system had gone full circle leaving no more room for the manipulators. He said it had become obvious even to the lame an ordinary folks that important and sensitive political positions/offices has become available to Oro not necessarily due to power dynamics and rationalization of political offices between the diverse ethnic groups in the state but largely due to the patience and tolerance exhibited by people of Oro ethnic nationality in the political landscape of Akwa Ibom state.

In an attempt to buttress his opinion and possibly convince me that truly patience and endurance had yielded this important political positions to Oro, my colleague went down memory lane to the second republic during the presidency of Alhaji Shehu Shagari when Oro had both a senator and a minister in the then National Party of Nigeria (NPN) administration (1979  83). Those days, he enthused were the hay days of Oro in the politics of the then Cross River state and Nigeria as a whole. It was the era that political heavy weights and juggernauts of Oro origin like the late Senator Victor Akan, late Prof. Sunday Mathew Essang, and late Chief Edet Etienam et al wielded tremendous political influence and authority in the political landscape of the state. So influential were these crop of politicians that they became recognized as an effective lobby group within the National hierarchy of the party (NPN) in Lagos. A recognition that earned them the appellation “Lagos Front” by their homebase counterparts with whom, they had frequent political altercations bordering on party policies and governance.

Those who are familiar with the political exploits of these Oro sons will remember the lead story “Monkey dey work baboon dey chop” in a certain publication of the Nigerian Chronicle about three decades ago; the events and circumstances that truncated the second term ambition of Chief (Dr.) Clement Isong as the governor of the then Cross River state and instead the emergence of Chief Donald Etiebet as the governor in 1983.

Since the military coup of 1983 spearheaded by General Mohammadu Buhari that sacked the second term administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari up to the emergence of the third republic till date Oro has not produced a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (whether under a military or civilian government) neither have power manipulators and vote robbers (as in 2007) been disposed to favour Oro in her quest to exercise her rights and privileges to secure a senatorial seat in the state even where party power rotation principles are in her favour.

The tacit but deliberate exclusion of Oro from the power loop particularly at the high hierarchy of party politics and administration smacks of a conspiracy to perpetually put Oro down either as a means of pre-empting Oro politicians from exercising similar influence and authority as did the likes of late Senator Victor Akan or as a payback for the role played by Oro politicians in the “Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop” saga.

The question begging for answer is why has Oro not been considered or favoured for a ministerial or senatorial position in government in the last twenty eight years? The Ibibios of Ikot Abasi, Eket and Onna in the southern senatorial district of the state have produced senators and ministers successively; in the same way as the north and central senatorial districts of the state have produced ministers and senators relying on the power rotation structure in those zone. It seems an affront and a calculated political siege on Oro that for twenty eight years she has been tactfully manipulated; estranged and prevented from producing a minister and or senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Twenty eight years of human existence is the life of an adult. Could Oro have been crawling and not able to walk or speak for herself in twenty eight years? A man of twenty eight would have completed school and running with a vision for his life. Whatever happened to Oro in twenty eight years? What stalled our growth and development? What options and or choices (right or wrong) did we make? It seems obvious that the choices we made conspired with other retrogressive factors to deliver Oro to the backwaters of the state and national politics. One of our own, Prince Nyong Nyong had earlier sought answers to this critical question of when who and how Oro and her political fortunes began to dwindle and slide down the ladder; so much so that Oro that was at the forefront is now at the rear, perhaps satisfied with taking the back seat and what is appropriated to her.

Incidentally, no one has offered to proffer answers to the when, who and why of our retrogression and unending dilemma in the Akwa Ibom polity. I did promise Dr. Anthony Ikaiddi (who requested of me to attempt answers) that in due time and space I will attempt a critical analysis of the issues, not necessarily to get at any one but to relate our past to the future.
I disagree with my colleague and vehemently too that patience has yielded important political position (like the minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) to Oro. Rather I see indolence and ineptitude as the cause of our communal retardation that has robbed us of our rights and privileges and every opportunity we have had to take effective position in the mainstream of Akwa Ibom politics. Just as an indolent child who at twenty eight is yet to find his feet in the journey through life, Oro has been indolent in the management of her socio-political affairs so that her rights and privileges have either evaded her or has been out rightly taken away from her. Patience has no place in politics. Its either you are in or out; no sitting on the fence. If patience where it and the cycle of manipulation had gone full cycle as opined by my colleague then Oro would have been given a ministerial slot on a platter of gold. Unfortunately, that is not to be as information from the grape vine revealed high power politicking and lobby for that office to be assigned to the central senatorial district.

If not indolent and ineptitude that has retarded our political fortunes, what else? In the old Cross River state, a relatively small community of Oro had both a Minister and senator of the Federal republic of Nigeria. That was no small feat. Then, Oro had an astute, robust and vibrant political leadership headed by the late senator Victor Akan. He enjoyed community support because he had the wherewithal to muzzle and whip everyone into line. He had enviable political acumen and ofcourse the financial master stroke to turn political tides in his favour. He was selfless in service, generous and full of charity.

It was under Senator Akan's political leadership that Oro reached the apogee of her political experience to the envy and oftentimes consternation of her neighbours.   Because Oro have not had such political leadership in the last three decades, she has figuratively speaking been turned into a foot mat where every Tom, Dick and Harry feels sufficiently “cool” and comfortable to clean or rob off his/her dirty feet.
However, because Oro is yet not able to reinvent the likes of late Senator Victor Akan does not make her any less entitled to her rights and privileges in the service and reward system of Akwa Ibom state. I choose to use this medium to urge all our political leaders and elected representatives to critically examine the necessity and the call for an Oro minister in the forth-coming dispensation bearing the fact that no Oro man has been appointed to that position since the creation of Akwa Ibom state.

Speculations are rife that Oro has been slated for the position of the speaker of the state house of assembly. I am aware that two of our elected representatives have put themselves in contention for the office and commenced effective lobby for the position. WHAT FOR? Has honuorable Peter Linus Umoh and Chief Nelson Effiong not held that position before? How did it impact on or profit Oro? Permit me to say that the scope and reach of that office is very limited as far as Oro and her over riding interest are concerned at this moment. In states with overbearing chief executives, the speaker of the state house of assembly does not exercise autonomy or flexibility to the extent of being useful to his community except his family and friends. You recall an erstwhile speaker from Oro who published an embarrassing list of what he did for his friends while in office when he was charged by the community to account for his stewardship.

In the contrary, the office of a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has a wider scope and reach provided the office holder is effective and benevolent. A minister superintends over a federal ministry, sometimes with parastatals and a huge budget for capital projects and infracstuctural developments. It is possible for a kind, patriotic and benevolent minister to reach out to his folks with business opportunities. As a member of the Federal executive council, a minister is a member of the decision making organ that affects states/communities in the federation. He has access and ears of Mr. President. The struggle to position Oro for the governor of Akwa Ibom in 2015 is a national question and entails extensive discussion/lobby at the top. An Oro minister will help or facilitate our course. An Oro minister will put Oro back into reckoning in the political dynamics of the state.

These crave for what to eat (politics of the stomach) by our politicians must stop. As well meaning sons and daughters of Oro are looking and thinking ahead of how to position Oro for the future, some people in their intransigence are lobbying to be made ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What nonsense. Such office exists only for the appeasement of an individual, his whims and caprice as our experience has shown. Oro have had both career and several politically appointed diplomats and no longer wish to mortgage positions beneficial to the larger community for positions that satisfies an individual or family as a reward for political patronage.

Finally, I wish to end this piece with an issue of great concern that touches on our individual and collective worth, self and collective pride and above all, our esteemed heritage of Oro Ukpabang. Since I signed on to this campaign and self imposed crusade for the elevation of Oro political discourse and the advocacy for an Oro governor in 2015, I receive on regular basis e-mails and phone calls from fellow compatriots expressing doubts over my advocacy and alleging non- existence of a competent Oro son or daughter amply qualified for the office.    Oro enyi onwi o, onung onwi sa abak ku Oro is often how the argument begins. Often times, they challenge me to suggest names which I find difficult to do.

These doubting Thomases do not only challenge our intelligence but our self-worth as a people. When you have lost your self-worth and esteem, you resign yourself and faith to playing a second fiddle. We should rise up and awaken our confidence and self worth and be appreciative of ourselves. We must refrain from negative assessment of our people and cease to be envious of one another. We must learn to respect those God have chosen to direct our affairs. Yes, it could be you but it must not necessarily be you in that position. Why him and not me has been a major source of rancor, hatred and bitterness amongst us. 

As I write, one of us, a professional, technocrat and politician of note is desirous of appointment as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While the lobby for the position is on-going, our own people are moving from one power block to another seeking to scuttle his ambition by trading that position for a less attractive position. This has been our undoing and setback.

Oro, mbok yak itang ubok idong ukie gi bak ofo ma enyi
I pray God to renew our minds.