By Udo Utibe
Sen Godswill Akpabio, probably is one of the most loved and hated politician in Akwa Ibom State. Greater are his haters than his lovers. One is forced to asked, why is this man hated so much? Is it the charisma he display or his electrifying oratory skill or his charming look or his courageous spirit or his compassion for the less privileged in the society or for the free and compulsory education Akwa Ibom children are enjoying or a brand new stadium he built or for the airport or the number of nylon tarred roads he constructed as a Governor, which were evenly distributed? Why is this man hated? Was it the smiles he lit on the faces of the widows and orphans or by turning small boys to big boys?
Why is this man hated?
Today one is left in shock that a man who sowed seed of togetherness for eight years in Akwa Ibom State is beginning to harvest hatred, even from those who through him have reached the top. He remain the architect of an uncommon development which the state witnessed for eight years. Of all his achievements, like the biblical prophet, his haters are today shouting "crucify him! Crucify him! Nail him on the cross! Crucify him!"
Who is Godswill Akpabio?
He a man who has been hated than anyone in the history of Akwa Ibom State politics. Godswill Akpabio has escaped dead severally, read so much from petition writers, hired to attack his personality. Still, he fought and won as a Governor. As a Senator, his enemies are still going after him.
His entry into any gathering energizes the crowd, his speech comes with fresh charms, electrifies everyone. He is such an enigma. You cannot describe this man. He is Mr uncommon development. All these are why the man, Godswill Akpabio is hated!
Tribal Politics:
As far back as 1952/53, there was a crises in the then Eastern House of Assembly soon after the 1951 elections which was worn by the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon. The Anaañ and other Ibibio members of the House were also members of this party.
It was during the period of tribal politics that the people of Ibibio extraction started claiming that the Anaañs were not a part of the Ibibio and the Anaañs also accepted that they were not Ibibio. The consequence of tribal politics in Akwa Ibom State, Professor Akpan H. Ekpo (1987) observed "internally, the state suffers from class and intense ethnic rivalry. The inability to properly understand the law of development and the present stage of the state's development have made the ethnic factor the most significant. Intuitively, " everyone " in the state contends that his ethnic group deserves better attention. The intense ethnic rivalry, sometimes clannish has resulted in the state being described as an "atomaistic" society perspectively". The truth is that, tribal politics hinders development in the state. For example, the distribution of projects will only be concentrated where the sitting Governor is from.
Spirit Of Action:
After the administration of Obong Victor Attah came to an end, Akwa Ibom State needed a man ready for bold leadership - ready to uncommonly transform the state. God brought Chief Godswill Akpabio, a man with uncommon spirit. Within his eight years in office, he uncommonly transformed the state. Akwa Ibom State became a tourists destination.
Today, He is Hated....
Akpabio's only sin is that he is an Anaañ man. If he were from Ibibio, he would have been celebrated with a public holiday. No, he deserves no such honour because he is an Anaañ man. My Ibibio brothers have tried to quiet his achievements which he did in the interest of and generality of the State. His deeds are tinted with tribal politics. Never in Akwa Ibom State politics has a man been so hated; greater are his enemies and even more are they as his unfriendly friends!
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