The world as a whole is against autocracy or one man dictatorship. The fact that it was accepted in Tudor England in the sixteenth century and in the Enlightened Despotism in the Europe of the seventeenth and eighteenth century was understandable because the Monarch was the nation personified; the whole national life revolved around him. Talking about the regime of Governor Akpabio as a whole appears as a watershed separating the State into many parts. The world is aware that the only acceptable and tolerable form of government is real democratic government; as such, no one should ponder over this paradox.
Governor Akpabio on assumption as the Governor merely served to show up and expose his severe deficiencies and limitations. He used these circumstances to exert a very healthy influence and worked against those who supported him through violent and blood-spilling measures and this made the State at that time, daunt with a robust heart. The State which stood as one solid block became fragmented and eventually tore into hostile camps; clearly putting political parties at loggerheads with each other. The majority group agitated to be free from the domination of the minority which became an obstacle to the progress of others. The Governor promised that he had come to restore peace and stability in the State which had not witnessed political stability, he equipped himself with many sorcerers; thousands of body guards and spies scattered all over, and swore not to perceive any opponent who was an obstacle to his self succession bid.
His system of settlement was by cash or kind and settlement by red earth. The mysterious murder of Ibibio patriots has a question mark, one is not saying he had a hand in them but my reflection is on the ugly co-incidence that all these crime are committed during his regime. Following the rampant elimination of outspoken Ibibios which sent many to exile, while others clamped into detention, it became clear that Gov. Akpabio is not paving way for fair democratic process. Pre-democracy groups started springing up daily. Those who are close to the corridors of power and those who had the opportunity of watching his administration saw too clearly that all is not well with the State.
Day by day, he revealed himself as a proper dictator, he resorted to decisions and actions that would impair or jeopardize the progress and prospect of success of the governed, and he did nothing to coordinate the activities of the people. Akwa Ibom State is only fortunate to have a few saving grace during these critical years of his rule perhaps, it is no exaggeration to assert that our greatest problem and headaches came really from bad leadership; the bad leadership which sprang from an inherent life of Gov Akpabio is a serious flaw in his nature and it is such an overwhelming type that proved fatal. Failure to keep faith with people were in no way reassuring especially as the State had come to see through him that he could never correct the ills, for a real democratic rule to take place.
The much publicized democracy about which the hopes of the people had been raised never saw the light of the day, perhaps the only notable achievement during these period is the introduction of a slogan tagged “uncommon transformation”. The general tempo in the State slacked and the public become so restless with his administration – fretting and beginning to complain aloud about the unsatisfactory situation in the State.
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