Date Published: 06/09/09
Tropicana: Did Attah say anything new?
By Yinka Aderemi
The article “Lest Akpabio be distracted” published in Daily Champion of Wednesday May 27, 2009 and credited to Mr. Godwin Nzeakah in response to Obong Victor Attah’s piece in Sunday Vanguard of 24/5/2009 refers. I was extremely fascinated by Mr. Nzeakah’s reference to Governor Babatunde Fashola’s approach to governance in which the latter was said to have confessed that he could not do without consulting with his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. That assertion by Nzeakah is common knowledge, yet may I point out that it is an understatement to say that it is only Tunubu, among his predecessors; he also consults with LKJ and no less Mobolaji Johnson. This is why he is doing marvelously well to the extent that even Obong Victor Attah, who probably does not live in Lagos, had to acknowledge in his write-up that Lagos has become a “loveable livable city”.
In the second republic, LKJ and the other UPN governors did not ignore Awo in their developmental efforts. A leader or a great man that consults with elders or experts for advice makes fewer mistakes and, of course, takes the glory when the subject of consultation ultimately translates to success. At the rate Fashola is going now, in the next two years, he would have changed the face of Lagos for good. This is exactly what I understand Attah for his state. Even though I quarrel with a situation whereby his advice would reach Akpabio through the press unless probably he did similarly in the past but ignored; Attah’s views should still be seen for what they are: constructive criticism, because it proffers viable options.
In any case, Attah did not say anything new, considering the fact that the Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Remi Babalola had aired the same view previously. At a recent revenue summit organized by the Akwa Ibom state government, Babalola reportedly tersely advised state governments to scale down on “nice-to-have edifices” and rather focus on infrastructure enhancement. The Minister’s advice may appear like a Persian Shot, but we should remember that before now he had been visiting other states, like in Akwa Ibom, where a number of projects are ongoing. Considering the fact of venue, the timing and the particular occasion, is it not logical to conclude that the Federal Government had only seized a rare opportunity (revenue summit in Uyo) to deliver some home truths to Akwa Ibom in particular and other states generally concerning the need to reprioritize and shift away from grandiose projects? If this were the case, as indeed it could, why must we crucify Attah for simply amplifying what the minister only had to say but tongue-in-cheek?
Governor Akpabio should take Attah’s piece in good fate and in fact make the best out of it as it may not be different from that of the generality of the silent Akwa Ibom populace. Akpabio is an energetic young man. He should not allow bad advisers to ruin his political career, which is the inevitability of any rash confrontations with Attah. Akintola did a lot for us but his confrontation with Awo buried everything for good. Look at Zambia, where is Frederick Chuluba today? Yet Kenneth Kaunda is still marching on. What of Obasanjo? Who does not know that the beginnings of his troubles have roots in his utter disrespect for Awo? Attah’s humility, integrity and performance in office successfully endeared him to the people. Therefore it is dangerous for anyone to gloss over the fact, today.
I would have looked at his standpoint with suspicion if he did not proffer options or if, as an architect, regional planner and environmental expert, he did not back his argument with facts. In fact, it becomes almost obligatory to accept his recommendations because I understand that he was the one who drew the master plan for Uyo capital territory. Not only that, if I remember very well, there was a time when Akwa Ibom federal legislators looked into the matter of projects initiated by his administration - projects which he could not complete before May 28, 2007. We were made to understand that the legislators, after detailed investigation, and government being continuum, advised the current government to go ahead and complete those projects. Among the projects was the specialized airport said to be the first of its kind in Africa. The legislators also considered the cases of an uncompleted Science Park and a University of Technology.
In his controversial write up, Attah even alluded to a water project for which he and Akpabio, as members of the previous administration, needed just N6billion to complete in order to supply at least half of the population of Akwa Ibom with water. What happened to these projects? Does Governor Akpabio not realize that he and not Attah would take the glory for the completion of those projects? Agreed that it may not be possible to take up all the projects simultaneously, Akpabio could take off with some of them, which I consider most vital to the quest for rapid development of the state and taking them in their order of priority, I would suggest power supply, the Airport, and the University of Technology. You can add the proposed seaport. Those who say it was oil that made Port Harcourt what it is today make a great mistake. The combination of seaport, airport, and railway made Port Harcourt and Lagos what they are today. In fact, Shell BP would not have moved its head office from Owerri to Port Harcourt in the fifties if the former had such facilities.
Let Akpabio develop a seaport in Akwa Ibom state and if he likes name it, Port Akbabio, just like Port Harcourt was named after Mr. Harcourt who founded it. Today Attah can only give advice; he cannot take any glory if the specialized airport or if the seaport is completed or if Akwa Ibom state begins to enjoy steady power supply from the IPP at Ikot Abasi. With constant power supply alone you cannot imagine to what extent the state’s economy shall have been boosted when small scale enterprises and the core informal sector made up of artisans, welders, barbers, tailors, bakers, cabinet makers, block makers etc, are fully mobilized in the various nooks and crannies of the state instead of migrating to Uyo and Ikot Ekpene in torrents in search of elusive engagements.
Aderemi ( yinka.aderemi@yahoo.com ), 3 Fasheun Close, Molete, Ibadan, an itinerant business executive, contributed this.
