By Ali Elias
Let me clarify from the onset: Akpabio Nigeria, has nothing to do with the Senate President’s recent remark of “Prayer in the bank”, his tacit way of telling his colleagues in the Senate that a certain allowance for them has been made through their bank accounts; that caused a wide uproar in the country.
No that’s a trifle. “Akpabio’ Nigeria” is focused on a bigger issue.
In 2014, then as the editor of Adpoint International Magazine, now rested, I was specially invited to cover the 44th edition of the Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, at Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital.
On arrival, I was shocked at the rare positive transformation of the city, contrary to its outlook at my previous visits, during the previous administrations. The New look of the city was amazing. Amazing at its sudden and unexpected turn of good fortune.
The roads were wider, newly reconstructed and tarred, some with double lanes, with accompanying drainage system. The inner Streets were equally much improved and inviting, much unlike their old selves. Both human and vehicular traffic flowed flawlessly. In truth, I couldn’t recognize the popular Ibom Square, which served as a melting point in the city. A place that, hitherto, wore every resemblance of the popular Boundary in Ajegule, Lagos, where you could be pinched out of your valuables-belongings money and emotions, even in the daylight.
The changes were so glaring that any previous visitor can notice it once you step into the city. “What happened? I asked someone in the hotel reception where I lodged.
“How? he asked.
“I mean the way the city looks now”
“A-ah, na (it’s) our uncommon governor”
“Uncommon governor”, I thought.
I talked a little more with the reception staff and eventually retired to my room.
As I sat in the room watching TV I began to reason that just one person with the right vision can change the destiny of a people.
More revelations awaited me the next day, on this “Uncommon transformation” as the people fondly referred to it.
At the event proper, the NIESV Annual General Conference, almost every speaker, the MC, and informal discussions, were jokingly punctuated with “uncommon this”, “uncommon that” in reference to the uncommon transformation which had become like a musical chant in the city.
At a marked time, the attendees were taken on a tour of the city, at the instance of the governor, to witness, firsthand, the milestone so far achieved by his administration.
Our first place of visit was the Ibom E-library where a staff there told us, “Ibom E-library, which is one of his kind in Nigeria, is one of the songs used in composing the music of uncommon transformation in Akwa Ibom state”, adding, “It’s breathtaking and encompasses 21st century techs”. As it is said in law circles, ‘the case speaks for itself’ and indeed, it did for anyone who visited there then.
From there we toured the General Hospital under expansion, modification and reconstruction; the Ibom stadium complex, which till today is the favorite of our national team- the super Eagles, and their handlers, in spite the facts that we have two national stadiums in Lagos and Abuja.
There were still other places for us to see-the fountain of Nwaniba, le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort; Tropicana Entertainment Center, Ibaka deep seaport, and much more. However, we had to cut short our visit due to time constraint.
On the way back to the Ibom Hall, the AGC venue, a lady attendee from Lagos asked, “Crime dey here at all (Is there crime here at all)? And another, equally from Lagos, remarked, “I just love this place, pretty nice place to be”
In an article we wrote on the transformation (Adpoint international magazine), we titled it “Uncommon Transformation-Chart Buster Album by Dr Godswill Akpabio, Governor of Akwa Ibom State”, due to its resonance and rhythmical alignment with the people and reality in the state. We equally shared our “Edition Personalities” Award, for that edition, between him and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the then Governor of Ekiti State.
The fact is, you do not have to go from place to place, gallivanting all over the globe, looking for investors if the climate for investment is conducive. Nor do you have to be shouting yourself hoarse, and even forcing people to be patriotic when they don’t see anything to make them to be that. “If you build it they will come” wrote Harold Klemp, in his book “We Come As Eagles”
Now on to the big one, the main point of this piece. It has been reserved for the last.
At the gala night of the event, hosted by the governor, at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel, an iconic edifice comparable to anyone in Lagos, Abuja or anywhere in the world, an obviously happy Akpabio remarked to his audience “the days of Ekaites are over. You won’t find them again from here”. Then jokingly he added, “We live them to other places”! He was obviously aware of the effect the uncommon transformation on the people, their psyche, and the state.
“Ekaite” was then a common and trending name, used to make fun of the throng of youths-both male and female, who migrates from the state to other states, like Lagos, and other big cities in Nigeria to take up menial and undignifying jobs. They usually serve as housemaids, cleaners, cooks, messengers, and other such services, including commercial sex work.
“The reason why you will no longer see them…” according to the governor, but to put it in our own words, ‘is because they are being pulled back home by the music of uncommon transformation’.
And so it has turned out to be till today. Prophetic. Practical. “Ekaite” now only reminds us of the inglorious past of a people. Their servitude.
That trend of migration and being dehumanized has been reversed, irreversibly; all thanks to Dr. Godswill Akpabio. Today Akwa Ibom has become a place where people from other areas seek to migrate to in search of a better life. Like Lagos. Like Portharcourt. Like Abuja.
“You won’t find them again; we leave them to other places”. That was a subtle and uncommon challenge that this uncommon individual, this uncommon governor, threw far and wide not just to other governors in the country then, and even now, but to any perceptive leader in Nigeria. A demonstration of how to care for your people and win their hearts, even votes in an elective contest. Not empty words. Not empty promises. Nor by violence. But matching your words with action.
What transformation can be more than restoring the confidence and dignity of a people to believe in themselves, in their leaders, and their country?
Is that aspect of the history of the Akwa Ibomites any different from the dehumanizing and pitiable condition in which Nigerians face, the “Japa” (migration) syndrome, and the overall systemic rot in the country today? It does seem that we are even in a worse situation.
So?
Pull back the country from the brink of collapse. Pull back our people from their near total loss of hope. Pull back our youths from the Ekaitetic situation, the Japa syndrome that now seems to be the trend in the country, pull them back to themselves, to their beloved country, so that they, rather, we, can exude, once more, the proud and confident Nigerians that we are: Restore the confidence and belief of the citizens, and others, in this great country. That’s what this plea is all about.
Akpabio Nigeria. Fix Nigeria.
The call, rather the plea, is to the sitting President of the federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
He is someone, I believe, has the gut, political will, experience and capacity, to fix anything he has his eyes set on. Lagos is an example. His “rubberish” way into the presidency is another, worthy of study.
Fortunately this enigma, this very man, this very Dr Godswill Akpabio, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, whose name has been verbalized to form this phrase, “Akpabio Nigeria”, he’s serving under the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, as the President of the Senate. They can work together to Akpabio Nigeria, to fix Nigeria; using whatever magic and spirit Akpabio used to turn around Akwa Ibom state during his time as the governor of the State.
Irrespective of what Akwa Ibom, or Dr Godswill Akpabio becomes today, and in the future, Akpabio stands, in my records, as the modern father of Akwa Ibom state, the renaissance of the state; believe it or not.
This is your chance, glorious chance, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to put yourself up as the father of a modern Nigeria. A Nigeria turned round, from its downward spiral, to become the Hub and hope of its people and the black race.
It is always great to come across a page where the admin take an actual effort to generate a really good article.