MKO... ‘is Our Man’
For those of us who could afford radio at that time, that was the mantra. MKO, is our man ooooooo. He was truly our man. Rich, extravagant, kind with expansive mood. He loved Nigeria and showed this by having wives in every nook and cranny of the country. Even those in Akwa Ibom were represented in the harem. It was truly federal character. He contested the elections and carried out a very colourful campaign touching everybody and every geographical location bringing Nigerians together in unity and a true sense of purpose. He was a lovable stammerer. We all were touched and we all responded with our votes, giving him the election which was adjudged as the freest and fairest. Then these people struck, they cancelled the elections and threw the country into a dangerous precipice of uncertainty. Some of us jumped on Ikorodu road, carrying leaves and singing war songs while the Igbo ran back to the east in fear of a resurgence of the evil civil war. It took the short and ugly Abacha to quell the uprising throwing us into the worse period we have faced since the civil war. Today June 12 is being celebrated for whatever reasons and the MAN who made this all very possible is also being celebrated as a true hero of democracy in this our beleaguered country. For me, I am celebrating with a big bowl of afang and fufu. Sorry, I did not mention my mother is in Lagos all the way from Uyo to celebrate June 12 with me. She has cooked some very lovely afang with periwinkle and what we in Uyo call ‘Ekwong’. June 12 is more than a public holiday; it is now spiritual defeating the selfish purpose of declaring it – a leverage for the last elections. Today and forever we will always shout hallelujah and better express our resolve to remain free. Thank you.