Akwa Ibom News Online Commentary

"I have never liked anyone who didn’t have a temper. If you don’t have any temper, you don’t have any passion."- Michael Bloomberg

One does not need a clairvoyant's interpretation to ascertain his level of acceptability by the people, especially as the countdown to the 2011 general elections gathers momentum. Mr Peter Akpan, a peasant farmer in Ibiono Ibom local government literally squeezed the throat of another young man who dared to disagree with him on Governor Godswill Akpabio’s achievements in the State.

Mr Akpan said anyone who wants Akpabio out of office was satanic because such a person was trying to deprive him of the free education policy of government. He said his child in Junior Secondary School Two (JSS2) should finish his SS3 exams before anybody can contemplate talking about the governor leaving office. And coincidently, little Akpan will graduate from Secondary school in 2015 after writing his SSCE exams in May/June 2015. But Akpabio’s legacies are far more than mere relief to parents of school children.

Government after government since its creation on 23rd September, 1987, Akwa Ibom State’s major challenge has been on how to develop this comparatively young state in Nigeria. Thus, during the celebration of the 2nd anniversary of the creation of the State, the then Military Governor, Colonel Godwin Osagie Abbe optimized, “The problems we are seeing now are just temporary. We will surmount them because the people are very determined, and they have the capacity to build up their own future.” Years later, Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio has vindicated Abbe, approaching the development of Akwa Ibom with such anger that has brought happiness to Nigerians of impeccable characters. Passion became the oil with which Governor Akpabio served Akwa Ibom people the yam of development. And the oil was hot enough to be endearingly christened “anger” by the governor. This anger, like the hamattan wind, has virtually blown through all the sectors of life in the State, too arresting to be erased, but attract commendation to the governor from within and outside the State, including highly placed Nigerians of noble background.

In the past few weeks, Akwa Ibom has become a tourism nerve centre of sort. Mid-July, the President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan came and spent two days to commission projects executed by the Akpabio administration. But he could not finish his commissioning assignment even at spending close to 50 hours in the State. Significantly, the President noted that he was not just thrilled by the quantity or number of projects he saw, but the qualities were super. Hence, he exclaimed that, “From what I have seen, the governor is not just playing politics with projects but the projects are of high quality” and called for support from all to the governor.

The President commissioned and inaugurated several projects that have now made Akwa Ibom a reference point to Nigeria, a state that was hitherto looked down on. Such projects included the First Phase of the Ibom International Airport, the flyover bridges, General hospital at Ibeno, the dualised Airport road, the Ekim Itam – Ekom Iman road as well as the Nung Udoe Itak- Use Ikot Amama road, Abak – Etim Ekpo – Iwukem road, the Abak – Ikot Ekpene road.

The number one citizen also switched on the Ibom power plant, inspected the digital library project, the flood control pipe jacking drainage project and lay the foundation stone of the permanent terminal building of the Ibom International airport, thereby setting the pace for Phase two of the airport project to be underway. All these because Governor Akpabio is positively angry.

Recently too, the Vice President, Arch. Mohammed Namadi Sambo visited the state where he was greeted by legions of projects embarked upon by the state government, and he was mesmerized by the reality of the story of Destination Akwa Ibom. He took his own turn of commissioning the firefighting equipment and rehabilitated fire complex along Brooks street in Uyo.

But very significantly, Vice President Sambo flagged off the dualisation of a five-lane Aka/Nung Udoe road that will signal the end to the sufferings of Akwa Ibom people from the local government areas in that axis, boost their economic activities and allow for free flow of traffic in that area. A visibly overjoyed Vice President declared that Akwa Ibom had changed for good. He recommended Governor Akpabio and passionately called on the people of the state to support the continuity project of the governor beyond 2011. He spoke in that manner because of what he saw, which is inextricably linked to the President’s description of the Akpabio administration as being focused.

Of course, everyone who knew the history of Akwa Ibom will leap for joy on seeing the transformation of the state by the current leadership. When in 1991, the state celebrated its 4th creation anniversary, the then Military Governor Idongesit Nkanga said, “By the design of nobody, this part of the country (Akwa Ibom) had not really had a chance to develop itself. There had been backwardness, and I did not see why it should be so. We did not have any business being backward or under-developed as compared to the rest of the country”

But today, Akwa Ibom’s development tape has been fast tracked to the admiration of all, becoming second only to Lagos and Abuja in ranking. Thus, vehicle owners now see Akwa Ibom State plate numbers as an alternative to those of Lagos State and Abuja, the Federal Capital City.

Also, when she came to launch her pet project, Women for Change Initiative in the State recently, Wife of the President, Dame Patience Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was as well thrilled by what Governor Akpabio is delivering to the people of Akwa Ibom. She was in the land where projects commissioning is the order of the day, and so she had to follow suit. That took her to Ukana in Essien Udim Local Government Area where she commissioned one of the five new general hospitals built by the state government.

Others are located at Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Ika and Ukanafun respectively. That of Ibeno was earlier commissioned by President Jonathan. The First Lady candidly bared his mind on the unprecedented performance of Governor Akpabio, whom she gave a clear pass mark for transforming Akwa Ibom, and added that she was excited to be associated with the government and people of the State. Describing Governor Akpabio as Governor of Governors, Mrs Jonathan assured the governor that, “your works shall speak for you”

Also, during the South-South monarchs retreat and rally organized in support of President Jonathan at Le-Meridien Hotel and Golf Resort and stadium respectively in Uyo recently, Speaker after speaker commended the giant strides of Governor Akpabio in developing the State.

Chief Edwin Clarke, a foremost and respectable leader in the Niger Delta and Nigeria’s one time Minister of Information, specifically noted that Akpabio has taken Akwa Ibom to the forefront of Nigeria’s development (with anger) But what could warrant these different translations of commendations by various Nigerians on Governor Akpabio’s administration, Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah said it is simply response to the question: Can anything good come out of Nazareth? According to him, several good things are coming out of Nazareth Akwa Ibom. Thus, when they come and see, they cannot but have to speak up their minds. Different languages for well done” to the focused Governor of governors.

The Information Boss said the commendation are even more cherished that they are “coming from such eminent Nigerians and Nigerians of impeccable characters and positions. Nigerians that cannot be doubted in terms of their characters and pronouncements. “He described Governor Akpabio as a dynamic visionary administrator.

Akpabio deserves the support of Akwa Ibom people for coming out to re-unite their story. He came at a time when illiteracy, poverty, disease, poor infrastructure, general underdevelopment and ethnic divides were walking on four legs on the innocent streets of Akwa Ibom. He promptly arrested them with a godly gusto, and the people savouring in this providential institution that their blessing to have Akpabio as their governor at such time, was sheer stroke of luck on their own part, basing their stance on the governor’s uncommon transformation in all areas of development in the state in less than four years of his stewardship.

And one would not have expected less from the direct beneficiaries of the government who out of anger has lavished his people with untold infrastructural and humbly development, empowering and giving hope to the young and old, poor and disadvantaged. Thus, if reputable and credible Nigerians, most of whom are not from Akwa Ibom, could objectively drum up support for Akpabio because of his achievements so far, charity had already begun at home. This will then fully unfold the Akwa Ibom of “vast economic potentials” which the then Military Governor Tunde Jonathan Ogbeha vowed in 1987, to lay a solid foundation.

And as Governor Abbe put it in 1989 in his broadcast to the people of the state, “There is no doubt, that you all welcome the creation of this state. That is how it should be; but far more important is whether the enthusiasm and euphoria that greated the creation of the State have been translated into the desired support necessary for the uninterrupted development of the young state. That is why I seize this opportunity to call on you to all identify with and support the government in laying a solid foundation for the development of the state”.

Colonel Abbe’s plea still beckons today. To support government to lay and to consolidate on the mission creating new Akwa Ibom even till 2015. Governor Godswill Akpabio in his characteristic style of approaching development with anger has won the hearts several Nigerians, and President Jonathan can attest to this.

Essien Ndueso
Special Assistant (Media)
To Hon Commissioner For Information
Akwa Ibom State
+2348039529226

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