•Victor Antai
At a time that Christians in Nigeria and indeed the whole world were celebrating the Easter Season with sobber reflection, a breakout Masquerade chose to dance naked in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. The most unfortunate thing is that this very Masquerade was involved in an unusual dance. The Masquerade danced naked even when no one was drumming for it.
Normally, if it were to be the season for that kind of dance, those with the drums would have been around drumming for this very Masquerade called ‘Antai’. Unfortunately, those with the drums were in Abuja, engaging in serious business of governance, not knowing that a certain Masquerade chose to breakout and engage himself in a shameful naked dance, unauthorized by the owners of the Masquerade and the drummers.
In an ideal situation, there should have been a severe penalty for such misdemeanor. Not just in the circle of the Masquerades, but in every civil society/organization that one chose to be a black sheep of the family. The Masquerade deserves to be punished accordingly and if possible, unmasked by custodians of the masquerade society for engaging in a very shameful naked dance in a public gathering, without respect to rules guiding the society.
Quite unfortunately, this very Masquerade has always been involved in anything failure politically, to the extent that he lacks the winning mentality to even know when a sitting Governor in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, is winning at every front. If not, how could ‘Antai’, the Masquerade criticize the Bulk Purchase Agency set up by the governor and his team to cushion the effect of the high cost of foods items and almost everything in the country occasioned by the unceremonious removal of fuel subsidy by the APC-led federal government?
It is on record that Antai contested for State House of Assembly Election but lost to late Nse Ekpenyong. He contested for House of Representatives Election, and lost. Contested for Senate, and still lost.
This serial failure of a Masquerade returned and contested for House of Representatives Election against the same Nse Ekpenyong and lost again. Therefore, it was not a surprise at all when he contested to become the deputy governor under APC during the last general election and lost to the joint ticket of Senator Akon Eyakenyi who contested for that very position with Pst. Umo Bassey Eno for governorship. The failure figure should ordinarily be very ashamed of himself. But due to the fact that he lacks shame and human conscience, he could go to the extent of dancing naked in a lonely Masquerade display. Shame on him.
How dare Antai curse a man blessed of God and his people? The curse is not even valid. The governor being a priest of God has all the backings – spiritually, naturally and politically to curse Antai, but he wouldn’t. He is peace personified.
I use this medium to send this as a warning to those who are planning to tow the path of Antai, to have a rethink and allow the peace we are enjoying in Akwa Ibom to continue to thrive. And for the breakout Masquerade ‘Antai’, stop biting more than you can chew.
*Mudim Enyong wrote in this Opinion piece from Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State
