Nigeria R & B singer, Iyanya, called Kukere has not only become Nigerians next national anthem at the moment but also a new dancing step that undoubtedly is the most fancied pattern of swaggering in contemporary music scene. To my greatest surprise, the music with a peculiar dancing style said to be indigenous and akin to Efik/Ibibio speaking people in South/South region of Cross Rivers and Awka Ibom state has eroded the mental psyche of the masses with people of all ages developing love for the Afropop and the corresponding dance step showcased in a funny manner similar to the makosa dance. While makosa deals with the waist, Kukere dance is unique with the dancer raising one leg and dropping it in fanciful manner.
I noticed the craze for the music when I attended a birthday party with some male folks in town.
Hell was let loose when it was the celebrant’s dance. The celebrant, a young fatty lady in her mid 20’s caused uproar when she stood up with high heel shoes and skimpy wear that almost revealed what should not be made public, to dance Iyanya’s music bending her ass and raising each leg like somebody suffering from electric shock. She picked her steps rhythmically and the scintillating shakes matched the Kukere drum beats. All the ladies joined and moved their legs simultaneously as if they had rehearsed the dance pattern before the bash. Before I could blink an eye, an elder fellow by my side was on his feat to join the Kukere madness. I was the odd person out of the boogie. The next scene was in Ajengunle, where I have my childhood roots. On arriving Achakpo street last week, an itirenean music / cassette vendor lit up the street when he played Kukere. All the kids, even those crawling responded with the magical dancing steps. I marveled at the craze for the music. I have other experiences to share with readers which are not necessary. But the bottomline of my exposure shows that Kukere which literally means “don’t worry” in Akwa Ibom is the main dance people are addicted to at the moment. And, in Imo State, some political gladiators are not left out in this Kukere dance. In view of certain political developments especially the non-swearing in of Chief Eugene Dibiagwu by the State House Assembly, those involved in the debacle, have been infected by Iyanyamania as a cursory study of their body language indicates that they are displaying “funny” political dancing steps similar to the Kukere dance. Permit me to state that the stage for the Kukere dance was set by the national electoral body called INEC on April 26, 2011 during the Governorship/House of Assembly election. On that day, the umpire declared election in four of the 11 INEC wards inconclusive over certain skirmishes. INEC however requested all parties to get set for a Supplementary Election on May 6, 2011. A day to the election, one of the Sankere dancers, Dibiagwu approached the court and got an order stopping INEC from conducting Supplementary Election in Oguta, claiming that elections took place in the following Wards; Awa Izombe, Oru, Oguta A & B, Osemotor/Enigbo and Egbe/Egbuoma.
That a bye election should now hold in Obudi/ Aro, Mgbala/Uba, Uwaorie and Ndilukwu/Umuowere wards.
It was learnt that after the April 26, 2011 election the returning officer for the House of Assembly election, one Mr Nwachukwu, allegedly returned Dibiagwu winner having scored the total number of votes of 11,336 against 3306 and 2, 302, garnered by his closest rivals; Walter Uzonwanne APGA and Henry Igbomezie (PDP). When the Supplementary Election could not hold due to the court action, Dibiagwu further proceeded to the Federal High Court, Owerri, to demand that he be sworn in having scored the highest number of votes in the seven wards. Uzonwanne and Igbomezie however approached the court to be joined in the suit which the Fed High Court dismissed their application on the grounds that since they are candidates, the outcome will not affect them.
The two candidates now wore their dancing apparels for the Kukere tunes by proceeding to the Appeal Court to ask to be joined again but were disappointed when the Appeal Court struck out their case and ordered INEC to conduct election in the remaining four wards. In accordance to the court judgment, INEC conducted a bye election on Saturday August 11, 2012 which Dibiagwu emerged winner with ease as his main challengers allegedly boycotted the polls despite the fact that INEC recorded figures for them. Dibiagwu won with about 15,000 votes. Two days after the bye-election, Dibiagwu was in INEC office, Abuja to receive his mandatory Certificate of Return needed for swearing in at the State Assembly. On 14th August, he flew into Owerri and marched straight to Assembly complex where Ben Uwajumogu, the Imo Speaker reportedly welcomed him and asked him to abide by all constitutional provisions and to comply with the Code of Conduct as stipulated in the laws of the land, Section 94. Within few hours, Dibiagwu complied and rushed back to the Assembly complex for the swearing in but was unlucky the House adjourned till another day. At this point, the number one lawmaker in Imo, Uwajumogu joined the Kukere dance bandwagon.
To fulfill all righteousness and constitutional provisions the Imo Speaker was right to ask that the Code of Conduct form be complied with before swearing in even as it was learnt that some serving members of the present House are yet to fully comply with the Code of Conduct requirements. Another factor which suggests that Uwajumogu the “funny music” is the allegation that on sensing that Dibiagwu had procured all the requirements, he reportedly hurriedly adjourned to a distant date to avoid accepting the Oguta candidate. A wish that pleases other key dancers in the “Kukere Dance”.
Uwajumogu owes the public the explanation on what transpired between Dibiagwu and House Members that day. Even as the Speaker and indeed the members of the House have the right to adjourned sitting after exhausting items on Order Paper, his indisposition in buying time and later developments leaves room for suspicion.
Disturbed by vituperative attacks against his office in the Dibiagwu saga, a letter signed by the Clerk of the House, Barr Chris Duru via Speaker’s directive invited the PDP candidate who won the Oguta Assembly seat to the House for swearing in 21st August having fulfilled the expected conditions. While Dibiagwu was mobilizing support and gathering forces to storm Imo Assembly for the mother of all swearing ins, the House Committee chairman on Information Acho Ihim in a radio announcement cancelled the sitting to another date. Even as the announcements postponing House Sitting was on, a reasonable number of youths with all kinds of dreadful masquerades stormed Assembly complex on 22nd August. Save for the intervention of security operatives, hell would have been let loose as soldiers, policemen and the aggrieved crowd from Oguta took over the surroundings of the Assembly boundaries. APGA which has shown fancy for the Kukere dance joined the fray through Uzonwanee and went to the vacation court to seek for an injunction restraining Dibiagwu’s swearing-in. The sitting Judge Ngozi Opara after lambasting the PDP spokesman, for certain comments granted the order before referring the Chief Judge to reassign the matter to another Judge. However last Friday, Justice K . A Orjiako of the Orlu Judicial Division sitting at Mgbidi vacated the order adding that his court lacks the jurisdiction to hear it. Orjiako in the judgment was reported to have said that such a post election matter where INEC Certificate of Return has been issued can only be disputed at the Election petition tribunal.
Sensing that Dibiagwu has been cleared for the swearing in, the APGA joined by three parties again rushed to Federal High Court, Portharcourt to seek another fresh injunction stopping Dibiagwu’s swearing in.
The surreptitious move was futile as the Fed High Court requested APGA and others to put all other parties including INEC and Dibiagwu on notice of its request in the matter. The matter which should have been heard yesterday (Wednesday) has been rescheduled for tomorrow (Friday) for accelerated hearing. Meanwhile, the Kukere beat goes on as the members of the House announced their intention to proceed to South Africa for legislative exercise. As at the Wednesday afternoon, none of the lawmakers have stepped out of the shores of the country for any purpose except the Governor, Rochas Okorocha who is overseas for official functions. Indications that Speaker Uwajumogu and his colleagues are Kukere crooners have emerged. Permit me to stop here until next week when the Kukere dance continues as further developments emerge.
Adieu My Chairman Emeritus Ndaa Donald Ekemonye, “One man PLC” I took over chairmanship of Owerri West Referees society from this wonderful creature, a quntential gentleman and talented figure. He was the founding chairman and mentor of my society. He will be buried tomorrow at Umuerim Nekede.
