Akwa Ibom The awakening of a sleeping giant

Akwa Ibom: The awakening of a sleeping giant

In the month of February, I had the privilege (privilege?) of visiting Akwa Ibom twice. One of the visits was for the burial, on 28 February, 2004, of Major-Gen Philip Effiong. Akwa Ibom is one of those parts of Nigeria I am ashamed to confess that I was just discovering. On this score, my friend, Kayode Komolafe (KK) is well ahead of me! He is regarded from Calabar to Uyo as a “son of the soil”. And he wears this status with pride, and sometimes robs it in. This shows you that ordinary Nigerians have long risen above the pit of ethnicity some politicians want to drag us into!

One Governor who celebrated with fanfare, the abrogation of the onshore/off-shore oil revenue dichotomy, was Obong Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom. His case was such that the entire Nigerian media kept vigil on his reaction after the President signed the abrogation bill into law. Akwa Ibom was not the only littoral state affected by the dichotomy but Attah was the worst hit. The dichotomy meant that Akwa Ibom’s monthly revenue allocation fell from about three billion Naira to under two billion. For a man who had the type of projects Obong Attah has, it was really a frustrating blow.

The first thing that strikes you about Obong Attah is not the number of projects he embarks on but the thoroughness of the thinking that went into the conception of these projects. I have seen some paper claims of projects by some Governors turn out to be no more than a physical manifestation of the contempt in which the governed are held. Others are projects conceived and executed simply to generate kickbacks. Governor Attah’s projects are not littered all over the state for sheer quantity but they bear the signature of the architect he is. He is also selective in his areas of emphasis, knowing that he cannot do everything in his tenure.

Governor Attah is a lucky man. First, he had the singular honour of designing the Uyo master plan, long before he ever dreamt of becoming a Governor! If he did a bad job, it would have caught up with him today. So, he can close his eyes and tell you where what is supposed to be. Even with a few distortions under the military, what is gradually emerging as Uyo metropolis is poised to give many state capitals a run for their money. Secondly, when it comes to developing a tourist-friendly city, Attah is a top hat. Attah’s wife is from Barbados. During the civil war, he was living with his wife in Barbados. He was involved in planning some of the holiday resorts, including luxury homes for the rich. Those who have seen the 120-room Ibom Hotel Resort in Nwaniba will be extremely uncharitable not to acknowledge the quality of thought and work that went into selecting the site and building of the hotel.

If there is any thing that has offered some of our rulers the opportunity to show their contempt for the people, it is the provision of housing estates. They rightly call them shelters! In terms of quality, the only government housing estate that nears the Shelter Afrique estate at Mbiabong Etoi near Uyo is Governor Chimaraoke Nnamani’s Ebeano Estate in Enugu. But in size, Mbiabong Etoi, with 500 units, is indeed amazing as a state project. So also are the three new General Hospitals, one in each senatorial district. One is cited in Ukpom Abak, Dr.Ime Umanah’s (his political opponent’s) hometown. Every tile, every doorknob and every electric switch embodies sincerity in project delivery.

My first encounter with Governor Attah was way back in April 1999 when my friend, Edwin Igbokwe, and I hosted some of the Governors-elect at the Sheraton, Ikeja. Of all the Governors-elect who honoured our invitation, Obong Attah was the only one who came with his deputy, Obong Chris Ekpeyong. Two of them have proved a fine example in partnership. Again I was present in Enugu in 2002 during the launching of the Chief Anyim Pius Anyim-promoted Zik’s Institute. When Governor Attah gave testimony why he could not have missed such a historic event, I was greatly touched by his candour and insight into how we are more united that we think, or than some politicians make out. Governor Donald Duke roused the same sentimental feelings in me the day he spoke, as chairman, at the first Pius Okigbo lecture. (Whatever happened to the second lecture?).

When people are naturally polished, decent, sensitive and compassionate, they invariably carry it to public office. The values we have as people are the values we take into leadership. An Onosode, Kolade, Anyaoku or Achebe will remain what they are in or out of political leadership. Those who come from nowhere will remain insecure, petty and arrogant. One of the essential things lacking in our leadership is lack of respect for the people. The dignity, comfort and relaxation of the people do not count in our planning. Often, therefore, there is a disconnect between the people and the projects put in their name. That is why aluminium railings disappear from the bridges! But Attah, with one project that could have ordinarily looked frivolous, has shown that the people are important, and can be made to directly feel the impact and enjoy the benefit of government.

At the centre of Uyo is the Ibom Plaza. Apart from the aesthetic beauty it adds to Uyo metropolis, the Ibom Plaza connects the people to the government. Borrowing from the Greek concept, the Plaza has an amphitheatre, which has a giant digital TV screen on which the ordinary Uyo residents watch DSTV. The Governor, his family and cabinet often watch important football matches, like the Nations’ Cup, with Uyo residents at the Plaza! The fountain/recreational section offers scenic backdrops to revellers who want to capture their happy moments in picture. If the photographers were charged a token fee for the use of the section, Akwa Ibom government would rake in handsome revenue. The market section offers unique concessions to ordinary traders who are not charged any fee for using the stalls! There is no better way to directly touch people's lives.

It was this type of sensitivity that informed Attah’s utilisation of his state’s share of the derivative funds. He used it to build 50 units of detached bungalows in each of the 31 Local governments so that the local governments benefit directly. When such a man clamours for “resource control” you can listen to him. Many of the megaphones for “resource control” there are who cannot justify the revenue they are currently collecting from the Federation Account. Their arrogant attitude is that nobody has the right to query them. But to him much is given, much is expected! Attah is quietly turning Akwa Ibom into a slowly awakening giant. I'm sure there are few more places in the country where some interesting things are happening. For example, I am intrigued by Governor Turaki’s experiments in Jigawa, and would like to see things for myself.

But if you are going to Akwa Ibom, you must learn that part of the tourist culture there is that every hotel customer must be treated as if he was in his own home. Meals don’t come in 20 minutes after the order. No! They start the cooking after your order. So, if you are the frenetic Lagos type, place your order for breakfast before you go to bed. Order your lunch immediately after breakfast, and order dinner at lunchtime! In Uyo, everything is leisurely. You can’t hurry the sunshine!

May 2004