YOUTHS! YOUTHS!! YOUTHS!!! AKS GOVERNOR MUST HEAR THIS

                            
 

The memory of how Akwa Ibom State, between 2011 and 2015 A.D, was ruled and ruined, is indelibly registered in my sub-conscious. Our own dear native land, my beloved fatherland, was in disorder. Carrying of coal (our money) to New Castle (already wealthy people) or throwing of our commonwealth into the abyss was order of the day. Kidnapping, rape, intimidation, despoliation, destruction, devastation, wasting of human lives and materials, insult upon injury! What a chaos, what a damage, what a plundering or profligacy, what a wreckage! And what exactly gave birth to all these? Nothing but unbridled selfishness and greed; nothing but the hay-wired or topsy–turvy political ambition of one unconscionable, insensitive, vain, thriftless, heartless man. Kai! The fruitless, terrible and unforgettable years of Godswill Obot Akpabio. The years the locusts ate.

The above-described government made me feel repulsion at almost every Akwa Ibom youth I met, especially Ibibio youths who collected peanuts and killed their own. I abhorred, I detested, I despised,  I disliked Akwa Ibom youths, especially when I remembered the deaths of Madam Philomena Udonwa, the Ekpenyong brothers and all the pogroms then. May the Supreme Intelligence grant grandest peace and Elysian bliss to the ebullient souls of those departed ones. I so hated Akwa Ibom youths that, one day, I asked myself “Were you not a youth, and are you not from Akwa Ibom? You can’t hate or spoil what you have”. From thence, the meaning of one of my cousins name - Anieodiong (you hold dear to what is yours) – came to mind. Now, I love and cherish Akwa Ibom youths.

Generally and properly, youth is not definable by age. A youth is a young man or woman – a baby, a kid, a boy, a girl, a lad, a teenager, an adolescent, including matured children, including children who have children, and those in prolonged infancy (mkparawa emi midisonke). Children or youths are the parent’s flesh and blood. They are a union of the body, mind and spirit. As the universe is filled with mingled opposites, we have orishi-rishi (kuto-kuto) children. Some of them work in teams, some work in gangs. Stranger-than-fiction youngsters, tried and found wanting in everything under the sun. Youths of cross currents!

Sometime within the tumultuous period afore-mentioned, I wrote a piece on Youths tagged “MR. IMMORTAL, MR. INDISTRUCTIBLE: HEAR THIS” Excerpts: “That we all shall die is a granite fact and glaring reality. As time changes everything, including mountains and kings, no material thing except spiritual, lives forever. Be you who or what, one day you must die. I wonder if you (destructive youths) who proudly call yourselves Cultists, gangsters, Ndito ifot, Ndito ekim etc. ever paused and pondered over this last day. Whether you are a high-shouldered and mean guy, a cooked Pally, haard boy or Isakaba; whether you are Okrikpokpotio, Akpa-oduok-ikwa or you fak akpuub; whether you enter Illuminati or Church Of Satan, whether you enter Ode-Oshi or you are No weapon formed against me shall prosper, I tell you what, SOMETHING MUST KILL A MAN…….and if you die with your wickedness unforgiven, that goes with a domino effect”. I referred the snipers or sharp shooters to the Bible portion that warns “Thou shall not kill”, I also reminded the suspected youths of “The Achilles’ Heel”. I prayed that God, in His Almightiness, made them useful to themselves and the land of their birth.  I prayed that Jesus Christ who changes hearts should visit their sad hearts and make His Holy Spirit their guide.

A fortnight ago, the oldest of all the Sailors, Elder Aniefiok Nkereuwem, took me to a young man who was recently inaugurated as the current Chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Chapter in the person of Hon. (Prince) Daniel Emem Daniel Nwa, from Ikot Iko Ibon-ONNA. Already seated with the Youth Chairman was his friend and colleague, Philip Ambrose Philip. Soon joined were other lieutenants of his. I had clean profiles of each of them but limitation in this page allowance won’t permit me to detail them down. As a good listener, but not a mind reader, I heard from all of them and saw a sense of unity of purpose in their goal to develop Akwa Ibom Youths. Initially, ached and irked, I wanted to ask the Old Sailor “Da why do you bring me to Youth Caucus – a den of killers? You want to remind me of Peace House (that offered the opposite)?” But being a man who had passed through many schools of death and gotten certificates or, in the words of Commander Andy, having signed my death warrant, I sat on with the guys and even savoured a  beer. I didn’t care if they visited me with all the armaments from the Pentagon or IDF.

Youth time! A very exciting space of time between the vanished past and the unknown future. If you never enjoyed “your young youth of age” according to Zebrudaya, sorry, it won’t come back. When we were babies, we were petted, spoon-fed, spoiled, pampered and loved as nurturable treasures. What’s happening now? One of the youths, sadly, told me: “Sir, they used to say that youths are the Vanguard of society and leaders of tomorrow, but we had come to that tomorrow without being made leaders”. I threw my arm of comfort around him and told him “Governor Udom will engage you guys well”. Turning to the Chairman to know the aims and objectives of his Youth Council, he told me he wants to chart a new course for Akwa Ibom Youths, foster the bond of Unity amongst them, get them prepared for leadership tomorrow and make them great in academics, vocations and other self-chosen fields of endeavor which will create an enabling environment for the State because………….. “a State is at rest when the youths are gainfully engaged”. Good talk! He said, to achieve these, he has plans for impactful seminars, summits, workshops and media awareness. He promised to set up various vocational training centers in tandem with the government’s industrialization policy. He implored all Akwa Ibom Youths to rise and build a new Akwa Ibom under the able leadership of Deacon Udom Emmanuel. I enjoyed my interactive session with the Youth Chairman and his subordinates. It was at that juncture that I, suddenly and surprisingly, realized that me, myself, I (the young) had grown. How time flies when we are having fun?! Oh! Akparawa Idoho akang iba!.  Prince Dan Dan is a son to the late Etteidung of Ikot Iko Ibon, then Acting clan/village Head. He is a nephew to Professor E. U. Nwa, the CPC Chairman of ODUDU IBIBIO organization who nominated me as his Secretary. Dan is Eyen-Eti-Ufok. Instantaneously, I admired his leadership sagacity. He is an interviewer’s delight any time. I’ll bring you more of him, on behalf of Akwa Ibom Youths, in subsequent write-ups.

 “Build the youths - build the nation!” is a beautiful slogan. But how many youths have been genuinely built or constructed? The only youths who were built or empowered in the last AKS government were those who could do dastardly acts or supporters of evil. So many great youths in this State had been used and dumped, abandoned, side-lined, deserted, forsaken, inhibited or totally forgotten. A case of the proverbial usung-efere or signboard. The story of one Mr. Edet Tom Udo (Eddy Pedro) of Uruan Ward 4 PDP, is a case in point. I’m imploring Governor Emmanuel to practice what he preaches by looking into the pathetic case of this youth who is fast eroding to old age because of frustration. His Dakka-da philosophy will not see the light of day if he uses god-fatherism as a parameter to empower people. I had a chat with Eddy the other day at Uyo Club, after many years of absence and silence. A cursory look at Pedro didn’t portray the Amokachi-like footballer I used to know with Emmanuel Awaitam at Itam Secondary School. A holder of Msc Accounting, an Associate Member Nigerian Institute of Management (AMNIM) and a soccer superstar! Eddy was offered a scholarship with eight(8) other footballers by then Military Administrator of Cross River State, Col. Paul Ufuoma Omu, to study at home or abroad, but the implementation of the scholarship process was truncated, after Eddy was offered admission into California State University. He showed me all the signed documents. When I asked him “why?”, he told me “It’s the Nigerian factor. My counterparts in Calabar Rovers and the Acadamical Team who had godfathers left to the U.S”. “Ami mi sia mmenyeneke owo ke Itak Efe”, he concluded jocularly in Efik language. It’s also mad, sad and utter disappointing that Eddy’s efforts for PDP through the Initiators’ Forum is not recognized. His campaign in Port Harcourt for PDP was recommended by Gov. Akpabio and an appointment approved for him, but he was arm-twisted and the appointment given to Bassey Etim’s (BAFIL) younger brother. He also showed me documents. The job that Gov. Akpabio detailed Bishop Sam Akpan to offer Eddy wasn’t executed, despite the Bishop remarking that Eddy’s CV was colourful. Youth Edet Tom Udo never benefited from Akpabio’s government up to this Udom’s Government, which his heart still hugely goes out to. Even if this write-up serves as an S.O.S, I’m pleading with the Governor to remember Mr. Edet Tom Udoh, even those who worked for Akpabio, since Governor Udom is a beneficiary of the Akpabio Government. Eddy should be compensated in one way or another. With the Youth Chairman’s statement - “When the youths are engaged, the State is at rest” and the Governor’s name “God with us”, I believe my appeal will not go unnoticed or un-implemented.

I am not a youth and I don’t want to go back there. There’s joy in fatherhood and I am delighted in it although when I looked at my handsomely boyish face the other day, I felt I should return. Ah! What’s wrong with a full-fledged, bloody young dude? My hairs are getting thinner, my sight shorter; my face is getting saggier, my tummy protruded (but not from mbiam). Thanks be to God, children are not frightened by my looks. I am a middle-ager. How I enjoyed my intercourse with the Youths Chairman and his peers. Youths with good acumen. When they saw my grey hairs and called me “Oga”, “Ette”, “Chief”, I felt rejuvenated but, above all, respected. I am a “Senior”, I am an Elder, and a proud one at that.

Youths or children never came from African-Oil-Bean Tree (Ndito Ikisakkake K’ukana). Let me write on those who begot them – their origin or source. Yes, the father or mother of any youth was once a youth but now known, called and addressed as parents. In this context, I am referring to biological parents not the foster, custodial or surrogate ones. I’m writing about birth parents - the procreators or progenitors. Some youths have mothers and fathers, some mummies and daddies. Lucky youths! Hear how two students defined P.T.A: Personal Travelling Allowance “and” Poor Tired Adults”. Poor Tired Parents indeed. Dem don hear “whee”, dem don chi chunchin.

Being a good parent has never been all that easy. For one thing, babies came into the world with no instructions, no rules and regulations, no law, no commandments, no constitutions, no charter and, as they are maddeningly complex, there are no guaranteed formulas or successful techniques in bringing them up. Many parents, including Yours Aniefiokly, do not understand the frustrating aspect of child-rearing, because they have never experienced it. They tell the children: “follow my footsteps” without remembering some of the wrong steps they took. We have children who cause the parents’ progress and we have those who cause them to stumble backward. We have children who make their parents look younger and those who make their parents reach old age sooner, we have heart-breakers and life-savers, we have children or youths who are tough as nails and twice as sharp. These ones are not compliant but rebellious; they do their own bidding; in other words, they supervise themselves. They dilute family values. I’m still blaming the parents who over-pamper their children; parents who, instead of bringing up their young ones, turn to finance them. No! if you promised a child a cake, give it to him; if you promised a cane, give it to him. The love of flowers and vegetables alone doesn’t make you a good gardener, you must also hate weeds. To avoid parental burnout, Mom and Dad, do not run your household as if it were a democracy where everyone has equal say, including children. Do not, because you want society to know your level of opulence or affluence, give unreserved and undeserved valuables to your children. They will use them and indulge in crimes, escapades, corruptible influences etc. These rare gifts from God, our lovely children, are possessions to train and teach. They need our time and love.

We also have very good children but, truth be told, there’s nothing simple about human beings, generally…. human beings of any age. People are the hardest things on earth to manage. We have to “kpad” them like “eka ekpo”. You need to experience the frustrations that parents are going through each passing day. When the kids are hungry, you ask “ndito edidia nso?”  Since Adam and Eve graced the garden, statistics has shown that over 77 billion people lived on this earth, yet parents are still nervous about bringing up their offspring. I know there are pressures associated with being a responsible parent, but no father should be looked down upon by a son (let me use males). Parenting is not for cowards.

Do not go farther, fathers. Young people should be well led, fed, clothed, helped, sheltered, ignored and chestized, necessarily. Where were you when your children rebelled and started smoking, drinking and playing around with sex? You don’t even check the way they dress or the movies they watch. In our days, virginity was in style. Today, in broad daylight, we see prostitutes flaunting or advertising their services. Our culture and character are walking miles apart and un-consonantly manners and morals are left out of the picture. Weird and unusual people shamelessly exist amidst decent people. Homosexuals or Gays, Lesbians, name them. They are everywhere, even in churches, pretending to live a fairly clean life. Poor parental control, a loose world, greed (not unemployment or lack of funds) open doors for youths, and they leisurely walk in. Drug addicts, brigands, whores, assassinators, walking through the valley of the shadow…..

What in heaven’s name have we allowed to happen to our youths? Why are good parents’ children reckless, deviant or awry-gone? Is this the value system that served us well some decades ago? Which type of world are our children growing up in? Was the task of procreation intended to be burdensome? Is the fault the children’s? I say No! We don’t have to blame the children but the teachers for they taught the children; and we should, moreover, blame the parents for they are the first teachers.

Although values are now in the valleys, we still have places where traditional values are honoured. Millions of kids still want to do “right things right”. But dangerous enticements - I want to cruise in the latest automobile in town, I want to date Miss World, I want to be this, that and the other - are there too, and anxious parents know it.

My “thumps-up!” go to those parents, especially those moral pivots (mothers) who bore the pains alone, and whose love and commitment to their children are incalculable – disciplining, feeding, medicating, educating etc!. “Train up a child in the way he should go…..“, they take as their maternal anthem and creed. Throughout the scriptures, it is quite clear that the raising of children was viewed as a wonderful blessing from God - a welcome, joyful experience. And today, it remains the greatest of privileges in living to bring a baby into the world: a bundle of joy, a vulnerable little human being who looks to us for all needs. What a wonderful opportunity it is to teach these little ones to love God with all their hearts and to serve their fellow men throughout their lives. There’s no higher calling than that. Eka-Usen Mmi, The Phenomenal Mother, I love you, even in death. Can I forget the man who gave me life and taught me how to live it – my father? A man I like describing as a two-fisted, no nonsense, he-man! I celebrate you, late Pa Edayt Essah Okporkpor of Nung Abia Abinyoho Uta-ekpe in Obong Itam. I extol you, I put the flags out for you, all parents.

Youths Day, May 27 of this year, comes up next Saturday. Happy children’s day, Akwa Ibom and Nigerian youths in particular and global youths in general. Two days after Youths Day, will be Nigeria’s Democracy day (May 29). A myriad of accolades, encomiums, adorned superlatives, instead of uncompromised truth, awaits helmsmen’s scorecards. Sycophants or praise-singers are going to have a field day; advertisers on print and electronic media are going to smile home with good cash. While reserving my testimonial on our can-do Governor for another day, let me not deviate from my script on youths. Dear Governor and Government of Akwa Ibom, with a humble heart on bended knees, I plead with you, engage and treat our youths right.  As elections are around the corner, use every available publicity outlet to warn our youths against violence. If any sonofabitch needs people to kill other people for his political ambition, let government tell such a daft folk to use his own wife and children, not Akwa Ibom youths. A society that hates it’s youths, Akwa Ibom State Government should remember, has no future.

Great exuberant Akwa Ibom youths, stars do not struggle, they only shine. Keep doing it right! Have respect for Elders and constituted authorities. Ideas are better than guns; drop your arms, if you have any. I say STOP KILLING, after all, if a gun is aimed at you or your loved one now, you would prostate and say “Abeg, Sir, Don’t Shoot!” Mother Theresa said “if we do not know peace, it is only because we have forgotten justice and the love of each other”. Life, to everyone, is enjoyable. Do unto others what you would done to you. Join me to love beyond borders by fighting, peacefully, the cause of the oppressed, suppressed, depressed and distressed masses. If government cannot duty-boundly rise up for your development, wait on God, and put into practice these lyrics of legendary Robert Nesta Marley: “Life is one big road with lots of signs. So, when you ride through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts; put your vision to reality. Wake up and live”. Youths, I write this with love from the innermost recess of my heart. A word to a witty head is superfluous. Cheers!     

BY: ANIEFIOK ESSAH - 08020945205