Godswill Akpabio and the G7-15 plus thank you initiative

Godswill Akpabio

BY UWEM UDOKO

It is no longer news that a body called G7-15plus is organizing a Thank You programme in honour of Chief Godswill Akpabio, a Senator of the Federal Republic  and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The attempt of this writer in this piece is to find out whether the programme is necessary at all or whether it would amount to a complete waste of time and resources.
When at the inception of his administration in 2007, Chief Godswill Akpabio had said he will leave Akwa Ibom State better than he met it, many may have thought the statement was a mere rhetorical effusion from a politician who may have been full of exhilaration at the prospect of becoming the governor of one of the most potentially great states in the country.
It has become evident now, considering where the state is today, and where it was before the advent of Akpabio, that not only has he matched those lofty words with action, but has indeed set a standard by which future administrations in the state will be measured. A public affairs commentator in the state who shares this opinion believes the former Governor has, by his political accomplishments, divided the states trajectory into three epochs: the pre-Akpabio years, the Akpabio years, and the post - Akpabio years. Thus like the proverbial Colossus, the accomplishments of Chief Akpabio in Akwa Ibom State towers above, bestriding the two other eras.
The accomplishments of Chief Godswill Akpabio cannot be said to be mere happenstance or a function of the enhanced revenue which the state was opportuned to enjoy during his era. They are products of great vision and profound insight into the true needs of the Akwa Ibom people. Of course, it cannot be gainsaid that a less-endowed leader could have frittered away the gains of the Akpabio years without having anything to show for it. The Akpabio story may yet provide the most graphic example of preparation meeting with opportunity.
The impact of the Akpabio uncommon transformation can be felt every where in the state. It has rubbed off positively on the people, imbuing them with certain sense of pride - an uncanny feeling which ensues from a belief that the state has come of age. To Clinton, the restoration of optimism in a people is the beginning of progress.
That Godswill Akpabio has transformed the psychology of the average Akwa Ibom person aptly corroborates the position of Isocrates who believes the good public spirit of a single individual can bring immense profit to society.
All this could not have been possible save for the personal belief of Chief Akpabio that you cannot lead a people well without first loving them - a belief that has remained his personal mantra. The flipside of this is that you cannot love a people, without them loving you back.
Love relationship between a leader and his people are not often romantic in nature. They do not involve long hearty chats on the phone nor hand-in-hand strolls at eventide. They do not thrive on exchange of love notes and gifts. They are about quality service to the people and in return, good followership and unqualified appreciation when the task of leadership has been completed.
That Chief Godswill Akpabio has succeeded in his task of leading the state these past 8 years cannot be faulted by any well-meaning Nigerian. Like Churchill said in his oration during the unveiling of a memorial in honour of his friend, Lawrence of Arabia, Chief Akpabio was a leader in whom, “there existed not only an immense capacity for service, but that touch of genius which everyone recognized and no one can define.”
From the era of Jesus Christ, through the epoch of Julius Caesar, onto the modern day, societies have always expressed their appreciation to leaders in several ways. The Jews converted palm fronds and raiment into a red carpet of sort to herald Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The Romans erected monuments and organized public events to garland the martial accomplishments of Julius Caesar. The grateful people of Tanzania built a befitting retirement home for Julius Nyerere, the Nwalimu who besides laying an enduring political foundation for Tanzania, choose to make the language of the Bantu people the second national lingua franca after the English language. The Bantu people of Tanzania make up the smallest ethnic group in the country and their language is Swahili. (You can best imagine the impact of such generous gesture on the Bantu people who knew their small numerical strength could hardly give them any political leverage in the country).
One thing about great leaders is that they always engage the right gear in their people.
For Chief Godswill Akpabio, it could be somewhat difficult to evolve a one-dimensional pattern for his post-era celebration. This is understandable given the array of excellence awards and leadership prizes he has garnered from reputable institutions at home and abroad. But again like they say, you cannot fully appreciate the grace of a dancing masquerade from one angle: you must change positions periodically to take in the full breadth of its beauty.   
It is in this vein, that one finds the forthcoming G7 – 15 Thank You Initiative for Chief Akpabio as timely and worthy. The programme organized in appreciation of Chief Akpabio and in celebration of his uncommon political strides in Akwa Ibom State, couldn’t have come at a more auspicious time. For while it would be a befitting and rare honour to him for a job well done, it would equally serve as a spur to his successor, and an inspiration to upcoming leaders in the state and elsewhere.
The celebration which shall be done through songs, dance, drama, essay and poetry, offers fresh new vistas of opportunity to the people of the state, especially the youths, to showcase their talents and win for themselves mouth-watering prizes in the bargain. And for Chief Akpabio who is ever so proud of anything good about Akwa Ibom State, nothing could be better than this. The programme will also afford Chief Akpabio the opportunity of assessing firsthand the impact of his rich legacy on the good people of the state.
The real worth of a leader is not always determined by the judgment of history. It is sometimes determined by the manner they are celebrated while still alive. Ask Mandela when you see him.
To the one who is the object of the G7 – 15 Thank You Initiative, Chief Godswill Akpabio, one can only surmise that your eventful public life reminds one of the immortal words of Lincoln: “ In the end, it is not the years in your life that matter, it is the life in your years”. Roll out the drums!