By Chief Edet Isong
Okete Okete Oro
What Sir Victor Antai said was deep, sincere, and very realistic. His words spoke not from politics, but from human experience. They reflected responsibility, not hypocrisy.
Loyalty that ignores human survival cannot stand for long. Any reasonable person understands that people have families to care for, children to train in school, medical bills to pay, and daily needs to meet. Hunger and hardship can weaken even the strongest commitment. That is why conscience must always guide loyalty.
Sir Victor Antai did not only speak; he acted. His decision to stand firmly with his mentor, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, during the event at Ikot Ekpene Local Government, showed true gratitude, respect, and good character. That kind of loyalty is not forced or transactional — it is built on values.
When support is sincere, relationships endure. When leaders understand the struggles of their supporters and do not place blind demands on them, trust grows stronger. As Sir Victor rightly demonstrated, loyalty must be supported with understanding and humanity; otherwise, frustration will eventually push people away.
The presence of His Excellency, Governor Pastor Umo Eno, and Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Lady Akon Eyakenyi, further confirmed that leadership anchored on empathy, appreciation, and conscience is what promotes peace and progress in Akwa Ibom State.
It must be clearly stated that loyalty without food on the table, without school fees for children, without medical care, and without basic dignity is not sustainable. Loyalty must make sense to the people.
In conclusion, we must say no to loyalty without compassion.
We must say yes to leadership with understanding, gratitude, and responsibility.
That is how trust is built.
That is how unity is sustained.
And that is how lasting legacies are formed.
