Clement Warrie

Shadow boxing may seem harmless, until an imaginary enemy is projected. Then, the dark human instincts are revealed: cruelty, desperation and vindictiveness.
If the shadow boxer is fortunate to have quick reflexes to duck and weave like Iron Mike Tyson, the exercise can feel like a real bout with a real opponent. But in the end, it's just shadow boxing – a combat with oneself. And while the shadow boxer pants and sweats, the imaginary enemy is somewhere “flexing” and having the time of their life.

This compelling scenario illustrates the current media trial of Udom Emmanuel, the immediate former Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The vicious and tortured images of his enemies, pounding the air with hateful fists in a mad rage to inflict injury on him while he lies supine in absolute peace is comforting.

These hateful conspirators are more to be pitied. Udom Emmanuel is a giant slayer. It's puzzling, shameful, and indicative of indolence and cognitive dissonance that they miss this fact. Udom's successes in both politics and the corporate community are overwhelming, enough to reset biases and bigotry, whether acquired, genetic, or transacted. However, his pursuers seem to have the minds of a mud.

This reminders still sizzles. Udom’s reelection campaign of 2019 was a classic David vs Goliath pairing. The giant as usual was both impressive in aggression and reach. To underscore his readiness, the giant had brashly dubbed the duel “Warsaw Saw War,” The eerie and somber caption was a reckless call to arms. There was war indeed, but in the end, Udom triumphed, leaving the opposition camps completely emasculated and bloodied.

Perhaps, Udom’s greatest misfortunes is being perceived as an underdog. But even that works to his advantage. He likes to remain small and innocuous. But by God, he is a towering brobdingnagian fellow!

“Yes, he may not look intimidating and threatening, but he is not only courageous, but a great strategist.” Said Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN, in the book “Umo Eno, And IT Came To Pass” authored by Anietie Usen. Ambassador Assam Assam, the great legal luminary would double down. “He doesn’t look bullish and is not a tough talker who could say “who born dog “ but he is a child of grace and grace is enough,”

But his enemies disagree. How can a man so tempered in visage and mien, decimate his enemies so completely and fatally, column after column? How does a man not intimidating in posture, yet so simple and nimble in his fists, pack such devastating punches?

Mr Usen provides answers “Courage”, says Usen, “is his name”

The shadow boxers and the masquerades must have memories like sieves.
The consequence of which, to put mildly, is both tragic and disturbing. They were the same people who brought knives to a fist fight against Udom Emmanuel in 2019, and lost. They brought the “federal might” and that failed too. Now, they have their eyes set on another election cycle in the faraway 2027. This desperation speaks to the fact that, the wicked is perpetually restless.

In all this, one can’t help but feel a twinge of pity for the reckless masquerade recruits, stirring controversies in the social media. They seem utterly oblivious to the cautionary warnings embedded in the songs of the legendary Fuji musician, Obesere: "Egungun be careful, na express you de go." They are tone deaf.

As it stands, the likes of Fejiro, the lead masquerade, and his shadowy cohorts, who are bonded in a fealty of blackmail and mischief, are attention seekers who have lost their way.
Deacon Udom Emmanuel in his time as governor, if anything, was a shining example of transparency and accountability. Therefore, the ongoing media attacks on him are not only baseless and reprehensible, but likely to have as much impact as a drop of rain on a sunny day.

“The much I have known Mr. Udom Emmanuel,” wrote Ini Ememobong recently in a riposte to the ongoing media trial of his former boss, “I am certain that an attack like this shouldn't surprise him, having risen to the enviable height of a Governor and reigned for eight years against the wishes of powerful godfathers and co-aspirants”

The fact remains that Udom Emmanuel, whether or not, he is in the eyes of the storm is the coolest gentleman yet. A man of unusual courage.
During the stormy days of gubernatorial elections in 2023, Governor Umo Eno, then a candidate, having been besieged by lies from the opposition camps and put under undue pressure, decided he had had enough and went to see his godfather, Udom Emmanuel. He told him, Sir, let me step down and from this thing and Udom looked at him and say, “have you eaten today. Let’s go get something to eat,”

If he was under pressure too, he didn’t show it. A great man, like the chameleon, does not alter his dignified walking steps though the bush burns.

So, to the shadow boxers and masquerades, one would want to ask, “have you eaten today?” Because, frankly, the Udom Emmanuel you are picketing is a long-distance athlete. Have you eaten?

Clement Warrie is a global citizen residing locally in Nsit Ubium