AKPABIO’S PARTING GIFT TO AKWA IBOM By Joe Iniodu When on October 27, 2012, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR who was on a working visit to Akwa Ibom State performed the ground breaking ceremony for Akwa Ibom International Stadium, the thought of such gigantic project being completed seemed a mirage to many. But exactly two years later, Mr. President is returning to inaugurate the multifaceted edifice of six levels sitting on 32 hectares of land with capacity for 30,000 spectators. Thanks to the steadfastness and commitment of an uncommon governor, His Excellency, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, who has rightly earned the epithet of Promise Keeper as one of his many aliases. The Stadium has not only been completed by a reputable construction giant, Julius Berger on record time, it has earned a place in global history as one of the best in the world. How did Governor Akpabio come by the thought of such stadium and perhaps other novel infrastructure he has wrought in the State? Hear him: “Before I came into government, I used to ask myself questions like what do our leaders see when the go outside Nigeria? If you go outside, you see world class facilities and I felt as a governor I must put those kinds of facilities in the State”. This in summary serves as the answer to the Stadium and the quantum of achievements of this administration which have been globally acknowledged as constituting the indices of uncommon transformation. Governor Akpabio’s determination to replicate in his home State what he finds abroad echoes eloquently his passion not only for development, but one that is in sync with the best. According to him, he would settle for nothing but the best maintaining that Akwa Ibom people deserve the best. This culture of seeking the best has birthed the Akwa Ibom International Stadium that is being inaugurated by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan today. A timeless maxim posits that what the mind can conceive, the man can achieve. Cultivating and nurturing the culture of great dreams are said to be the mediation to achievements provided there is also corresponding action. Akpabio did not only dream of a stadium that would rank as one of the best in the world, there was concomitant action driven by courage and vision. Today the edifice stands as a testament of impetus to the “I can do spirit”. The phenomenal stadium sits on 32 hectares of land in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State. It has a bullet proof VIP box that can sit 90 persons and has a scoreboard that can do anything in the IT world. The stadium which is multi-faceted has an eight lane tartan tracks and six lane warm-up tracks located by the side of the soccer training pitch which is meters away from the stadium main bowl. This underscores that the stadium is not for football alone. Already IAAF has already certified the stadium to host international athletics’ events. The stadium has two well furnished dressing rooms for players of home team and visiting team as well as another for match officials. It has a dope room, a medical centre for doctors and toilet facilities. There is also a media tribune that can accommodate over 100 journalists and camera stands were TV journalist can do their work with ease. The floodlights which number about 300 are under the stadium roof and each has 2000 watts capacity. What this means is that you can pick a grain on the floor when a march is being played in the night. Again under these mass of lightings, night is day and a beautiful sight to behold. Of course the stadium is inundated with CCTV cameras making the arena inoperable for criminals and terrorists. The cameras are so sensitive that if one is sending a text message on his/her phone, such messages are picked. The stadium also has provision for the physically challenged making it possible for them to access the facility during events with less difficulty. Again unlike many other stadia which pitches use synthetic grass, Ibom International Stadium’s pitch is 100 percent natural grass with its lush green beauty. There is sprinkling system to ensure that the pitch is watered regularly. There is also a nursery within the stadium for rearing grass for local use as well as exporting it to other stadia that may be in need. Power supply within the complex has also been adequately catered for with installed plants capable of generating electricity to the entire complex when in maximum use. The Ibom International Stadium which is a six level facility has the athletes and fans zone on level one and two. The third floor is an access area to other floors. The fourth and fifth house the media and VIP areas. As stated earlier, the VIP box is encased with fortified bullet proof glass. In line with FIFA standard, there are enough exit facilities to guarantee the evacuation of 30,000 capacity crowd within six minute in event of an emergency. A good product may not need the best salesman as it sells itself. And so the Ibom International Stadium lent itself to this maxim when the Nigeria Football Federation Board (NFF) came calling. The President of the body, Mr. Amaju Pinnick who could not hide his excitement while inspecting the facility quickly made a policy statement stating that Nigeria’s last 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against South Africa slated for November 19, 2015 would be played at the ultra-modern stadium. Pinnick asserted that the Ibom International Stadium facility was not only a thing of pride to Akwa Ibom but the entire West Africa. “There is no stadium like this in the entire West Africa”, he stressed. The President of NFF stated that Nigerian football teams can no longer afford to go abroad to play friendly matches when the Ibom International Stadium is available in the country adding that Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground in England where Super Eagles play friendly matches is not half as good as what we have in Uyo. Hear him: “This is why we want to bring big football nations like England, Spain and Germany to Uyo to play at this wonderful piece of artwork”. Veteran Sports Journalist, member of the executive of CAF and son of the soil, Mr. Paul Bassey in his comment said: “With what Governor Akpabio has put in place, Uyo is now the new home of sports in the Country. This is to say the least an uncommon feat”. But Paul Bassey is not alone in this opinion. The PRO of YSFON, Mr. Ben Ekpo sounded even more excited. “Even if the stadium was the only thing Akpabio did in his tenure, posterity would still have recorded him a hero. He has through this stadium met the yearnings of youths, stimulated the economy of the State and prepared the State as an authentic tourism destination. He is my hero and God will bless”, he stated. Mr Ekpo took a swipe at those who disparage Akpabio describing them as ethnic bigots. He said there must be something fundamentally wrong with those who have refused to see what Akpabio has done. Mr. Edwin Young Ukpanah, a 95 year old man whose sight is impaired lamented his inability to behold the wonder wrought by Akpabio and which the radio has continually talked about. He advised other leaders to take a cue from what he has done and seek ways to also live imprints as the governor has done. A sport journalist friend of the writer who came from Lagos during the visit of NFF Board stated that what he has seen in Akwa Ibom is like magic. He said that the people of the State are very lucky to have such a governor. When I hinted that they are still people who hate the governor with a passion, he queried whether I am sure such people are from the State. The inauguration of the stadium is in every respect therefore an important event that should interest all Nigerians, lovers of sports and people whose civilized values endear them to enduring things. President Jonathan who is coming with his counterparts, President Alassane Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire and president John Dramani Mahama of Ghana are in Akwa Ibom as leaders who love good things and encourage good governance. Governor Godswill has been widely described as the poster boy of the Nigeria political class. He is a pride to PDP as a governor and a political soul-mate in whom Mr. President is well pleased. It is why Mr. President’s visits to the State have been more often than any other State. The obvious joy of Mr. President is that each time he comes, there is always something new to give him the comfort that one of his States is truly working. Aside the president and his counterparts as guests are also CAF President, Issa Hayatou, legendary football hero, Pele of Brazil who is adjudged the best footballer the world has ever known. Of course many State governors and other important dignitaries are also expected to grace the epochal occasion. The Protocol department led by the indefatigable permanent secretary, Aniekpeno Mkpanang is organizing the event. As characteristic of him and the department under his watch, they have invested time, energy, creative thinking and deep passion in the organization of the event. And so as wont with everything they do, the event promises to be intriguing and exciting. African soccer champions, the Super Eagles would lock horns with arch rival, Black Stars of Ghana in a ceremonial friendly match that would open the gates of the Stadium for use thereafter. There would also be activities including cultural displays, march pass, calisthenics, dance and music rendition of popular tunes by the likes of Bucchi, Mish, Kcee and others. Known for paying attention to even the minutest detail, the duo of Sir Etekamba Umoren and Mkpanang have sacrificed sleepless nights for what would be the first event since the creation of the State that would attract not less than three Presidents and a quantum of dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria. With such stadium of repute, many have asked questions on the preparedness on the part of the State Government to create an appreciable condition for maximum utilization of the stadium. Currently, the State has only one standard hotel being Le Meridien and Golf Resort which Governor Akpabio rescued from a near state of abandonment with only seventeen functional rooms. The Akpabio administration which is rich in vision is building a second Five Star Hotel facility at Tropicana to be run by Hilton Groups. It is also building another hospitality resort in Ikot Ekpene, Sheraton Three points. With these two complements to Le Meridien, the State can cope with the upsurge in tourists’ population that the stadium would create. Where there is vision, the people prosper but where there is the lack of it, the people perish. Again with the Ibom International Stadium ready to chance itself into global reckoning that would attract International matches, there is the need to upgrade the old Uyo stadium and perhaps Ikot Ekpene stadium to serve as training pitches. Of course it is heart warming to note that for the stadium complex, a maintenance contract of 10-years has been signed between Julius Berger and the State Government. This strategic policy is an assurance that the stadium would not be subjected to the drudgery and bureaucracy of the civil service which have the likelihood to mar the fortunes of the edifice in terms of maintenance. Finally, Akwa Ibom people nay Nigerians must see the stadium as a priceless gift they must protect and preserve. The stadium must be kept busy through the attraction of matches and other sporting tournaments. And for the giver of this wonderful gift, Akwa Ibom people, the House of Assembly nay Nigerians must summon the will to name the stadium after this uncommon leader who has changed the narrative of Akwa Ibom State in so short a time. Joe Iniodu is a public affairs commentator.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 17:15:05 +0000
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