By Darlington Okpebholo Ray, writing from London
The recent resignation of Comrade Ini Ememobong from his position as Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Sea Port is not merely a bureaucratic transition; it is a moral declaration in an era where decency in politics is fast becoming extinct. In a nation where political opportunism has become the norm and ideological consistency a relic, Ememobong’s principled departure from Governor Umo Eno’s cabinet stands out as a rare and courageous act of conscience.
His refusal to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the governor’s controversial shift from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has restored a flicker of hope that not every Nigerian public officeholder is for sale. In his quiet but firm decision, Ememobong demonstrated that conviction must never be sacrificed on the altar of convenience. It is no exaggeration to say that he has earned the admiration of Nigerians far beyond the borders of Akwa Ibom State.
When I first heard that a pastor was aspiring to become the governor of the state of my dear wife’s birth, I was deeply inspired. I threw my support behind him with everything I had during his campaign, believing wholeheartedly that his spiritual background and presumed moral compass would make him the reformer the state needed. I congratulated him when he emerged victorious at the polls, convinced that a new era of purposeful leadership had dawned in Akwa Ibom, the state I have always considered my second home by virtue of marriage and cultural connection.
Little did I know that midway into this journey, our collective dream of having a righteous man rule would be abruptly cut short by the unholy trinity of greed, cowardice, and self-centred ambition. Governor Umo Eno’s defection to the APC represents a betrayal not just of the PDP that brought him to power, but of the very people who entrusted him with their future.
There is a growing disillusionment among political watchers and loyal citizens who ask, quite rightly: what is it about the APC that causes elected officials to abandon their mandates and cross over in droves? What hidden promises or threats lure governors to turn their backs on the very platforms and principles that once defined their campaigns?
Akwa Ibom remains one of Nigeria’s most resource-rich and politically stable states. The narrative that Governor Eno defected to attract more federal presence is not only unconvincing, it is intellectually dishonest. The state is doing far better than most others in the federation, and it has the infrastructure, revenue potential, and human capital to continue thriving without bending to the whims of federal partisanship.
The whispers on the ground suggest that fear, not foresight, compelled the governor’s defection. There are suggestions that he panicked over speculated federal attempts to undermine his position, and thus sought refuge in the same political party whose national leadership has overseen deepening economic misery and social unrest. If this is true, then what we are witnessing is not strategic realignment, but a retreat into political cowardice.
As the American essayist Eric Hoffer once noted, *“The selfish are always haunted by the fear of losing what they have acquired unjustly.”* This quote hauntingly fits the recent political manoeuvre in Akwa Ibom. Defections, when stripped of spin and sycophancy, are often about self-preservation, not public interest.
In contrast, Comrade Ememobong’s decision is a luminous example of what selflessness in public service looks like. He reminds us of the timeless wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi, who said, *“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”* Ememobong has chosen honour over power, character over convenience, and the people over politics.
His resignation should not be dismissed as an isolated act, but embraced as a call to higher political responsibility. It is a clarion reminder that leadership is not about personal comfort or political safety, but about standing for the truth, even when it is unpopular or perilous.
Governor Eno must understand that the legitimacy of governance does not end at the ballot box. It must be constantly renewed through fidelity to promises, consistency in values, and unbroken loyalty to the electorate. In abandoning the PDP, he did not just cross party lines, he crossed the moral line.
Ememobong’s exit is more than a resignation. It is a rebuke. It is a reminder. And it is a beacon. As Akwa Ibom navigates the troubled waters of this unexpected political realignment, let his courage inspire a new generation of leaders, men and women who will choose the people over the perks, principle over power, and purpose over party.
History will remember Ini Ememobong with dignity. The same cannot be said for those who traded theirs for temporary gain.
Darlington Okpebholo Ray is a journalist, political and social rights advocate, HR expert, and PhD student in International Politics and Conflict Resolution. He writes from London.