The horse-trading, intrigues and political maneuvering that characterised the Speakership tussle in Cross River State and the eventual emergence of Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem as the Speaker of the House of Assembly have left more to be desired, as political pundits have described it as a return of the people’s prevailing power of leadership selection.
A juxtaposition of the two contenders suffice to say that it was a David versus Goliath battle. And if biblical accounts of the above are anything to go by, the will of God, through the overwhelming goodwill and acceptance of the people, has prevailed upon Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem to be speaker of the legislative arm of government.
As the heat of the tussle raged on, two clear pictures were staring at the faces of political stakeholders. These pictures portrayed the characteristics that made and marred the winner and loser of the speaker battle, respectively.
The picture, on one hand, was depicted one contender as one with a gerontocratic inclination and entitlement mentality who boasted and relied on connections in high places to enthrone him speaker at the end of the day. Such a Nigeria-like situation. His loss lends credence to Dwight Eisenhower’s philosophy, which holds that “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”
On the other hand, was a candidate who clearly fitted for a son of a nobody, relying on the power of the people and his humble, receptive and egalitarian dispositions, which had endeared him to all, as his only arsenal to the fray.
At the end, the people will prevailed over gerontocracy and the son of a nobody has emerged leader of a critical arm of government called the legislature.
A critical take home from the Speakership tussle that engulfed us in the last week’s remains the postulation that “a receptive mind is a great asset in the threshold of a career.”
Elvert Ayambem came into the Assembly in 2019, subjected himself to learning the legislative robes and making genuine affinities. He has always worn that wry smile and exuded a lovable mien. Today, his contributions to legislations, endearing trustworthiness and humility in leadership pitted him to be speaker, against all odds, above other lawmakers also very qualified for that position. The whole situation, to me, is a learning curve. May we learn from it.
As we look forward to an independent legislature under Rt. Hon. Ayambem, to carry out it statutory responsibilities of lawmaking, checks and balances, as well as oversight functions, it is my hope that he leads well, so that at the end of the term, Cross Rivererians would have a cause to say thank goodness he was chosen.
For the summation of speakership battle remains that there has continued to be a gradual evolution of the people’s prevailing power of leadership selection. Long may it continue.
Written By Kingsley Agim
