Palmer Ogheneyole Nathaniel
LAGOS AUGUST 6TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Trending now in Delta, is the story of how the daughter of a former governor of the State, Chief James Ibori, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori, couldn’t read lines of her father’s tribute to the late Olorogun Felix Ibru, during a State valedictory session in honor of the departed elder statesman. Hon. Ibori presently represents Ethiop West Constituency in the State House of Assembly.
During the said event, according to reporters, the Lawmaker struggled endlessly to coherently read lines of her fathers tributes to the murmurs of the audience. Ordinarily, such occurrence could be adduced to stage fright which no human is immune against, but in a society where disgruntled minds are resiliently waiting for the downfall of others, even the most inconsequential incidence is given prominence.
Some media houses in a shameless show of lack of professionalism and resounding pettiness, said she was booed, adding that the crowd were Ibori’s “constituents”. I frankly cant fantom how they managed to come to the conclusion that out of the whole state gathered for the event, only Ibori’s constituents murmured. Or could it be that the lawmaker was representing the whole state?
Those who have been following developments in the State Assembly can attest to Ibori’s sagacity and towering input in the business she was chosen by her people to do in Asaba. While naysayers tried in futility to demean her for a common and glossy irrelevant human error, her spirit would never be broken. As the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Ibori stands today as a high ranking lawmaker who is speedily learning the ropes of legislative governance.
Her Bill on the regulation of Hotels and Restaurants, aimed at restructuring their operations as well as raking revenues for the government, has been adjudged as one of the finest and well thought-of bill ever initiated by this Assembly. Her intelligent presentation while doing justice to the 2016 appropriation to the applauds of her colleagues will remain a moment of pride for the African woman. As a daughter of the Lion, I don’t think it is sane for anyone to expect Hon. Ibori to eat grasses.
One of America’s greatest Presidents and orator, Abraham Lincoln, at a point excused himself from public speakings due to stage fright. Americans did not make a mockery out of it. Lincoln, was on March 6, 1860, after delivering a highly electrifying speech at Cooper Union, invited by a Republican political committee to speak in New Jersey.
In his response to the invitation , Lincoln turned down the request, calling himself “nervous and unfit” to speak. He explained further that he was at that moment experiencing a classic symptom of speech anxiety: the combination of visibility and vulnerability experienced by all humans with flesh and blood. That was the great Lincoln that held American audiences spellbound whenever he mounts the podium.
The most perturbing part of the Ibori daughter’s narratives is this. Those who cannot correctly construct a simple sentence are often the first to point out the errors of others. Those who cannot face the camera are usually the first to berate others for simply been human. This is so sad. It is inferiority complex gone haywire.
Take it or leave it, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori radiates hope for the African woman. She represents that part of us that needs expedient awakening. Her rise to power has little or nothing to do with her paternity. She is a strong-willed woman who cannot be intimidated by male chauvinism nor miniatured into any form. Those judging her competence to represent her constituency with the overhyped incidence in Asaba must have a rethink.

Palmer, a former Newspaper Editor writes from Asaba.