Akwa Ibom Inter Ministerial Briefing: Teasing The Doubters
I woke up to repeated calls and a message inviting me for an Inter Ministerial Briefing, tagged “Tracking The Promise “. This first but not all together novale sectoral performance tracking of government ministries in Akwa Ibom State under the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel, is coordinated by the Ministry of Information and Strategy, with Comrade Ini Ememobong as the Honourable Commissioner.
I do not have to Labour myself eulogizing this lush media manager, nor reel the plush achievements of the Ministry under his stewardship these three years. It is not selfishness on my part. Of course, I should be charitable to do this for a friend who has taken the state by storm with some inconceivable PR steps that puts Akwa Ibom as a hub of men and ideas.
At the event , the first of two days in what organisers say is series ONE. Time was of essence, those who had what to say were expected to hit the nail on the head. As it were in the academic seminar the respondents in this case Commissioners of the affected Ministries were to “speak to the paper”. This called for tact, composure, and sensitivity. Sensitivity because of the plurality in the composition of the audience. They were not all civil servants. So you have no one to query afterwards . They were not members of a given political party, so expecting family syndrome such as homogeneity in thoughts, opinions and expression was like one sitting on a keg of gunpowder. As diverse as Nigeria or Akwa Ibom State, is indeed the audience.
The other intriguingly different feature of this assemblage is that, the host Ministry forfeits the right to pick and choose who and where the questions come from. With this, the one way communication model peculiar to militocracy was disbanded for freedom and democracy to reign. Indeed, where there is transparency, chaos is eliminated.
As it is the forte of the Information Ministry, there was a blend of intellectual optics called TEASER. Professor Peter Esu, Coordinator of studies at International Institute of Journalism(IIJ), Dean Department of Political Communication and 86th Inaugural Lecturer of the University of Uyo, whose paper I recalled was PERSUADING THE PERSUADERS: A RHETORICO-SEMIOTIC DIRECTION TO MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, yet again got his information tasty audience blushing with a presentation on GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY AND RESPONSIBILITY.
Premeditated as the choice of Prof Esu maybe, I never envied his assignment. How do you tease a bipolar audience of doubters? The government is always in doubt of the intentions of the media and labour union . The media and her ally in return doubt willingly the sincerity of government.
Melting the mutual wax of suspicion binding agelong rivals for meaningful discourse to take place, is a task no mean scholar but an orator general in the class of Professor Esu can do. For instance, he posits, the government has evolved beyond responsibility to responsiveness, which demands accountability, transparency, citizens participation, effective communication, service delivery, respect for citizens rights and preferences. He further urged citizens never to trivialize their power to retain or sack any government. He chided a candidate who on national television claimed there were no good roads in Akwa Ibom State. He craved a society that priorizes consumption of factual information above deceptive political rhetoric. To achieve this, the responsibility is shared : government, media and citizens .
Questions were pelted at the Commissioners. Beyond those friendly fires, were useful suggestions from some Journalists on directions to be taken to make presentations by heads of MDAs more receptive. An example of such, was data. Meanwhile the first set had Prof Eno Ibanga – Works/Fire Service; Dr Offiong Offor – Agriculture; Elder Aniefiok Nkom – Labour and Manpower and Mr Emem Bob – Economic Development, Prof Augustine Umoh – Health .
These were some of the questions.However, I present them randomly :
●Greenwich Fertilizer, is it operational?
●Nsit Attai – Okobo road is there hope for its completion. If abandoned have the government thought about the consequence on the people of affected communities and investors willing to do business in the coastal hub of the state as an economic corridor?
● How many people have this administration employed; What’s the mandate of Ministry of Labour and Manpower ?
●To what extent has government investment in Agriculture affected food supply and availability?
● What’s government doing with hardship experienced by citizens across markets in the State as every item as mfi (periwinkle), garri, pepper etc is unionized?
●Alleged employment racketeering and the reported fisticuffs between Chairman and Board members
Arising from these questions, came useful tips that will further enrich media discourse and Journalists can go sniffling for more. One of such came from Prof Eno Ibanga who informed the audience that Contractors whose negligence may have contributed to the slow pace of projects and delivery, beyond having those contracts terminated, were also dragged to court to refund monies received. This is under- reported to say the least. It means government is not helpless and definitely not an accomplice with those financial vultures with a unique strength of pouncing and flying with our commonwealth thereby inflicting unimaginable pains on citizens. Relieving was the assurances that work in Nsit Attai – Okobo road is progressing as well Atabong, Eket – Ibeno, and other sites as government does not intend to abandon projects. There was no objections to Mr Ibanga’s account, trust the “doubters”, you can say there is a closure on any of those claims by the works boss as reporters maybe deployed to confirm state of things.
Was everything all rosy with the Ministry of Works? Oh No! A “sniffer” , and member of the curious gang would appreciate Prof and his colleagues to present scorecards with data and tie projects timelines, sum to specifics. Do not forget, it is a parley with trackers, and they must not miss the track. Should they dare to veer, then it must be a man in the mold of American trained Paramount Ruler of Ibesikpo whose knowledge of how things work , rhetoric and rhythm was enough to silt up doubts and worries just like midnight blues. So proud of the class of our Paramount Rulers. Best to put ones best foot forward.
I like many were awestruck by the confidence and easy with which the baby of the State Executive Council and Commissioner for Agriculture Dr Offiong Offor disarmed her assailants. I had sympathies for her on a maiden outing as this, chiefly because of the diversity of interest that the Ministry attracts. She said Greenwich blends fertilizer on demand as raw materials are expensive and farmers go for organic manure. Greenhouse within the precinct of Arc.Victor Attah International Airport , is till date daring hitherto monopoly of suppliers of vegetables like cucumber, pepper, tomatoes and onions ranging from 50-60 tonnes; lifted daily from the farm site and retail at Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat. She also outlined measures taken to make produce available and affordable; farmers access to implements and financing to make agriculture a business rather than a pastime. Like her Labour and Manpower counterpart, their frank and honest responses were endearing hence they were spared.
For reasons inexplainable , Prof Augustine Umoh (Health ) and Mr Emem Bob (Economic Development ) escaped torrent of questions but I am certain they had their fareshare of quizzing at the syndicate session.
Professor Esu while teasing us preparatory of what will come within a little above three(3) hours of interaction said, “it takes the Ini Emembong of this world to think and thinker with ideas as this””. I agree. And posit, it takes a government who intentionally wants to succeed and survive the emerging landmines in Nigeria’s evolving democratic space to stay transparent, recruit right hands, remain accessible and responsive to approve and make periodic a conversation bout as this aimed at breaching the gap in communicating progress and drawbacks which are inescapable features of systems and government.
For me, I am looking at angles to knock the Information and Strategy Boss. I can’t kick him for coordinating such a beautiful confab, nor does he deserve a batching for intermittently being the Manfriday of his colleagues. That is the turf of the job.
Day Two continues today. As a break comes at the end of Series ONE to afford eligible voters the Golden opportunity to elect whose Akwa Ibom State next “Chief servant” will be after Governor Udom Emmanuel, may government and the public find common ground in discussing our developmental metrics for the good of all.
Akwa Ibom is blessed. Information and the media industry is inevitable. Cherish it.
Ekomobong Peter
Is a Multimedia Practitioner; Radio Host/Political/Social Issues Conversationalist
ekomobongpeter218@gmail.com
16.03.2023
