Date Published: 05/24/09

Dear Editor,

See what Attah has done to Akwa Ibom

No matter what happened, Attah may find it difficult trying to struggle himself out of the activities, good or bad, of the incumbent Governor Godswill Akpabio, and I hope his recent ‘advisory’ letter was not an idea towards that.

Attah (an Ibibio) is believed not to be ethnical judging from the fact that he allowed his (only) two kids, one male and one female, to make their choices in marriage; both got married to Annang persons. One can successfully argue that Attah did not mind his successor coming from any other ethnic (minority) within the State, for equity sake. And he demonstrated this.

Attah allocated (Commissioner) Godswill Akpabio the Ministry that accesses the grass root locals (Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs) for too long; about four years. That he may have done to enable Akpabio permeate the grassroots, preparatory to governorship.

For the post-Attah era, Attah may have also had an eye on his son-in-law, Dr. Bobo Ekarika, as an alternative to Akpabio. Therefore no matter who eventually got there, Akpabio or Ekarika, it was the making of Attah. In performance; like Akpabio likely Ekarika.

It was Attah’s regime that further gave an average Akwa Ibom person the dignity to stand up and assert his/her right among the comity of ethnic and major nationalities in Nigeria; hitherto, an average Akwa Ibom person was regarded among those noted for menial jobs.

Attah’s recent ‘advisory’ letter to Akpabio, which probably poured out the minds of the many Akwa Ibom indigenes, seems to have come at the right time, because it is always better to place injunction before a judgment; in other words, it would have been otherwise belated had he done it after now.  I thank him for his courage.

In the interest of Akwa Ibom indigenes, I advise Akpabio to listen to voice of good reasons and sincerity and not see Attah’s letter as an indictment.

Obong Steve Udeme,

89 Bende Street,

Umuahia, Abia State.