A good look at the leadership of Akwa Ibom State since Nigeria’s return to democracy can be likened to the biblical ark of covenant which was built by Moses. An interesting feature of the ark was its ability to discern and allow only those qualified by God to touch or carry it. Any unauthorized possession of the ark by persons not destined by God usually brought calamity, sorrow and tears to the land.
Just like Akwa Ibom State, God valued the ark so much that when Uzziah who saw the ark falling off was about to stretch his hands to prevent the fall, the anger of the Lord was rose against him and he was killed there by the ark– because he was not destined to have anything to do with it.
The condition of that Ark of Covenant is very symbolic to the governance of Akwa Ibom State, a State named after the God of heaven and earth (Abasi Ibom).
When we reflect on the incident of the biblical ark of covenant, we will begin to appreciate the beauty of the destiny God has placed on some people even before their birth and we will also understand why certain things can happen in governance with some thinking it should not be done that way.
Sometimes people are tempted to question God on why He allows certain things happen especially when those things are against our interests; failing to understand that God does not accomplish his purposes nor manifest his divine destiny in common men.
In our State today, some people are tempted to wish, reason and think that the mantle of leadership should fall on a stranger.
Those in this school of thought fail to draw lessons from examples set by God in the Bible where he appointed leaders based on his evaluation of their humble background and not on grounds of their acquisitions or knowledge. Sometimes, God hide those he wants to make leaders from public view only to showcase them in his time to avoid the penetration of evil actions and wishes on them. God hid Moses against His enemies and brought him out in His due time to lead His people out of the land of Egypt. Likewise, Joseph who was a nobody later became a Prime Minister, Governor and King. All these happen to fulfill God’s divine destiny placed on them before their birth.
God’s model of leadership is evident in the call of David after Saul had gone against the way of the Lord thus, Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse. When Jesse presented his first son, Eliab; Samuel assumed he was God’s choice but God said to him, “Look not at his countenance or at the height … for man looketh on the outward appearance, but I looketh at the heart”.
After the seven sons of Jesse had passed before Samuel, the oil was still in the horn, he then asked Jesse if they were all he had. Jesse responded that there was one other who was in the field, tending his flock. Samuel sent for him and David surprisingly became God’s choice.
In Akwa Abasi Ibom State, the Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has invited seven sons of Jesse to pass by the horn through appointment of persons into various positions of authority, and the anointing oil of leadership has refused to fall on them until last year when the little David who was far from home; working hard and tirelessly with Zenith Bank Plc was sent for. Good enough too, he gladly accepted the home call and the oil of anointing poured on him.
After the eventful tenure of Governor Victor Attah from 1999 to 2007, it was the wish of Akwa Ibom people that God’swill should be done and that was manifested in the person of Godswill Akpabio (the man named after God). Now, we are saying that Godswill should be sustained in our State. Why then do some people see the home coming of Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as strange in the leadership of the State? Let us remember that when the seven sons of Jesse labored to qualify for the leadership exercise which Samuel instructed them to do, David was not there but he became the principal beneficiary of that sacrifice which was done by others because God wanted it that way.
In as much as we want the sustainable impact of Godswill in Akwa Ibom State, we must also understand that the name Gabriel and Emmanuel has a lot to offer to the people. Let us remember that Gabriel is one of the powerful angels in heaven while Emmanuel is one of the names of Jesus Christ, meaning that God is with us. So when people say that Godswill should be sustainable in the State come 2015, they are indirectly saying that Udom Gabriel Emmanuel should be assisted and encouraged to emerge the next Governor. I agree with them whole heartedly.
Just like Godswill was the perfect name matching Akwa Abasi Ibom State, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel is a perfect name that should lead the people because God has said that people shall be known by their fruit and that which cometh from God cannot answer any other name than God’s.
The discipline the SSG has been through from the earlier part of his life makes him fit for the task of governing Akwa Ibom State. As a banker, he is blessed with the habit of deep reflection, self-control and chivalrous generosity; and as a destined leader by God; he understands the knowledge of men, power and government; while each successive phase of his experience has developed his dependence on God which is the secret of his strength throughout life. From time immemorial, God has always resisted the proud and given more grace to the humble. This is evident in the appointment of Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as Secretary to State Government.
To show that God knows the end from the beginning and what will become of us according to His divine plan drawn out before we were born, he told Jeremiah that “before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and destined thee a prophet and leader unto the nations”. It can also be said that God knew what Udom will become in his due time before he formed him and directed the governor to bring him home at this time to manifest that divine destiny. God also said he will alter certain equations that will defy human comprehension in His time so that his purposes will be accomplished for the confoundment of the wise men of this world.
People may not really understand why God loved Jacob and hated Esau because they do not understand God’s way of ordaining certain people as leaders and others, their followers. And no matter what anybody does, destiny can only be delayed but it cannot be changed. It cannot be denied.
Inspite of Esau’s faithfulness in serving their father for years, he could not obtain his father’s blessing rather, his brother, Jacob; having been destined to have the blessings, had it and nobody attempted stopping him.
Some people who do not understand how God works are questioning: why should this one who has not been around and has never been in the system just come and become the governor? The answer to that is if it is a fulfillment of God’s divine destiny, there is nothing anybody can do about it.
People should now begin to understand why certain things happen the way they do and should not always want things done the way they feel it should be done. It is important to realize that every leadership comes from God, be it good or bad, and based on God’s divine arrangement. Like He has been doing in times past, so will He appoint His choice leader to lead the people of the State named after Him come 2015 and Udom Emmanuel may be the answer
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