At the inception of his administration, His Excellency, Governor Godswill Akpabio, CON, expressed a smouldering desire to attain a greater Akwa Ibom State. Thus, within the last seven years, this desire has been greatly articulated through positive anger, culminating in the socio-economic and infrastructural renaissance never witnessed in the land of promise. This extraordinary feat by the Governor has been rightly tagged Uncommon Transformation.
However, aware that physical transformation without a corresponding spiritual balance may impede the overall progress of the State, Chief Akpabio dug into the archives, with a view to laying to rest, once and for all, the issue of Akwa Ibom heroes, who were brutally murdered during the Nigerian Civil War (1967 - 1970).
Akwa Ibom, which formed part of the then Eastern region, had a fair share of the pains of the Nigerian Civil War. Some of the finest crop of the political leaders, businessmen, technocrats and bureaucrats of the area, were brutally murdered, and others publicly humiliated. This act of inhumanity has continued to haunt the peaceful co-existence and left a major scar in psyche of the people.
To underscore the imperative of a convivial spiritual atmosphere in the State, Chief Akpabio, on Sunday April 6, 2014 organized a long over-due memorial service, in honour of the slain illustrious sons of the State, with a view to request the Almighty God to cleanse Akwa Ibom of hatred and feelings of injustice, thereby striking a major chord that will enhance the unity and promote brotherliness amongst the people.
For the Governor, convening the memorial service was morally and spiritually apt, to ensure that those heroes were accorded deserved respect and rightful place in the society they toiled for.
Indeed, the solemn occasion marked a major step in restoring peace and harmony in the State. With the theme, Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day... Nehemiah 5:11, the administration simply acted the submission of Howard Staunton, an English chess master, who was regarded as the world’s strongest player of his time. Staunton said, “If, during the course of the game, it be discovered that any error or illegality has been committed in the moves of the pieces, the moves must be retraced, and the necessary correction made, ...”
On that occasion, Governor Akpabio, with a deep sense of sorrow, paid glowing tributes to the fallen heroes and thanked members of the clergy who gave non partisan accounts of the happenings during the war. The Governor noted with pain, that the heroes did not die because of the war, but for the selfish political interests of some individuals, who saw the exposure and education of the victims as threats to them.
Chief Akpabio stressed the timeliness of the memorial service in redeeming the State from the curses brought upon it by the innocent blood of the slain statesmen. Because of the shed innocent blood, Akwa Ibom has been faced with challenges. Even the post-civil war reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes of the federal government could not add much to the people as they were marginalised because, the most illustrious and enlightened who could have championed their courses were killed during the war.
It was a touching moment, when the widow of one of the slain heroes, Mrs. Okon Udofia prayed that God should forgive the murderers, even as Governor Akpabio himself went on his knees, and beseeched Almighty God to forgive the land for the gruesome murder of the heroes.
Describing the day as one made by the Lord, Apostle Isaiah Isong, who gave the sermon, commended Governor Akpabio for organising the event. He noted that the occasion was “a landmark dedication to spiritual matters” and emphasised the need for people to respect the sanctity of human lives as well as have regard for those in authority.
Recounting his personal experience during the Nigerian Civil War, Apostle Isong said, “brothers rose against brothers, which led to several brutal killings at a point known today as Ibom Plaza and other notable places in the state.” He called on politicians to eschew politics of bitterness and desist from aiding wickedness in the land through selfish political interests.
Eminent clergymen, including the Prelate Emeritus of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang; the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr. Cletus Bassey, Rev. (Dr.) Uma Ukpai, Bishop (Dr) Ahaziah Umanah, Rev. Fr. Barr. John Ebebe and Rt. Rev. Idorenyin Ekpe, prayed God to forgive families of the people who perpetuated the unjust killings and grant the souls of the departed eternal rest. They also advised politicians to regard one another as partners in progress and by doing away with greed and selfishness.
Elated at the success of the event, Chairman of the memorial service planning committee and Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel in his remarks, gave kudos to the Governor for the initiative to convene the memorable event. He promised the State government commitment to fulfilling the greater Akwa Ibom dreams of the fallen heroes.
To ensure that the Akwa Ibom heroes remain in eternal honour and memory of Akwa Ibom people, Governor Akpabio led government functionaries, the clergy and family members of the fallen heroes to lay wreath and light memorial candles at a cenotaph, erected at Ibom Hall grounds with the names of the fallen citizens boldly engraved.
The success of the memorial service has, to la great extent, helped to assuage the pains of families of the slain heroes, thus enhancing ethnic harmony among the people of the State, healing decades of hurts and ill feelings. But beyond that, it has, in equal measure, revealed the spiritual insight and sensitivity of the uncommon Governor, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Akpabio. The event truly marks the opening of a new chapter for the State.
Congratulations, Your Excellency, congratulations, Akwa Ibom people!
-Aniekan Umanah is the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information & Communications
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