BY SIR ALBERT C. AKPAN (KSC)
The German philosopher, Hegel, once said that the heroes of an epoch are the clear sighted ones, their words and their deeds the best of their time.
Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio has without question emerged as one of the iconic political leaders and nationalists of Nigeria’s contemporary era.
A true Nigerian patriot of South South extraction, with direct marital ties to the South East, Senator Akpabio, whose earlier career roots lie in the SouthWestern city of Lagos, has in the past two decades, especially in the last eight years, as Senator, Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Presidential Aspirant, his brand of leadership and nationalism on the Nigerian psyche.
Senator Akpabio’s forthrightness and zeal for service delivery grabbed national attention in his time as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, during a House of Representatives’ Committee Probe on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) activities.
Those signature attributes typified and have continued to define the then federal minister’s passion to make a difference in every assignment. It is noteworthy that in his eventful tenure at the helm of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Akpabio, among other accomplishments, achieved the long overdue forensic audit of the NDDC and the completion of the NDDC corporate headquarters, a quarter of a century after the project was commenced.
Before his exemplary service to the nation in the Federal Executive Council, the former Minority Leader in the Eighth Senate, under the People’s Democratic Party, emplaced leadership landmarks in Akwa Ibom State. As a member of the State Executive Council in consecutive roles as Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Commissioner for Lands and Housing from 2002 to 2006, the Essien Udim
born political genius left memorable legacy in people centred public service. This provided the pedestal from which Godswill Akpabio launched an enigmatic, successful bid for the Office of Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
From 2007 t0 2015, during his tenure as two term Governor, he patented the phrase ‘uncommon transformation’ by his unprecedented governance deliverables in human and infrastructural development. He initiated and completed landmark infrastructure projects, including the GodswillAkpabio International Stadium, also known as Nest of Champions, one of the best such facilities in Africa.
He constructed strategic flyover bridges, the pipe jacking drainage system in Uyo Metropolis, the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene and a labyrinth of urban, semi urban and rural road network, all of which added to the transformation of the state’s development landscape.
He consolidated state government’s investments in the Ibom Le Meridien Hotels and Golf Resort and the Victor Attah International Airport and lifted the standards of these facilities to new levels.
He pioneered the free primary and secondary education policy in the state as well as the free health care policy for pregnant women, children and the aged. Governor Akpabio also advanced the IbomDeep Seaport project, re-conceptualized and established the Akwa Ibom State University. He prioritized educational support for Akwa Ibomstudents and manpower development, within and outside the country, for Akwa Ibom public servants.
These achievements, to mention a few, and their ripple effects shot Akwa Ibom State to national and indeed global lime lights and turned it to a major destination for Nigerians and foreign investors. They also attracted wide bipartisan and non-partisan acclaim as a plenitude of national and international leadership excellence awardsconfirmed. There were Honorary Doctorate degrees too from various high profile institutions nationwide. In the same period of uncommon stewardship, His Excellency Chief (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio manifested his enduring essence of patriotism and nationalism in his deliberate efforts to sustain at governmental level the natural hospitality of Akwa Ibom people toward all Nigerians visiting, residing or doing business in Akwa Ibom State. By humanitarian interventions and development support across state and cultural boundaries, he built bridges of friendship and goodwill from North to South and from East to West. For these, he was conferred with several humanitarian awards and traditional titles from various regions of the country.
There is a fair amount of consensus that these are indeed trying times for Nigeria. The perfect storm of security challenges, economic hardship and sometimes disruptive socio-political developments have continued to test the strength of our nationhood and collective progress. Lessons from previous watershed moments in our nation’s history and lessons from distant lands compel the need for sublime virtues, higher values and better natures in our leaders, for Nigeria to attain the heights of its destiny. Senator Godswill Akpabio has by his word and deed demonstrated an acute awareness of this necessity.
For obvious reasons, the most recent election cycle in Nigeria has been described by many as the most consequential in the Fourth Republic. Although Nigeria has made progress in various aspects of nationhood, the country still grapples with some teething development problems, many of which create hardship for the citizens. The 2023 elections, being the first general ballot to be conducted after the enactment of key electoral reforms as codified in the Electoral Act 2022 always had the potential to be interesting and unpredictable.
The law, along with unique socio-economic and political factors, produced an equalizing effect in the electoral outcomes. It produced a hard fought almost equal contest among the top three contenders. It also turned out a lot of
political upsets in the battle for the other federal and state elective offices.
It is against this background that Senator GodswillAkpabio’s people skills and political dynamism can be measured. In a PDP governed state, he not only won a landslide victory with 115,401 votes to regain the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District seat that he lost in 2019 but helped to secure a statewide vote tally of 160,620 votes or 32% vote share for the APC’s Presidential Candidate.
Senator Godswill Akpabio will be remembered in the outgoing electoral season for his exemplary act of political maturity and nationalist inclinations, when he stepped up and stepped down for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the eventual winner of the APC Presidential Primaries.
By that display of team spirit, he stood out on that June night at the Eagle Square as an example in commitment to greater goals. He provided a bold example that was followed by other presidential aspirants.
Given the peculiarities of the times, the upcoming democratic transition of power in Nigeria, from one administration to another, has attracted tremendous amount of interest in the country and around the world.
Nigerians in particular, following a spirited campaign season, have justifiably heightened expectations of the next government. Nigerians hope, at the very least, for the effective handling of challenges that have dogged our progress and prosperity as a nation in recent years. Security setbacks, socio-economic troubles, power insufficiency, critical infrastructure deficit, weakness of institutions, disunity and ethno-religious tensions, among others, clearly need to be addressed urgently and robustly.
Indeed, the stakes for the next central government could not have been higher. The executive, legislative and judicial arms of government at the federal level face enormous nation building tasks, in the coming months and years. The National Assembly, being the fulcrum of constitutional democracy, will be saddled with even more crucial responsibilities.
Consequently, the law making body, especially the upper house, cannot afford to get it wrong in its choice of leaders and its legislative agenda. On these two issues, at least, the 10th Senate should reflect a perfect reading of the mood and the needs of the nation and single mindedly seek out as President of the 10th Senate, a member with the best track record of integrity, competent leadership, team spirit, bridge building, nationalism, patriotic vision, common touch and capacity to deliver results at various levels and positions of leadership.
Beyond the preeminent case for the unique competences of Senator Godswill Akpabio, the case for historical justice and regional balance is just as profound.
History shows that the last Senator of South-South extraction to occupy the exalted office of Senate President was Joseph Wayas, about forty years ago.
Since then, the position has been dominantly occupied by senators from the South East, namely: Evan Enwerem, Chuba Okadigbo, Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolphus Wabara and Ken Nnamani. The North Central have also presided over the Red Chamber for a fair amount of time in the last four decades through Iyorcha Ayu, Ameh Ebute, David Mark and Bukola Saraki. The North East is currently taking its turn through the incumbent Ahmed Lawan.
The list of recently elected and re-elected senators truly includes highly distinguished and eminently endowed men and women. It would seem however that, all things considered, Senator Godswill ObotAkpabio, a lawyer and ranking Senator, representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District was made for this moment and made for the Presidency of the 10th Senate. The nation waits in anticipation.
