Date Published: 06/09/09
Akpabio: Attah’s worst fear
By Ekomobong Etuk
Those who live in glass houses, according to the lyrics of one of the chart bursting songs of Jamaican-born reggae artiste, Peter Tosh, should not throw stones. From all indications, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah may have heard that song but simply dismissed its lyrics as the ranting of a ‘ganja’-infested mind. That may have resulted in his making a letter meant to advice his successor in office, Chief Godswill Akpabio a subject of public scrutiny and debate.
Obong Attah in his widely publicized letter to Gov. Akpabio raised several issues and even described his successor’s policies as being unpopular and directed at ruining the state. It is very unfortunate that Attah has allowed the past to continue to dictate his future and blind his sense of reason. It his no hidden fact that Attah still feels the bitter pain of defeat in his failed attempt at foisting his heir apparent son-in-law and protégé on the people of Akwa Ibom State as his successor, an attempt the majority of Akwa Ibom people rejected in its totality. To those who know Attah, he does not forgive and such humiliating defeat can never be pardoned. After his hirelings - like the all knowing Fidel Odum, Godwin Nzeakah, - who are more interested in spreading falsehood about Akwa Ibom State for money, while his own states are on fire; failed to ignite the flames of disunity among the people of Akwa Ibom State the “elder statesman” himself through his unsolicited advice leased heavily with gall decided to embark on a shameless dance of absurdity.
It’s unfortunate that Attah would want to preach what he never practised to somebody who in all honesty trying to bring Akwa Ibom State out of the woods we found ourselves as a result of Attah’s pride, greed and arrogance. It’s not surprising that Attah should be bitter, who wouldn’t be when he is faced with the present time reality of the fact that Akpabio has been recorded more landmark achievements than what Attah did in eight years. His first two years were spent on the drawing while Akwa Ibom people suffered. Today Attah has the guts to differentiate a bad policy from a good one. Without holding brief for Akpabio, I can say as a bona fide Akwa Ibom son that we have been more than satisfied with Akpabio’s policies so far. And, truth be told, Attah’s hypocrisy is causing the state a lot of distraction.
Attah who talks about priority of policies should tell the world the standard and quality of education he left behind after piloting the state for good eight years. It may interest him to know that never in the history of the state has it the educational sector fared better than in Akpabio’s two years. The eight years of his administration was replete with teachers’ strikes, decrepit school structures which resulted in most students studying under almond and mango trees; His was an administration that folded its hands and watched as Akwa Ibom children of school age roamed the streets aimlessly or selling pure water, plantain chips, oranges etc at Ibom plaza when they were supposed to be in school.
Today, the same Akwa Ibom State where students had to pay all sort of fees, is promote free and compulsory education from primary to secondary level. As at the last count, the administration of Akpabio is reported to have paid the sum of N 344 million as subvention to secondary schools in the state; N 375.4m for registration of NECO and SSCE Examination registration for all candidates in public secondary schools within the state. Also the administration has procured and distributed science equipment and materials to public secondary schools in the state and also distributed text books worth millions of naira to public primary and secondary schools in the state. Obong Attah who an expert in prioritizing should make bold his achievement in the educational sector within the 8 years he reigned as the emperor of Akwa Ibom.
Shamelessly he has forgotten so soon how University of Uyo lost the National University Commission (NUC) accreditation of 28 courses as a result of managerial inefficiency of his man Friday, Professor Horgan Akpan Ekpo who was the maximum ruler of the institution for the same period he mismanaged the state. The University of Uyo which was at the peak of its glory during the tenure of Professor Fola Lasisi as Vice-Chancellor lost her shine under Akpan Ekpo, while Attah was busy doling out state’s funds to institutions across the country, he did not show any concern about the only functional tertiary institution in the state during his tenure. He totally forgot the wise saying that charity begins at home.
It took the intervention of Governor Akpabio for University of Uyo to regain accreditation of the lost courses. Akpabio did not stop at that, he has completely changed the face of University of Uyo, constructing roads, rehabilitating bad ones and building of lecture theatres, moot court room and administrative offices for the once neglected institution. This one hand of fellowship the highly focused Obong Attah did not deem fit to extend to the institution through out his tenure, even with his bosom friend and co- traveler as Vice-Chancellor.
Obong Attah in his letter talked about the issue of daunting parking space as it affects the Tropicana project, he even shamelessly asked Akpabio to visit the Tinapa project built by Donald Duke within a period of 36 months. Attah is a very funny person who does not mind cutting his nose to spite his eyes. Imagine Attah even mentioning Tinapa, a project conceived, constructed, completed and commissioned within a period of 36 months, when he wasted scarce resources on grandiose projects he was never able to complete; projects that served as conduit pipe for him, his family members and allies to drain the state of funds that would have been used for better human oriented projects.
Talking of parking areas, this mania for parking space may be part of the post –office disorder affecting Attah, let me joggle Attah’s mind by reminding him of his personal residence at the federal housing estate, Abak Road which today houses his son’s law shop, Zenith Law Firm. Attah as a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Architect should tell the world the parking space he had at the said building. If Attah feels that 82 hectare of land acquired by the Akpabio administration is not enough for the Tropicana project, then he should tell the world what land mass he will recommend for the project.
It’s a pity that Attah lacked N6 billion to reticulate water which will have given half of the population of the state pipe borne water. Highly laughable! And at the same time pitiable. Attah should tell that to the marines and his hirelings and they will surely believe him, as for the average man we know better.
Attah could not afford N 6 billion to reticulate water, yet he had over N 22 billion to waste on his vain presidential ambition; another N 8 billion he used to finance his son-in-law’s likewise abortive gubernatorial campaign while he wasted over N 3 billion to prosecute the futile war to wrest power from Akpabio. Yet the state lacked N 6 billion to reticulate water to the populace, it shows that Attah as an expert of priorities did really lay out his priorities well as governor of Akwa Ibom State for good eight years.
I believe Attah will still adduced the long neglect of Eket federal constituency to dearth of funds, yet he wasted millions like the vain emperor he was on projects that had no direct bearing on the people. It is very funny that Attah does not believe that the average Akwa Ibom man should relax, yet for 8 years he consistently played host to Laz Ekwueme’s orchestra and ensured that it was televised live to Nigerians and cable users with millions of the state’s fund.
For Attah’s 8 years in office, the people of Eket federal constituency never felt the presence of his government. The only social amenities and infrastructure present in the constituency were provided by oil giant Mobil Producing and NDDC.A former director of the State Security Service and then Clan Head of Afaha in Eket local government area, Chief Ukpong Joe Odungide at a meeting with visiting African American mayors had to openly challenge Attah’s SSG then, Obongawan Grace Ekong to point at any project initiated by her principal in the constituency, the poor lady could not. Yet a government that is out to ruin the state has changed the fortune of the Eket federal constituency for good.
Recently, Governor Akpabio who Attah in his myopic and highly hypocritical manner described as a person who is bent on ruining his master plan for the state but is renowned by discerning minds for his giant strides in community development commissioned several government funded and executed projects in the Iwuokpom / Okpolom for the benefit of the rural communities. They included; mini water projects, 10 units of newly constructed market stalls in both communities, rehabilitation of class rooms blocks, staff quarters etc.
Mkpanak, Iwochang, Osung Nse Asukpa, Idung Abasi Okure, Ukpenekang, Okoroutip, Atia and Itak Idem Nne Ekpe where projects like mini water projects, health center, market stalls, rural electrification, rehabilitation of schools etc. were not only executed but commissioned for use by the benefiting communities.
In Eket Akpabio’s government have completed 4 rural electrification projects in Etebi Idung Akpaisang, Ikot Uso Ekong, Ikot Abia and Atai Idung Afaha Eket. Ede Obuk, Usung Inyang, Urua Udoinyang who depended on nature for water today are beneficiaries of the state government water project while Technical School in Efoi got a newly constructed 6 classroom block. The administration has rehabilitated 2 units of 4 classroom blocks at Holy Child Pry School, Idua, while 2 units of 4 and 2 classroom blocks have been rehabilitated and 6 classroom block reconstructed at Government Primary School, Ikot Uso Ekong.
Esit Eket local government area which is by far the must neglected of the 4 local government councils in the federal constituency has been compensated for the past neglect as the Akpabio administration recently showered the area with infrastructural larges. A total of 5.77 km access roads were constructed in Ikpa, Edor and Esit Eket communities of the area. Idung Abidang / Ikot Efa-Afaha Eket has been electrified while the Cottage Hospital, Ekpene Obo has had its children’s and men wards rehabilitated. In the education sector, Eket Modern High School, Ekpene Obo benefited the most with the construction of a technical workshop, laboratory block, computer center and 6 classroom blocks. The school’s library and dinning hall which has been in a state of disrepair for a long time are now wearing a new look as they have been rehabilitated.
Other schools that have enjoyed from the inter-ministerial projects are Government School, Ekpene Obo, Primary School, Etebi, Govt. School, Ikpa, Salvation Army School, Edor and Qua Iboe Church School, Ekpene Obo.
In Onna, the communities of Okom, Ikot Abasi and Primary School, Ikot Ebidang have been electrified. Awa, Ikot Ntuen, Akpabom and Ikwe communities have water projects sited in their domain while the motor park in Ndon Eyo and the Development Hall in Awa were rehabilitated. Priority was given to the educational sector where new classroom blocks were constructed at Government School, Ikot Akpatek, Mkpok and Primary School, Abak Esiet. Also, classroom blocks at Primary School, Ikot Ebidang, St. John Lutheran Pry School, Okat and Calvary Primary School, Ikot Abasi Oniong were rehabilitated. 2 staff quarters at CSC, Nung Oku Ekanem were rehabilitated while, a Motherless Babies Home was constructed at Nung Oku Ekanem. All these Akpabio has been able to achieve within 24 months, the fact remains that Attah’s attempt at misrepresenting facts has collapsed like a pack of cards, cause the facts herein speaks for itself. Attah may be too blind by anger to see the good job Akpabio’s administration is doing in Akwa Ibom State, but the people have seen and spoken and their voice is what matters.
Today Attah knows that the rains are “starting again and part of the capital city will be flooded; other areas of the state will suffer from severe from severe erosion problem.” Attah should really be commended for speaking the truth for the first time. That truly is the state of the Akwa Ibom he left behind after 8 years as governor. The curses of the various victims of flood his 8 years of mismanagement caused will continue to hunt him. Inspite of the appeals from residence of Oron Road by Uruan Street and Obio Imo; Ikot Ekpene Road, between University of Uyo annex gate and where Oceanic bank is located; Aka between Ufan Abasi supermarket and Babangida Avenue roundabout and Abak road between Ukana Offot and Iboko Street, Attah never did anything about the flood that continued to frustrate their lives. It is the administration of Governor Akpabio has come to the rescue of the residence of these areas.
Attah in his attempt at maligning Akpabio has lost the little respect he enjoyed before rational Akwa Ibom people. I will simply refer him to the book of Proverbs 18:28, if he will learn from the wise message contained in this particular scripture.
. Etuk, an advocate of good governance and justice, sent this piece from Eket.
