'Our Members Are Hungry, Our Members Must Not Be Hungry'

[Shola Sholaz]

"My brother governor, Uduaghan said our members are hungry and that we must put food in their stomach so that they don't stray to other parties. I am giving all the state chairmen of the party N1million each for lunch. Our members must not be hungry"-Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom governor, at the recent South-South PDP gathering OUR quotation above was taken from the impromptu speech made at the weekend, by Godswill Akpabio, the Akwa Ibom governor, during the South-South leg of the PDP's reconciliation tour. As newspapers all reported last Monday, the six South-South PDP chairmen all chorused that they were truly "hungry", and before anyone could spell Uyo, Akpabio gave a total of N6 million to the "hungry" chairmen for "lunch".
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It was an act that ordinarily should rile the sense of decency, but the PDP hierarchy came out in defence of Akpabio, who was also recently made chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum. Politics, according to the PDP was "an expensive" venture therefore the "small sum" of N6million for lunch, should not raise an eyebrow.  Godswill Akpabio has carved a niche for himself in recent times for his "donations" of funds and vehicles. A fortnight ago, he donated two SUV jeeps to musician Tuface Idibia and wife, after their celebrity marriage and just last Saturday, he gave N230m on behalf of PDP Governors, to President Jonathan's hometown fund raising project.
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Indecencies have become a major presence at the heart of Nigerian political life since the 1999 transition to civil rule. We have almost become numbed to the point where people literally do not seem to care anymore. But we must continue to care! And there can be no gainsaying the fact that in Akpabio's statement, is the underlining context and content of the politics of our ruling elite and why they continue to under-develop Nigeria.
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When he said the "hungry"chairmen should not be allowed "to stray" to other parties, he conjured the image of mongrel dogs straying from control; and who can deny that this imagery represents exactly how these local, governor tyrants see the individuals they impose as party chairmen and other party hacks; who often depend almost completely on handouts from their 'principals'.

[Folami David]

We all know food is important but when it starts consumung more than expected, it turns to another thing. They should take it easy