If there is anything that even the worst critics of Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON will agree with is the fact that he posseses a magic wand that wherever he finds himself in terms of political leadership, he leaves indelible legacy that is difficult to erase.
Recall that as a governor, he maintained an unrivalled excellent lead in terms of development of basic infrastructures that the current governor of Ebonyi, His Excellency Engr Dave Umahi is trying hard to get to 40 per cent in terms of performance. His economic, political and social policies in Akwa Ibom for the eight years he occupied Hilltop in Uyo is being studied by some countries who appreciated the revolutionary things he carried out in his ardent governance of that State.
I am always proud passing through Uyo Airport anytime I travel to the Eastern Region. The reasons for using the State to transit for me are many. Apart from enjoying the smooth and excellent road network from Uyo passing through other local governments in that State to my village in Ikwuano, Abia State, I love seeing the beautiful houses, offices, supermarkets, people and neat environment that the distinguished gentleman left as a legacy in the beautiful State of Akwa Ibom.
The summary of Senator Godswill Akpabio’ leadership as a governor is that he practically touched the lives of all and sundry in Akwa Ibom for good in his eight years’ tenure. Some people may not agree with this assertion but majority of Ibomites whom I have interacted with have affirmed this position without bathing an eyelid.
Furthermore as a distinguished Senator he solely attracted several life changing and touching projects to the constituency he represented for four years in the Red Chambers. It is on record, and this is verifiable, that he not only touched other constituencies with projects in his State , he extended his shadow of love and responsibilities to Rivers and Bayelsa, neighbouring States in the Niger Delta Region. He was like octopus while he held sway in the Red Chambers.
His election as Minority Leader being a first timer to the Senate was unprecedented in our legislative history in the country. He bidded for a return to the Senate, before God, the destiny changer designed another higher office as A Minister of Delta Niger for him, where part of his core responsibility includes over-seeing what is going on in NDDC, an interventionist agency set up by the Federal Government to address the inequalities in the region but which has been turned into a “honey pot” by greedy politicians from across the nation irrespective of ethnic, religious and political divide.
Upon assumption of office, the distinguished Senator started by revisiting all the abandoned projects by crafty contractors who in connivance with previous leadership of the Agency squandered the wealth of the region with nothing to show for it. He insisted on forensic audit of all the previous projects which invariably placed him in collision course with vested interests but his patriotism got President Buhari enthusiastic in the forensic audit which to the glory of God has reached advanced stage. The completion of the forensic audit will undoubtedly birth the emergence of a new board that will place the Agency on a clear, positive direction that will benefit the victimised region.
However of utmost note are two most notorious abandoned projects that the distinguished Senator inherited and fired by the spirit of love, care and responsibility to his region have decided to religiously execute with precision to the admiration of all and sundry from the region including those who are outside the region. The revival and the near completion of the ever lingering East West Road in the region and the completion of the NNDC national headquarter at Port Harcourt which shall be commissioned next week deserves the widest publicity that It should attract from men and women of goodwill.
I am a lover of good things and when I will see one, I will not refuse, fail and or neglect to shout it out. Senator Akpabio deserves accolade for pulling this through and he needs the congratulation of lovers of good things for this achievements. It is on record that the construction of this Head office for over 25 years have taken several billions of naira but was never completed by the previous leadership until Senator Akpabio took the mantle of leadership and like the zealot he is, he decided to thread his usual path of hardwork and excellence. As God will have it, the edifice shall be commissioned effortlessly by the President of Nigeria, President Muhammed Buhari GCFR next Thursday the 11th of March, 2021.
I join millions of Nigerians who have watched the spirit of excellence imbued in Distinguished Senator Akpabio to congratulate him, congratulate President Muhammed Buhari for the right choice he made of the distinguished gentleman as Minister of Niger Delta and Nigeria for having a worthy son in the person of Senator Godswill Akpabio whose political destiny, God alone, will determine in the near future.
This piece is written by
Mr Onyekachi Ubani Esq.
Lagos-based Legal Practitioner.
