Emmanuel Ukpong-udo On the Altar of Mercantile Journalism.

By Nsikak Umoren
The emergence of Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo as the political leader of Ikono has attracted intense media attacks. These are no doubts the handiwork of the few disgruntled elements that are not comfortable with the kind of inclusive leadership the young leader is giving to his people.

These elements are still in the woods, believing that leadership is synonymous to old age and that one has to bath in the murky waters of politics before he could be become a Political Leader. To them, leadership is opportunity to suppress interest of the greater number for selfish motives. It is a fact that they expected Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo will subscribe to their hideous intentions and leadership of selected few. They rolled out drums and celebrated his emergence with the hope that they had found another willing accomplice in the personality of Obong Ukpong-udo.

Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo, a seasoned technocrat and professional has a distinctive idea of leadership, having been exposed to leadership within the private sector and determined to give meaningful leadership to his people. Disappointed, these disgruntled fellows took to blackmails, character assassination, image smearing and slandering. They employed and hired the services of hatchet and mercantile writers, and wheeler dealer local tabloids to carry out their objectives, giving the reputable and highly revered Political leader of Ikono all sort of names in the public space. These are no surprises in anyway; trading on pull-him-down commodity is the preoccupation of failed and expired politicians. Despite these unnecessary attacks on him, Obong Ukpong-udo is focused and determined to serve his people. He philosophy is that “Not everyone deserves to know the real you. Let them criticize who they think you are”, thus he is not perturbed by activities of mercenaries of evil.

The recent of such media hatchet and mercantile report was published on the Global Post newspaper of Friday 17th June, 2016, alleging that the Political Leader is now herbalist and has since been dethroned, with a rider further alleging his involvement in immoral activities. These allegations to any sane person are baseless, lacking in facts, but only figments of imaginations writers who lack creativity and thus turn their barren minds to casting tars on hard earned reputations of people. Since Global Post newspaper has lent itself to this kind or journalism, it is therefore not a surprise that the medium is consulted for this hatchet job. But the writer of this treatise lacks basics knowledge of fair journalism, thus giving rise to one-sided reportage with no face or name to the source of the report. One may therefore asks, if the report was that factual and verifiable, why did the source not be bold enough to let her name on print? If it was that true, why didn’t the writer give his byline? It is demeaning of journalism profession that people could concoct information and let it go on print for public consumption as news. This, going by known standard and ethnical judgment is no journalism.

Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo in the eyes of sane persons has built a reputation and will never condescend to things that are not depicting of his personality. Those allegations are concoctions by detractors whose objectives are to distract the focused political leader of Ikono from discharging worthy service to his people. A man who has his people at heart and has gone out of his way to render sacrificial service to the people will in no way consider evil against the people he serves.

Those failed, expired politicians with impunity and oppressive tendencies are further disappointed that Obong Ukpong-udo apart from not toeing their line of evil leadership, does not dole-out his personal income to fund selfish interest of the few acclaimed politicians. Against their expectations, the young leader who is in tune with current realities is focused on building capacities, developing the youths and giving supports to the less-privileged ones in the society. He has so far shown direction and proven that he is ready to serve the interest of the greater number.

The champions of this hate treatise must come to terms that Obong Ukpong-udo is a leader with a difference and his ready to write his name in gold as a leader that leads his people to freedom, abundance and restoration of the glory of the area. He was chosen by the people; he is living for the people and will not subscribe to the desire of few selfish and discontented politicians. As a professional, he knows his onions and is passionately servicing the interest of the majority of the people of Ikono.



They must know that the position of Political Leader of Ikono is not vacant. Obong Ukpong-udo was not imposed on the people of Ikono as postulated by these failed politicians in their reports. He was rather chosen by Ikono people to be their Political Leader and he was officially installed and honoured by the people. It could be recalled that, the political leader of Ikono, Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-udo, after his official reception at Ikono, was honoured by Ibibio Leaders under the aegis of Uyo Senatorial District Leaders Forum and the Ibibio Monarchs ably led by HRM Essien Ekidem who gave him their royal blessings to succeed in his office as the Political Leader of Ikono. It therefore means that Obong Ukpong-udo is the recognized political leader of Ikono and must be given that due regard.

Ikono people are proud of the leadership style of Obong Ukpongudo. They are happy that he has brought exceptional leadership to bear in the area are willing to give him the needed support to continue to do more.

Those who are looking for the position must be reminded that God enthrone leaders and that they should look elsewhere. They must turn away from blackmails, image smearing and character assassination and join hands with the dynamic and visionary political leader to give the needed leadership to Ikono.

Enough of this backstabbing and unnecessary distraction!

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