Date Published: 06/17/09

Dear Sir,

Nigerian Compass' Governors' Mid-Term Awards

From the released programme of the maiden edition of Nigerian Compass Awards, it holds on Sunday June 21, 2009 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Put together by the Western Publishing Company Limited, publishers of Nigerian Compass newspapers, according to the organizers, it was designed for the Governors of the 36 States of the federation. They had thought it necessary to honour six governors who they believe merited, in their own calculations, in the key areas of national development namely, Power Generation, Water, Education, Health, Security, as well as Roads/Transportation.

The winner-recipients are Saraki of Kwara (Power Generation), Goje of Gombe (Water), Daniel of Ogun (Education), Amaechi of Rivers (Security), Ohakim of Imo (Health) and Fashola of Lagos (Roads and Transportation). Apart from these, there will be one Award for the Best Governor considered distinguished even above the standard set by the panel of judges.

I feel the judges have not done badly and never discriminated in their judgment, especially where the Lagos State GovernorFashola, SAN, who the Compass newspaper have running battle with, was adjudged and under the right category. But I could not see Akwa Ibom Governor Akpabio among the awardees; a governor that was quoted recently in the media of how he had spent in the last two years (over) N180billion on roads alone. What went wrong that a governor who spent more than any other in the federation (on roads) did not make the list? That could be my only misgiving as far as the worthy award ceremony is concerned.

Efosa Fredrick, Ikpoba Slope, Benin City