Akpabio’s lift for Akwa Ibom at 27

BY ANIEKAN UMANAH

A deep and sincere reflection on the recent celebration of the 27th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State gladdens the heart because, at 27, Akwa Ibom has progressed; at 27, Akwa Ibom people are proud. At 27, Akwa Ibom has come of age and stands tall in the comity of states. It has indeed become the pride of the Nigerian nation. 

The story of Akwa Ibom has not always been sweet to tell. From its creation on September 23, 1987, the State existed in the shadow of its potential, neither comely for tourists to visit nor promising for investors to stake their lots. At best, it was famous for its major contributions to the national and regional house help industry. 

However, a new dawn began for the Land of Promise in May 2007 with the coming of  a visionary, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Akpabio, as Governor. Distraught at the diminutive socio-economic and political stature of the State, he proposed a partnership with God for direction guidance and leadership and approached governance with a positive anger that has today resulted in the uncommon transformation of the entire landscape. The uncommon transformation truly, was the toast of the celebration of Akwa Ibom at 27. 

Giving his anniversary broadcast to the people, Governor Akpabio said “ My dear compatriots, what we have witnessed in this State these past seven years is a proof that God honours His words and that whatever is put in His Hands can never decay.” To underscore the covenant of his administration to continue to partner with God, he led the people in thanksgiving on Sunday the 21 in an interdenominational service at the Ibom Hall Grounds in Uyo.

Indeed, the thanksgiving was worthwhile. As the Governor mentioned, “ We are delighted that our children now have an assured future through our free and compulsory education policy. We are also glad that our people, especially children under five, the aged and pregnant women now have access to free healthcare services. We are happy that Ibom International Airport is functional – a project we met at the site clearing level. Today the second phase is nearing completion. We completed its first phase with a runway of 3.6km (which could be expanded to 4.2km). Under construction at the airport are state-of-the–art Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, as well as the International Terminal building, the Cargo Terminal with associated Aprons, a second parallel runway, passenger terminal building, 3-5 Star Airport Hotel, Aviation training College and other auxiliary facilities.”

The one-time pedestrian State has become the destination of choice for people from around the world. The Akpabio initiative that readily comes to mind is the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre: a one-stop hospitality complex that boasts of a galleria, Cineplex; shopping malls, ultra-modern convention centre with multi-floor capacity; a 14 storey five-star hotel with 250 exquisite rooms; a theme Park with various dry (16 rides) and wet park. Although the Cineplex was completed in 2011 and had since been in use, other facilities in the complex are set for inauguration in January 2015. 

What is more? A brand new 30,000 capacity in Uyo, rated as the best in West Africa in terms of facilities, aesthetics and architectural design, it is completed and ready for commissioning. Also, the Ibom Specialist Hospital, with a 308 bed space, is at an advanced stage of completion. The Hospital on completion will serve as a major referral hospital in the country.

Other flagship projects that have opened up Akwa Ibom as the new destination in the Gulf of Guinea include the Ibom Gas Processing Plant, which was recently commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan; the 4-Star Four Point hotel in Ikot Ekpene; the Ibom E-Library, the first of its kind in West Africa and the Akwa Ibom State University.

Today, the State can boast of over 95 per cent rural electricity coverage as against the national average of 17 per cent; youths and women have been empowered in various fields of agro-businesses; five new General Hospitals have been built and equipped, in addition to other cottage and medical centres. The list is endless, especially considering the over 6,000 projects executed by the administration to improve the lots of the rural dwellers, across the 31 local government areas of the State. 

In view of the zeal and passion with which the administration of Chief Akpabio is still forging ahead with projects, with a view to making life better for the generality of the people, he has proved an exception to the usual Lame Duck Syndrome that often infect many outgoing public officers across the world, rendering them incapable of implementing more beneficial policies and programmes for their people. For Governor Akpabio, he has vowed to work for the good of the people till his very last day in office. As such, other numerous projects are on-going or nearing completion across the State. Among them are, the dualized Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road; dualized Eket – Etinan Road; dualized Eket - Ibeno Road.

It is a consensus among the people, at home and in the Diaspora that Chief Akpabio has put up a five-star performance that has made Akwa Ibom a showpiece in Nigeria, and surely deserves the plethora of recognitions, accolades and honours that he has continued to receive from around the world.

As the exit date of his administration looms, and conscious of the need to sustain the developmental progress recorded by his administration, Governor Akpabio stated his resolve to toe the path of justice, equity and fairness in ensuring that in line with the wish of the generality of Akwa Ibom people, his successor comes from the Eket Senatorial District of the State. 

At the swearing-in ceremony of His Royal Majesty, Edidem Edem Silas Akpan, the Nsobom of Uyo Local Government Area, as the 27th Chairman of the State’s Council of Chiefs, in accordance with the traditional Rulers Law of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Akpabio, charged the monarch to “show direction that will sustain the development of our tempo of our state, in line with the dreams and visions of our forebears.”

The anniversary climaxed with a State Banquet at the prestigious Le’Meridien Ibom Hotel, Uyo, where many stakeholders, including former military administrators, eulogised the excellent performance of the Governor. For many, the last seven years were the real icing on the story of Akwa Ibom at 27.

Although successive administrations, military and civilian did their best to move Akwa Ibom forward, the administration has stood out as giving a major lift to the enviable story of the State, through his uncommon transformation initiatives.
Kudos to visionary leadership; kudos to Governor Akpabio!

-Aniekan Umanah is the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information & Communications.