I have carefully avoided lending a voice to the 2015 elections vis a vis the governorship dog-fight. Not that am averse or indifferent to the importance of next year’s general elections in our collective history, but perhaps due to other matters especially the case of our young school girls captured by Boko Haram and the recent wave of insecurity that have engulfed the country.
But with diverse opinions being thrown into the hilltop mansion battle, I wish to, as a matter of moral necessity weigh in my well trained opinion in the debate of the kind of man that should occupy the Akwa Ibom State Government House from 2015. Permit me, dear reader to tee off by acknowledging the transformational drive of the present governor, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON.
He is one man that has been viewed in different ways by different people. While some see him as a rabble rouser or a boastful fellow, others see him as the man that brought the midas touch to governance. Those in this school drum it passionately into the ears of who ever cares to listen that the man from Essien Udim has brought to bear an uncommon renaissance to the state once derisively known as the dwelling colony of housemaid many, maintain that governor Akpabio’s reign as Chief Executive has brought good tidings to the people of the state in no small measure. But in the midst of these encomiums being showered on the governor, there is also a group that see nothing positive in the state as led by Chief Akpabio.
To them, the man has not done enough, especially with the enormous cash accruing to the state on a monthly basis. They stoutly maintain that he has squandered the state’s resources by engaging some frivolous projects that are not necessary or beneficial to the common man. But since its democracy and everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, I, too can say a thing or two with regards to the Chief Godswill Akpabio led administration and go vernance.
When in 2001 the governor was sworn in to power, he copiously stated that he will approach development with ‘anger’. Many did not really understand the context of Akpabio’s anger until he set out for work.
He had also famously said that he was on a mission to transform the state from a pedestrian path to a destination point for leisure, entertainment, commerce, etc. Alas, seven years on, the governor has been able to keep to promise with visible infrastructure dotting the length and breadth of the state’s landscape. He may not have delivered one hundred percent on his promises, but with what the governor has put on ground, I think he deserves a big pat on the back.
Governance is not a tea party anywhere, it takes uncommon grace and clout to lead especially in a terrain beaming with men and women of high learning and sophistication. It’s only God that chooses a leader for its people and not the other way round. In spite of plots, scheming and machinations by some persons to grab power by their own human prowess, one thing is sacrosanct; God is the ultimate giver or power. He gives it to whom he wishes and arms the chosen one with the capacity to lead the people to prosperity and sufficiency. In our time, we have seen some politicians employ all manner of tactics to maneuver their way to power.
In our chime, we regrettably see power as an end in itself rather than a means to an end. For us, leadership is a do-or-die affair irrespective of what the wishes of the people are. To some, the people’s opinion do not matter as long as they achieve their objective while it’s not a crime to be ambitious in life, the way and manner we go about meeting our goals is important. Because as someone angling to be the Chief Executive of a state, you must possess and exhibit positive leadership traits that will inspire and stimulate the people for optimum productivity. The scripture records that the people rejoice when the righteous is in power. Of course, by this biblical statement, it is common knowledge that the people are important to the wellbeing of any government in power. Any government that does not prioritize the interest of the masses is not fit to remain in power.
Governance must be an inclusive venture where all shades of opinion are treated equally without discrimination or suppression.
No sane society will make any meaningful progress with a government that is high handed and domineering in conduct.
This of course does not imply that a government should be soft and not implement policies that will uplift the state economically, socially and otherwise.
A government that will understand the yearnings of the people and go all out to meet those needs without unnecessarily pussy footing is the kind of leadership a state like Akwa Ibom deserves in this critical moment of our collective history. As partakers in this destiny, no one must be seen trying to throw spanners in the works of this noble project called Akwa Ibom State.
Having come thus far, it will be to our collective shame if we elect a governor that will drag us backwards in any ramification. The times have changed significantly from analog way of doing things to digital. We cannot afford to elect a leader with archaic ideas in a digital age. We need a leader with full grasp of new ways of doing things for the overall good of all and sundry.
Developed countries of the world have long moved away from blinding foisting inept leaders to conscientiously rooting for those versed with the right attributes to drive their collective desires to Eldorado.
Akwa Ibom State is rich both in human and natural resources hence we can’t afford to mortgage our future on the altar of blind partisanship. The present administration has set a standard in leadership that common sense only demands that we follow this well paved path by allowing this trend of massive transformation of our dear state. We must go to the polls with a positive mind set – one grounded in patriotism and absolute love for the state.
Since the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes provision for a second term of eight years for governors and other office holders, will it be wise for us to vote for someone that will halt our march to total freedom from the morass of retardation and stagnation in development index?
Will it be a good idea to bring forth a governor that will return us to the branded second class citizens anywhere we went? We can’t afford any mistakes come 2015. Any error whatsoever will be utterly detrimental to our collective destiny.
Leadership is beyond just occupying that gargantuan seat. It is beyond swagger and garbing oneself with the allures that comes with power. A leader should be able to motivate the people, set the pace and be a pathfinder even as he projects the image of the state positively to the global community. A leader should have the finesse and a touch of éclat in the way he administers his state on a daily basis. We don’t want a leader that will spend more time in the air and Aso Rock than the state he governs. We don’t want a leader that will be short of ideas on how to respond to emergency situations as it borders on the welfare of the masses. A leader that abandons state matters in naked pursuit of vain glory in matters not connected to his primary assignment of leading his people is not the kind of governor we should allow to have the wheels from May 29, 2015.
Our people have suffered in the past for too long hence we can’t and must not bring back those years of squalor in this age where other states of the federation are moving in rapid precision to change their collective fortunes.
The biting rate of unemployment in the country must not be allowed to take root in our state. In as much as unemployment cannot be totally wiped out in our society, we must not give room for it to fester in a state named after God.
Our people should be made to enjoy the dividends of democracy in full without let or hindrance. It is not to anybody’s interest that a people stupendously gifted by nature should beg to live. It will be a depressing irony and we will be a butt of jokes in the comity of states.
Since 2001 to date, our dear state have witnessed the influx of top world leaders, played host to numerous top class summits, meetings and more owing mainly to the man at the helm of affairs.
Hate or love him, Governor Akpabio has redefined governance. He has opened the state to the world through meticulously planning and subtle strategies. Our state has become a Mecca of sort where visitors from all corners of the world want to visit now and again. They want to see the flyovers, the want to relax at the Tropicana Entertainment Centre and Galleria. They want to savour the greenery and have an unfettered access to our literary of sumptuous dishes. Our state has become a destination of choice for all and sundry. That’s the more reason we should go for a governor that will continue this wave of transformation through people oriented policies. In all this, we must allow fairness and equity in power sharing to guide our choice of a governor.
Let’s not deny the fact that power sharing amongst the three senatorial district is part and parcel of our political experiment. We should allow power to rotate round the federal constituencies for the sake of equity. If the arrangement does not favour one this time around, it will in future.
It’s no use to bring terror and mayhem to a peace loving people. Any act that runs counter to the principles of love, fairness and equity won’t be good enough for us.
Akwa Ibom State deserves the right leader that will create jobs, revive our moribund industries and work tirelessly to better our fortunes. That’s the kind of governor we so earnestly crave for as we head to the polls in 2015.
May God guide our choice of a leader.
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