"The criterion for serving one's country should be competence, courage and willingness to serve" - Dianne Fienstein"
The general sentiment that Akwa Ibom has grown into the world has become a believable norm especially with the renewed consciousness and commitment with which things are done, conscious of the fact that for the society to stay sane enough to meet the challenges that lies in wait, we must evolve smart choices, if this growth must be sustained.Today, that move towards sanitizing our clime has begun and in earnest our rise to greatness is in no doubt, as the leading class has grown to the realization that leadership is in no way a profession but a calling only bestowed on people who are ready to accommodate the discomfort, which accompanies it.
Gone then are the days when quota and gender considerations formed the basis of allowing people into positions of responsibilities, an idea that saw less qualified and sensitive individuals occupying positions they never should have been allowed as interns let alone stand behind the trigger.
The state congress of the Peoples Democratic Party may have come and gone but its impression on the political past, heritage and future of the state will sure form an enduring history that will put our generation on the landmark of socio-political renaissance, where every stakeholder has his rightful due.
Remarkably, the choice of Com. Ini Ememobong as publicity secretary of the party in the state is most celebrated across the media and public domain as a decision that would not only serve the party but the society, from the mechanization of left wing thought merchants.
With the PDP which in times past paid lesser mind to competence in a role as pivotal as the image maker, now waking to the realities of building a platform that is assured of the people's confidence, it is fit to accept the cliché "desperate times requires desperate measures". Such desperate measure is the return of power to the people.
The believe that the "majority will always have their way while the minority have their say" has been de-emphasized with Ememobong's emergence, as the majority in the state is set to have both a way and say, to keep the people from the minority's say, which has over time grown toxic and unfit for consumption.
With Ini Ememobong; a choice too many, the party can now coast round town with the satisfaction of occupying a robust media space where the antics of bookmakers who delight in negative publicity will be dispelled and dwarfed with the truth which every society must grow with.
It is instructive that this emergence has availed every Ahab of falsehood and blackmail, an Elijah, to put their antics to naught and total defeat, in a bid to liberate the Akwa Ibom masses from misinformed views of a few who hitherto had their say. Lo, the birth of a peoples' perspective to every lie told against their genuine intentions.
Recall the opposition's toxic publicity during the 2015 elections and the litigations regime. All that is as good as long gone and overcome, as PDP has repositioned to accomplish the cravings of the 21st century political party media wing, which would be nothing short of people oriented and development minded.
Conscience guided media practice has been redefined from allowing the truth sort itself out to telling the truth with a stronger voice and at a quicker pace that lies would quiver and diminish. This is one role the Ibiono Ibom born publicity secretary had long prepared for, having served as Chief Press Secretary to the then Speaker Nigerian Youth Parliament, Barr. Onofiok Luke, at a time left wing media practitioners were out to malign his person.
The mastery and vigor with which he redeemed the media image of the now Speaker of the State House of Assembly proves Ini Ememobong a courageous and willing fellow in ensuring whatever he puts his hands in, comes out well. Same testimony has greeted all his engagements and subsequent assignments.
As President National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at a time the nation's ivory association was in crisis, he displayed an unusual push in ensuring the image of NANS was redeemed and not minding what force he had to contend with, he showed he was ready to put his life on the line, provided the image of was laundered.
June 12, 2013 leaves an unforgettable mark in the minds of Akwa Ibom students, but the event of that day stirred the need in government circles to restructure the then prevailing sour relationship. His willingness to deliver, informed his appointment as Special Assistant on students matters to former Governor Godswill Akpabio, at a time students-government relationship could have been said to be no longer at ease.
His re-appointment by Governor Udom Emmanuel as Special Assistant on Political Matters at a time the political cloud in the state got so thick, in many ways contributed to the calm which sooner than expected prevailed; as he refused to stay behind, but lead from the thick clouds to dispel every flame that had sought to put the state in political disharmony.
Peggy Noonan's assertion that, "sincerity and competence is everything in politics" is no consolation for nothing, as the acceptance from people across party lines, age and social strata points clearly to the renewed confidence the party has built through this single act of ensuring the best hands now handles the party media wing.
The media space is awash with comments from people across Nigeria in appreciation of the PDP's choice of Ini Ememobong as publicity secretary, this has shown how much confidence the society reposes in his person and character.
With this tested and proven hands at the helm of the party's media affairs; it is safe to trust that PDP is not only ready to retain its leadership of the state, but has been repositioned to take back leadership at the center through robust media engagement, which will bring every stakeholder to offer contributions towards making the society a better place.
This emergence, which could pass for a media rebirth in PDP, is an era that will change the party's narrative and replace every lies with convincing truth, to invigorate the party's electoral fortunes beyond Akwa Ibom.
While welcoming on board the face of 21st century media relations and innovation, we can spiritedly pray that Com. Ini Ememobong's path be smooth and his challenges surmountable, as the people grab their seats awaiting the expected victory.
Samuel Ayara writes in from Ibong Otoro in Abak Local Government Area
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