Uyo – Abuja: The Untold story of Akpabio’s miracles Otobong Nsekpong The story of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s miracle is better told by those who are privileged to travel outside Akwa Ibom state. Until you have had reason to leave the state in recently, it remains difficult or impossible to fully appreciate what Chief Godswill Akpabio has done which is nicknamed uncommon transformation. It is very easy to sit back and criticize the government for not doing enough but when you have course to visit other states, you will readily come to agree that the revenue accrued to the state in the last couple of years have been judiciously utilized by this administration. Going to Abuja was an opportunity to either approve or disapprove the generally held opinion that what we have in the state in the area of infrastructural development is not enough compared to the high revenue profile of the state. I discovered that the highly criticized uncommon transformation song does not deserve the fury it receives from the people in certain quarters. In fact more voices are required in this song that tells a story of development that has taken place in the state in the last seven and half years. The only place that could be likened to Uyo nay Akwa Ibom State in the area of road construction is Abuja, the federal capital territory. Immediately I left the shores of Akwa Ibom I discovered that what I read in the papers about roads in some part of the country being dead traps were not mere exaggerations but realities that give motorists bitter experience. For instance, it was one harrowing experience in the course of the journey somewhere in one of the south eastern states when a long vehicle conveying cattle from the northern part fell across the only ‘motor able’ lane only for motorists to make U turn in order to use the deplorable lane that seems to lead to hell. It was then I came to the conclusion that there is nothing that could be compared to the comfort that comes with traveling on good a road. I also saw good roads as a treasure that should be appreciated by all and sundry. I flashed my mind back to the numerous roads in Akwa Ibom that make road journey as pleasurable as flying in the air. Comparatively, only in Akwa Ibom that I saw good and durable roads, only in the land of promise that one can see such a wide road like the Aka Nung Udoe road completed with street lights. Road construction is just one miracle of Governor Akpabio in the last seven and half years. His marks are also seen in the educational sector where he has not only made education accessible to all children of school age but has massively renovated those schools built before the independence of Nigeria in order to create conducive environment for teaching and learning. In the health sector he has added more facilities in that area including five new general hospitals and the20th anniversary hospital which will revolutionize health care delivery in Africa. He has also sanitized the transport sector. Now no motor park exists in the heart of the town as they have all relocated to government approved parks while taxis and tricycles operating in the state now wear one colour with identification numbers. The ongoing urban renewal policy has improved the beauty of the state capital that turns the capital into a tourist delight. My only regret is that Akwa Ibom people appreciate good things otherwise our Governor should be worshipped. He would have been the one with the final say on certain issues especially in the area of who succeeds him in 2015. The reason is simple that he knows what is good for the people as demonstrated by his zeal in the development of a state that was characterized by decayed infrastructure. Although some people who claim to have eyes yet cannot see are out to paint the achievements of His Excellency black just to score cheap political goal but are quick to celebrate governors elsewhere in the country. It is however gladdening that our own governor is being celebrated in US, UK Europe and African countries while the very same set of people who are the first beneficiary of the good things this administration has done. At this juncture, it is important we pay attention and follow the direction where the governor is leading us in 2015. There is no point arguing over Udom Gabriel Emmanuel being a new face in the politics of the state but we should see the position as that where selfless service is rendered. Those who holds the opinion that they have been with Governor Akpabio and should be ‘rewarded’ with the governorship seat should rather be glad that they were part of the era that has been variously described as the golden era and support the governor till the end.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 06:49:16 +0000
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