THERE IS TRULY SILVER IN THIS JUBILEE: AKWA IBOM STATE AT 25
“Akwa Ibom is blessed with hardworking people who have achieved a lot and are proud of their state. I am so happy I came to Uyo to witness all that I have been hearing about the state. I am impressed. Akwa Ibom people are blessed with everything they need to be number one. They are really blessed.”
That paraphrases the sentiments expressed by a guest from a neighboring state, whom I met at the state banquet on September 23, 2012, the final event to mark the silver jubilee of the creation of Akwa Ibom State. He kept shaking his head in wonderment as he recounted his tour of the state capital. It emerged that he did his National Youth Service in Uyo in 2006. In 2012, 6 years later, he needed a tour guide to drive round the town, as he kept missing his way because of the transformation that had taken place in the city. I nodded in agreement. I myself had fallen victim when I returned from a three-year sojourn outside the country.
By my own personal assessment, the state has moved well ahead of its contemporaries in many areas since its creation on September 23, 1987 by the Ibrahim Babangida administration. People from all walks of life and of varied backgrounds and calling, have expressed satisfaction with the tremendous progress achieved in the period of time. I would dare conclude that our heroes, who risked life and limb wrestling against socio-cultural and political prejudices in days of yore, fighting for self determination for their people, must be sleeping peacefully in their eternal rest.
The journey for the creation of the state goes back several decades. Perhaps not too many people know that the Akwa Ibom State Capital played an eminent and defining role in the long-drawn battle for state creation in Nigeria. It was in Uyo, in 1954, that the Calabar-Ogoja-Rivers (COR) State Movement was inaugurated with prominent jurist Justice Udo Udoma (MHR – Opobo and president of Ibibio State Union) as leader. The movement’s task was daunting given that the opposition was fierce and powerful. In his book “Nigerian Political Parties: Power in An Emergent African Nation,” Richard Sklar writes that then majority party, The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, NCNC, based its opposition to the creation of COR state on the perception that “the demand was based merely on anti-Ibo sentiment.” Of course this was far from the truth. But when you are minority, you may have all the “say” you want, but the “way” is always that of the majority at the end of the day. Nonetheless, our founding fathers did not give up.
Mainly because of their doggedness, state creation became an issue in the 1957 General Election. The NCNC felt compelled to include in its manifesto for that year’s election, a proposal to create three states in eastern Nigeria, as part of a fourteen-state structure for the whole country. This was a step towards the ultimate goal. Or so it seemed! That same year at the Constitutional Conference, it was decided that a commission of inquiry be set up to “ascertain the facts about the fears of minorities” and propose how such fears could be allayed, perhaps through the creation of states. After a nation-wide tour obtaining memoranda and oral evidence between 1957 and 58, the commission delivered the devastating blow: it recommended “safeguards other than state creation” for the minorities. Those “safeguards” were a study in tokenism and a non-starter, as acts of marginalization and downright neglect of the minorities continued. Amazingly, the commission had further asserted that the “fears of the minorities would not be remedied by the creation of states in any of the regions.” If you are baffled, I am tongue-tied. Given where we are now, all I can ask is “What were they thinking?” But as they say all that is history. General Yakubu Gowon created 12 states in 1967, among them South Eastern State comprising present day Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
We have come a long way indeed. Generally, Akwa Ibom has been governed by men who strove to leave a mark. Given constraints of time, finances and other circumstances, the level of achievement has been varied from administration to administration. First was the regime of then Colonel Jonathan Tunde Ogbeha which laid the foundation in 1987, setting up the administrative framework of a brand new state from virtually nothing on ground. His administration’s pioneering efforts saw the commencement of the expansion of some major roads in the state. It was also in his time that Uyo was finally placed on the national telephony map with NITEL’s 0805 code. This relieved residents of the relics a handful of people hitherto had in their homes, going by the name of telephone sets, but which neither could send nor receive signals.
And then there was Governor Godwin Abbe - focused, determined and aggressive. He set about upgrading the state’s road networks, opening up rural communities. He commenced the building of a modern governor’s lodge, and expanded the state radio and television services. Abbe it was who built the prime neighbourhood Itiam-Ewet Housing Estate and initiated the original design and building of the Nwaniba golf course.
Who can forget the regime of son of the soil, Governor Idongesit Nkanga, who within eighteen short months drastically and positively changed the Uyo landscape, completing then edificial Ibom Hall, building the much yearned-for state secretariat, very aptly now named after him, and the IBB Road which is part of one of Uyo’s ring roads. He opened up the Nnung Udoe - Afaha Nsit road, linking up several rural communities with the state capital. The FM radio in Uyo was his baby, and projected the state beyond its shores, setting up effective competition with Radio Rivers, at the time the flagship of FM broadcasting in these parts. His time at the helm was so action-packed and delivered on so many fronts, that audiences brought the roof down with applause every time his name was mentioned at public functions, even long after he had left office. It did not matter whether or not he was present at the event.
Obong Akpan Isemin of blessed memory, the first democratically-elected governor of the state succeeded Nkanga. Within the few months of his administration, he built a befitting office for core staff of the state administration and will be remembered for his concerted efforts to change the people’s mind set through his cultural reorientation programme aimed at teaching Akwa Ibomites to abandon the traditional “etok” (small) syndrome, and instead, dream big dreams.
For Military Administrator Yakubu Bako, emphasis was on health care and his signature project was the Uyo Teaching Hospital which now ranks highly as a secondary health care provider and centre for high-level study of medical sciences.
Administrator Joseph Adeusi focused on education, establishing a school of arts and science.
His successor John Ebiye will be remembered for Akwa Ibom House in Abuja, with a guest house and liaison office for the state in the nation’s capital city among other achievements. A low-income housing estate constructed by his regime has come to be known as Ebiye quarters.
When Obong Victor Attah was sworn in as second democratically-elected governor of the state, expectations were high for superlative performance, given his antecedents. He did not disappoint. A man of vision and big dreams, he set about laying the foundation anew for a 21st century Akwa Ibom State. He is credited with spearheading the state’s hard-fought bid to have the dichotomy between on-shore and off-shore petroleum in the allocation of revenue from derivation, abolished. The Ibom Power Project, the Airport and Le Meriden Hotel, among others, were all part of his vision for the state.
The current chief executive, Chief Godswill Akpabio has created a niche for himself in the annals of development strides in the state. His performance in the five years he has been in charge has impressed even some of his most consistent critics. He characterizes his administration’s breath-taking infrastructural development activities as uncommon transformation. He is right. The very visible infrastructural landmarks constructed by his administration, have earned him accolades from far and wide. The sheer quantum of kilometers of roads crisscrossing the entire state is matched only by the high quality of the construction work itself. Thus, the state capital now bears a refreshingly modern look with well-built and well-lit roadways and flyovers. Women of the Green Brigade, part of the state’s Family Life Enhancement Initiative (the brain child of first lady Ekaette Unoma Akpabio), are seen daily in their distinct uniforms sweeping streets around the city. FLEI is equally sited as the driving force behind the re-education of young women, to save them from the global problem of modern day slavery euphemistically referred to as house girl/house boy work.
The governor’s dogged pursuit of the emancipation of the Akwa Ibom psyche, through education has the potential to permanently restore the people’s sense of self worth. Even the general aesthetic upliftment of the state’s landscape, has triggered in the populace, the intangible but extremely critical ingredients required for creativity: self confidence, self belief and pride in one’s heritage. It’s so exhilarating to hear young people say with pride these days, “I am from Akwa Ibom, in case you don’t know”, quoting a line from the unofficial anthem of the state “Akwa Ibom Ayaya” (Akwa Ibom is Beautiful) by Mish, a musical act originating from the state.
Akpabio has said that he approached his assignment of governing the state with anger. Anger at the way things are versus what they ought to be. Clearly, when justified anger is unleashed, underdevelopment takes flight. Looking ahead, he has lined up for execution, a new airport terminal building, the Ibaka deep sea port, an ultra modern stadium and a specialist hospital with state of the art equipment, this last one to ensure that Nigerians will no more need to travel abroad for medical appointments. His passion speaks to the fact that he aims to leave a lasting legacy. His is undoubtedly, a deliberate and orchestrated effort to create a place of honour for himself in tomorrow’s history books. The state looks set to become the model that our founding fathers dreamt of. Already, Uyo has become the preferred destination for national meetings and conferences. Tourism will thrive where the environment is right.
All in all, we have a lot to be thankful for – the vision of our founding fathers, the contributions of our leaders, past and present, and most importantly the can-do spirit of our people, which has seen resurgence in recent days. Above all, the hand of God is ever present. The average Akwa Ibom man is a man of faith and hard work, totally trusting in God to figure out who should govern him and who should not at every point in time.
The journey is well under way, but there is still a long way to go. Akwa Ibom people must not be complacent. It would be dangerous to fall into a false sense of “done and dusted.” A very high bar has been set and the people must be careful and bold choosing their leaders. The momentum must not slack as they continue the good work, pushing even further, the frontiers of development and progress in our state. As the late Udo Abianga’s highlife hit says: “Eda k’ukot enyung ediana oto kiet k’ima, man ibob Akwa Ibom, obio emana nnyin.” Rough translation – Arise! Bound together with love, one for another, let us build Akwa Ibom, the land of our birth. What more can I say? So help us God. Happy silver jubilee, beloved Akwa Abasi Ibom State!
Written By Monty Idiong
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