Prince Effiong Abia: A self effacing gentleman

Pauline Peters may have considered the character tapestry of Prince Effiong Etim Abia when she stated thus: “The greatness of a leader is in his humility before God, not in his eloquence before man”. 

This submission does not devalue the value of the latter but insists that the former holds a place of incontrovertible precedence. It is why the simplicity of the serving Commissioner for Rural Development who is wont to refer in very seductive tone to people he comes across as “my brother” or “my sister” depending on the gender, must form the framework of any discourse that pertains to him. The warmth he radiates during such exchange reinforces the fact contained in Psalm 25:9 that “God guides the humble and teaches them His ways”.  

Humility is a rare commodity amongst people who deemed themselves to be successful or accomplished. We live in a stratified society where wealth and position define relationships with the culture seeping down to offsprings and spouses.

It is a case of liquid finds its own level or put differently, separating the chaffs from the grains. Humility is seen as a relegated value only donned by people who are still struggling or trying to make ends meet. The moment such ends meet, one is taken out of the mill of the ordinary people and put in the special class of the special ones. From such class, one is taught new ways of responding to the greetings of the ordinary folks which ofcourse is nothing more than a muffled mumbling. And that only comes if the grace of God is sufficient upon the poor man initiating the greeting and if the recipient being the man of new status has not had his sanity already warped by excessive affluence or success. Yet it is from this same milieu that we have Prince Effiong Abia who would relegate his high horse to still relate with the ordinary folks and personalize the relationship with the prefix “my”…

 But what are the possible factors that have influenced Prince Effiong Abia and imbued him with this uncommon trait of humility that produces such uncommon touch. The one time Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs admits that he is strongly influenced by a British author, Douglas Adams who said: “to give real service, one must add something which can not be bought or measured with money; and that is humility, sincerity and integrity”. These are sterling qualities that can not serve as medium of exchange but as medium of values. According to him, these values have guided his politics, community service, philosophy and his relationships. His  life seems to tow the path of a renowned scholar, Ajayi Abimbola who noted that “a life is never productive until it makes positive impact on the lives of others”.

The afore-mentioned espousals may have stirred his convictions, radicalized him and altered him into a unique personage. But his sense of service enjoyed greater fillip under the tutelage of his boss, long standing acquaintance and professional colleague, Governor Godswill Akpabio. Prince Effiong Abia worked with Chief Godswill Akpabio as Secretary, Akwa ibom State Council of Chiefs while the latter was commissioner in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Attesting to the power of vision, Effiong Abia once told a story of how they worked late in the night one fateful day. When they were set to go, the then commissioner Godswill Akpabio stood outside the premises of his office which overlooked the then Government. He turned to them and said “When I become governor, I would demolish that Government House and build something befitting” noting that that vision was translated immediately he became governor.

 In his book, Lessons in Leadership, written in commemoration of the leadership attributes of Governor Godswill Akpabio, Abia echoes Bobby Knight who noted: “The will to succeed is important but what is more important is the will to prepare” He argues that “It is not enough to aspire to serve the people, but how prepared the ‘servant-leader’ is for the service indeed makes the difference” Our society through a cruel sense of fate is in the middle of inverted values where the cart is often placed before the horse. It is noticeable that people seek the office first before evolving the vision. The result is that our elected leaders grope through their tenure without a clue of what to do. The difference with Governor Godswill Akpabio is that he came to the seat of government with an agenda, a blue-print to transform Akwa Ibom State . And even detractors with great reservation for him admit that his reign in Akwa Ibom State is a success story of unprecedented proportion. That is the leadership style and approach Effiong Abia is urging Akwa Ibom people to internalize.

Even though Prince Effiong Abia also appears to be a leader in his own right, it is heartwarming to note that he has a model he can always look up to or access for periodic counselings. Born into a family of eight as the first, it is obvious that fate had willed for him a place of leadership even from the neucleus family. In 1979, while in Etebi National High School , Esit Eket, he was President of the School Literary Society. In 1982, while a student at the then College of Education , Uyo, he was Director of Information of the Students’ Union Government. In 1989, he was Pioneer President, Mbo Youths Association. He was also member, Mbo Local Government Education Authority. In 1990, he served as Vice-President, Ating Anua Development Association, Enwang, Mbo LGA. In 1991, he became Secretary, Oro Union, Uyo branch. He is till date a member of Oro Think Tank, a political wing of Oron Union. The foregoing depicts this Enwang Ward I member of the People’s Democratic Party as a man whose interest in politics and concern for his people are more than a passing fancy. It is why he could be summed up as possessing inherent leadership trait that seems to be blossoming under the watchful eyes of his boss, Governor Godswill Akpabio.

 The intriguing part of Effiong Abia’s life is the will to succeed. Every achievement of man is a product of his determination. It is why complacency is seen as adverse to success since it impedes determination and self will. Abia would have ended up a happy school teacher from 1984 having acquired at then a meal ticket of National certificate of Education, NCE. But he was decisive about taking his destiny in his hands. And so in 1987, he proceeded to the University of Calabar to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Literary Studies. In 1991, he enrolled in the University of Uyo to read Law. He completed that cycle of professional studies when he was called to Bar in 1997. He also holds a post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public Administration. A maxim of note posits that opportunity only meets a prepared man. Today Abia is a member of the State Executive Council with other opportunities perhaps beckoning while his mates who were complacent ended up as village teachers. There are certainly lessons to learn from his life.  

There is no gainsaying the fact that God has been gracious to this one time Special assistant to the Governor on Finance and General Purpose Committee (FGPC). This scion of Methodist heritage who was baptized in 1966 has also explored for numerous platforms to reciprocate God’s faithfulness. He has invested enormously in kingdom activities. As a mark of reciprocation, Methodist Church Nigeria , Oron Diocese is organizing a reception/thanksgiving service for him in acknowledgement of his numerous gestures to the Church. The event which is billed for Sunday, March 9, 2014 at Methodist Primary School , Enwang at 10.am is expected to be graced by his boss and mentor, Governor Godswill Akpabio and the prelate of Methodist church Nigeria , Most Rev. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche.

 Abia’s determination to join cause with the Church in this event of reception and thanksgiving is in line with the mood that has gained unalterable currency in the State-partnership with God. The Akpabio administration has raised the bar of our collective faithfulness to God. He has been unequivocal in crediting the achievements recorded in the State in the past six and some fraction years to God. And the achievements are also unequivocally substantial drawing the envy of other States. 

Today every public officer in the State has learnt to put God first in his dealings. Abia’s thanksgiving is therefore an integral part of the administrations vision of taking the people of the State and the State itself to God. It is a great quest towards genuine evangelism.

 Prince Effiong Etim Abia, a lawyer cum politician was born on July 31, 1964. He is happily married to a lawyer wife, Barrister (Mrs.) Iquo Abia and the union is blessed with four adorable children. 

Joe Iniodu is a public affairs analyst.