For the state, it is a milestone. We are not talking about a toddler here. Here is a full-blown adult at 37. Created way back in 1987, Akwa Ibom State has come a long way in many areas of development.
In infrastructure, democratically, the people and what have you. And so today, every well-meaning citizen and resident alike should be in a gay mood as the state marks another anniversary with its third democratically elected governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
The state has undoubtedly been lucky to have governors with a development mindset. A mindset that has brought the state to where it is today in many areas of human development. Need I talk about the egalitarian and pan-spirited Architect Victor Attah, who saw the entire state with the same lenses? We had a bubbly Chief Godswill Akpabio who took it all to another level with his Uncommon Transformation mantra. His successor, Udom Emmanuel, did a little of consolidation here and there.
And today, we have Pastor Umo Eno, a hotelier and entrepreneur turned politician, with fate thrusting him forward as the governor of Akwa Ibom State. Armed with his ARISE Agenda blueprint, he is barely fifteen months in office since coming on board as governor, principally through the backing of his godfather and predecessor, Udom Emmanuel and the support of the Akwa Ibom people.
The governor is no doubt doing his best in the steps he has taken to cushion the effect of the current harsh economic realities today. The second batch of food distribution under the Bulk Purchase Agency is a plus to his administration. Houses are being built for the downtrodden in rural communities; the youth are not left out of the governor’s ARISE Agenda. The elderly are receiving a monthly welfare package. The agriculture sector is receiving attention. The governor has led the state with human empathy and refreshing humility. These no doubt are commendable attributes.
But the governor, like other governors, must do more for their people. The economy is biting. The prices of foodstuffs and other basic amenities have gone out of reach for the average citizen. The people are swimming in very difficult waters. There is more money in the states now with the removal of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol or fuel, as the case may be.
The governors must work their socks off, roll off their sleeves, and work for the people and their respective states. Today, things have gone haywire. Survival has become that of the fittest, if not the most rugged and dogged in the country vis-à-vis states. And when a fish is rotten in the head, how do you salvage the rest of the body? So, the harsh times have brought untold hardship and suffering to Nigerians everywhere. It is not about party A or B. This is a dire situation that has dealt a massive blow to the pockets of Nigerians.
But we live through the times in the hope that light will shine through at the end of the tunnel. But it is even hoped that we stay alive to see the end of the proverbial tunnel. This is because of how bad things have become. To feed satisfactorily today has become a herculean task. Families are groaning under the weight of multiple and very high standards of living. The economy is not smiling. The price of gasoline is giving no sign of coming down. Motorists are lamenting. Tricycle operators are complaining. All commercial transporters are facing the heat of high fuel prices. The passengers are now paying through their noses. For the average citizen of Nigeria, nay Akwa Ibom, life has never been this tough.
I digress.
As Pastor Umo Eno marks his first state creation anniversary as governor, all eyes are on him. It is no time to complain about some cabinet members not living up to expectations so much that he once said he may bypass some commissioners to have things done as they should and timeously too. Rather than make such remarks, the governor must start being decisive. It is high time he knew that he is the governor. He is not a co-governor. There can only be one governor at a time. And the mantle has fallen on him now. If he does well and ends well, posterity will not forget him in a hurry. But if he governs in a way that appears he is being teleguided, hence failing to deliver the goods, he will have to face the unsavoury verdict of posterity.
Related: AT 37: AKWA IBOM COUNTS GAINS OF STATEHOOD
And so in marking this anniversary, Pastor Umo Eno must be the governor in words and actions. One doesn’t want to see a situation that makes it seem his predecessor is dictating to him. While this has sadly become the reality in Nigeria where predecessors who installed their successors want to have a say in the day-to-day running of government, it is imperative for Pastor Umo Eno to take the bull by the horns, put his hands on the plough, and deliver democratic dividends to the over seven million people of the state who have their gazes fixed on him without a scintilla of care about whose ox is gored.
Many had expected that by now there would have been a cabinet shake-up. But that has yet to happen. And signs that it’ll happen soon are slim, at least judging from the body language of the governor. Yet, it is obvious that some commissioners, a good number of them who worked with the previous governor, have lost touch with the workings of their ministries or have run out of ideas, hence can no longer effectively deliver on the mandate of their ministries. It’s a case of having overstayed one’s welcome. Keeping them in office when they have seemingly run out of ideas or passion is not the best for the development of the state. The governor should drop the toga of political correctness and do the needful. Ineffective commissioners should be excused from the cabinet. There are a thousand and one capable people out there burning with the desire and passion to contribute their quota to the development of the state. Keeping some of them even when they have shown without a hint of ambiguity that they have hit a cul-de-sac in the fertility of their brains is not a good commentary on the Umo Eno-led administration.
Is there anybody threatening the governor in a hushed tone that if he dissolves his cabinet, there’ll be problems for him in running the state? Are there powerful power brokers the governor is afraid of? Is he listening to his predecessor and doing his bidding without caring a hoot about the feelings of the generality of the people? Is he at ease with the way and manner in which some of his commissioners are interpreting his Arise Agenda? How about their competence and pace of work? Is it commensurate with the resources made available to them? Are there very powerful and untouchable commissioners who can’t get the boot no matter how poorly they carry out their assigned responsibilities and tasks? Who is their godfather? Who is prodding them on? Why is the governor dithering in being decisive? What are his fears? Second term? Even when it’s too early to talk about the second term now, he must do well in the first term to earn the trust of the people for a second term.
Whatever is happening today is part of the problem faced by governors and leaders at all levels who ascended to power on the coattails of their godfathers. It is always a problem of not being oneself. Of not making certain decisions despite how noble it is for fear of the unknown. Of not calling a spade by its name. Of being tied to the apron strings of an overbearing godfather who has further suffocated the system with his henchmen who remain loyal to him even more than the current governor they are serving. Of not embarking on certain projects dear to him without the approval of his predecessor and benefactor. So, we have a case of a known governor and an unknown one pulling the strings of governance behind the scenes with so much power and influence.
As Akwa Ibom clocks 37, the state must look back from where and when it all started and be proud of where it is today. If anything, the state has become a destination of choice for Nigerians who desire a peaceful state with a peaceful and restful ambience, neatness and all for conferences, meetings and leisure. The Ibom Air is thriving. The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium has become a home for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, with matchdays providing a huge market for businesses, especially the hospitality sector.
But more still has to be done. Akwa Ibom State has the resources. While Ibom Air has become a state and national treasure, there is a need to look at other areas of development that will benefit the common man and woman in the hinterland. The investment in Ibom Air is good, but it is elitist. How many people can afford flight tickets? Many just take one flight ticket to support and upgrade their business. Flight is a luxury that not so many people can afford. So, what this should trigger is a desire to do something else that’ll capture those in the lower rungs of the economic ladder.
The state should look out for viable industries. The infrastructure is there in terms of good and accessible roads. What Akwa Ibom State is lacking now are good industries that will not just employ its people but open up the doors of the state to people from other states who’ll troop in here on a daily basis for one business transaction or the other. This will boost the state’s economy. And it’ll be a plus to existing business owners who’ll benefit too from the boom. A situation where an average person here thinks that it’s only through politics that one will become rich is not the best.
If there are industries here that are running optimally, I bet you that Akwa Ibom will in no time rub shoulders with Lagos, Port Harcourt, Aba and the like, where a lot is happening commercially, and the people are the better for it. Let’s create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and encourage our youth to be industrious. This will reduce overdependence on the government, reduce pressure on public officeholders, and boost the economic firmament of the state.
Akwa Ibom State is blessed. But it still has a long way to go, especially in commerce and the style of politics. Isn’t it curious that the moment one gets into any public office, he doesn’t want to leave again? We have people whose relevance dates back to 1999. Today, they are still calling the shots. Their only verifiable business and source of income and survival are freebies from the government. So, they attend every state function. Wherever the governor goes, they are there. They have become kingmakers. And have built a formidable structure so much that any governor that comes on board, especially from the People’s Democratic Party, must kowtow to them, failing which they’ll make the state rough and governance tough for the governor.
But this is not the way to go. It is not done this way in many other states. For a job we think one person is so good at, there are hundreds of people out there who can do even better. Let’s spread our tentacles. Open up the political space and do away with sit-tight syndrome. It is to the detriment of the state that money has remained perpetually in the hands of a few for years on end. How about others? This is one area that needs urgent surgery in the state. When one has served in a public office and has left, he should go and face other things while leaving the stage for fresh hands and fertile minds to have their time. It keeps everyone on his toes and engenders widespread development.
As the state basks in the euphoria of its 37th anniversary, one looks forward to better days ahead. The potential is there. All that is needed is the willpower to do the right things. Rejigging the system here and there. And thinking beyond politics and politicking as the be-all and end-all of life.
Arise one, arise all, let’s take Akwa Ibom State to its destined destination.
