Akwa Ibom: A state under Grace BY JOE INIODU

Governor Akpabio describes it as the only State in Nigeria named after God. He segues this with a plethora of activities that are in honour of God-monthly solemn assembly, annual interdenominational service at the beginning of every year, annual thanksgiving service to God at the end of every year with a record breaking mass choir of 9,999 participants, annual thanksgiving service to commemorate the creation of the State, thanksgiving to celebrate Democracy Day and other activities that celebrate God and put His glory on a high note. It must be stated without fear of equivocation that at no point in the history of the State has God been so celebrated and accorded such niche of reference as in currency. The scripture was certainly not in default when it stated that when the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoice.

 Part of the State’s active allegiance to God debuted on May 25, 2014 in Living Faith Church , Ikot Ebido Oku, Uyo as an aspect of this year’s package for Democracy Day which grand finale comes up on May 29, 2014. While the State Government independently chose a theme: “The Transforming Grace” (Zech 3:4-5), the church also curiously generated its own theme: “The Exceeding Grace” lending impetus to what the Secretary to the State Government called the oneness of the Spirit. The State scribe is in charge of the committee planning this year’s Democracy Day which is also the seventh year of Akpabio’s administration. Even though the State Government has chosen to keep the event on a low mode as a response to the State of the Nation especially the abduction of the school girls, the remarkable accomplishments of the administration in the last seven years can not be wished away.

And so even as the State had reasons to celebrate, the mood was sombre and sober. The venue of the thanksgiving event, Winners Chapel, Ikot Ebido Oku, Uyo lived up to its billing as the State headquarters of the Winners Family. The Church, an imposing structure with tasteful finishing and furnishing upped the mood of the event. The well decorated altar was draped with national colours perhaps to bespeak our sense of oneness and nationhood. With television screens positioned at close intervals of space, one did not need to crane one’s neck to catch a glimpse at the person on the altar, personalities within the congregation who were beamed from time to time or other arrivals as they thronged into the church. The inside of the church was filled to capacity with the overflowing population milling outside the premises. The sense of orderliness of the Winners Family was well manifested in the ingenuous parking arrangement which checked traffic snarl. Petty traders also thronged the arena doing brisk business. It was a case of all things working together to the glory of God.

As worshippers took their seats to submit in true or pretentious reverence to God, what perhaps seized the attention of many was a an inscription which adorned one of the walls of the church facility: “Faith is a mystery that confers mastery”-Timothy 3-9. It is a profound spiritual postulation that underscores the awesomeness of God and which made the thanksgiving very apt. There is no dispute in the assertion that Akwa Ibom has gained mileage in the last seven-years in good governance to the point of being referred to as a benchmark which also connotes mastery. The governor attributes all the achievements to God. It can therefore be said that God who is mystery turned the mystery into mastery for Akwa Ibom State and its people. Today the State shares the front burner in national affairs and is accorded esteem in the scheme of things.

When Governor Akpabio mounted the pulpit for the Bible reading of the day which came from Psalm 96:1-13, he was reading to a people who have enjoyed the manifest blessings of God. Pastor Joseph Ademola Ajibade, the provincial pastor, Living Faith Church , Ikot Ebido Oku, Uyo, who delivered the homily echoed these sentiments strongly. He described the event as a celebration of the transforming effect of God’s work. Quoting from 2 Corinthian 9:14, the man of God stated that exceeding grace which also served as the church’s coined theme is the maker of man’s destiny. Referring to Zechariah 3:1-5, he said that testimony stands for triumph of God’s grace and love on man’s life. He declared that since the Lord has worked with the leadership of the State for the past seven-years, He would finish in perfection since he is not a God of abandoned projects. He noted that the reason for celebrating is to express gratitude to God especially through His transforming grace.

While many have often defined grace to be unmerited gift or favour granted by God, Pastor Ajibade added another perspective to the definition of grace to be God being with one in a race noting that if God is with one in a race, such a person is bound to triumph. Citing Psalm 124, he stated that grace is the sufficiency of human help. The provincial pastor further espoused that grace covers weaknesses and magnifies strengths. These conjecturing without doubt, work in sync with an age-long scriptural maxim which asserts that one with God is a majority. Governor Akpabio came into the governorship race in 2007 as an underdog contending with about 57 other aspirants. But it was God’s agenda to cover his weaknesses and magnify his strengths. 

That mystery turned him into a master but well heeled in modesty.
Pastor Joseph Ajibade also stated that grace has virtues. He isolated the virtues of grace to include commitment, value and high faith for the Lord. The man of God, however, warned that in grace, one must endure hardness. Perhaps, this position accounts for the kind of vilification the leadership of the State is facing despite such superlative accomplishments never before witnessed in the State. But the words of Pastor Ajibade should serve as a soothing balm to Governor Akpabio whenever he recalls or comes face to face with the enterprise of the wicked who seek on daily basis to disparage him with the purpose of injuring his reputation.

The Pastor was, however, elated with Akwa Ibom State under Governor Akpabio. The man of God stated that the State is indisputably a State under grace given the quantum leap in the transformation witnessed. He drew parallels with other situations where grace has enjoyed manifestations. He cited Genesis 6:4 stating that Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord. He congratulated the governor for what he has achieved concluding that, “God can never stop doing mighty things so long as there is no stealing of His glory”. In the State, the governor credits every achievement of the administration to God Almighty and only sees himself as a windmill in God’s hand.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel thanked God for using Governor Akpabio to unleash His grace upon Akwa Ibom State . He thanked Governor Akpabio for making himself a willing tool in the hands of God. The debonair and accomplished banker turned politician described grace as unmerited favour but added the caveat that grace is never selfish. He lamented that even those God uses to achieve grace for the people are never appreciated by the same people. He prayed God to reward Governor Akpabio for what he has done for the State.

Governor Akpabio in his remarks stated that despite the trauma arising from insecurity, there is still cause to celebrate seven-years of the administration. He said, “We are in pains because of what is happening in Borno, Yobe, Abuja “ but submitted that we must, however, adhere to the injunction of the scripture which admonishes that in all things, we must give thanks to God. Apparently drawing from his faith in God, the governor broke into a song: “Today O!, I will lift up my God in praise” noting that the song represents a narrative of Akwa Ibom people these past seven-years.

Standing before the huge congregation and garbed in sky-blue caftan, the governor said that in the past seven-years there were times he used to feel low but that he is strengthened by the words of the Pastor and SSG that he would not be appreciated. He cited the case of Moses who became incensed by the indiscretion of the Israelites and lost focus pledging that he would focus on his mission to avoid ending up like Moses whose punishment was to only see the promise land without accessing it.

 Governor Akpabio also used the occasion to purge himself of wrongful and banal allegations by opponents that he has a killing nest which he uses to hound down political opponents. He narrated the case of a certain politician whose office was stormed by armed robbers with one of the robbers losing a finger through accidental discharge and leaving same as evidence. The governor informed the congregation that the criminals had since been caught and paraded but the politician is yet to go back to the people to tell them that it was not the governor that masterminded the criminal act. In what bore the mark of overwhelming sincerity, the governor knelt on the altar and proclaimed that if he has ever belonged to any cult, God should disgrace him and his generation. It was a poignant action that welled up great emotions with the attendant reality of the real burden of leadership.

Governor Akpabio also took a swipe at the elders of Uyo for conspiring against him and setting an agenda of discord in the State. He lamented the conduct of the elders noting that it is curious that even though 85% of capital expenditure of the budget of the State is expended in Uyo, Uyo elders have failed to see the need to appreciate God’s work as well as show appreciation to the administration. He warned that it is time for politics to be separated from governance stating that politics has destroyed governance in Africa.