By Gideon Ekere
During the administration of Godswill Obot Akpabio as governor
of Akwa Ibom State. Many funny scenes played its way into our domain. One of
them was the fictitious advertorial published in virtually all newspapers in
Nigeria with the caption 'What does Obong Victor Attah really want?' Akpabio
spent millions of naira to tarnish the image of his former boss. Obong Attah
only sin was the issuance of an advice against citing Ibom Tropicana along Udo
Udoma Avenue.
With an excuse that the topography of Udo Udoma does not support
such a magnificent project. Nine years after, that same project is yet to be
completed. After over N100 billion has so far been pumped into it. All what
Obong Attah said has come to pass. But his image had already been laundered.
We're glad, Attah never joined issues with him. After dropping the advise, he
went to sleep. Allowing nature to complete the story.
In times like this, I'm sure I won't be wrong if I choose to
throw back the same question at Akpabio. I have decided to ask this question.
Not out of selfishness. But because, just like others, we need answers. Just to
settle our conscience. And let's not forget, that time isn't on our side. It's
a question we would have asked since. And the answers would have been supplied
before now. But we never saw the need. And now, I and few other concerned
citizens have raised our voice in unity to ask a simple question that requires
an answer in earnest; 'What does Godswill Akpabio really want?'
We know Godswill Obot Akpabio too well. The most controversial
politician of our time. A man who has always been in the news for bad reasons.
Since when he was a commissioner under Obong Attah's regime. He cannot deny his
role in the lashing out of Engr. Chris Ekpenyong as deputy governor in 2005.
His own brother. His blood, his heritage. Just because he wanted to become a
deputy governor. And was so ambitious. So crazy and power drunk. That's how bad
the man is. His interest is number one. Any other thing can come later.
Even though his scheming did not scale through. With the help of
few Ibibio and Oron sons, Godswill Akpabio won the 2007 governorship. Took over
power even before he was sworn-in. And then began to humiliate the same Ibibio
and Oron sons that staked their lives for his ambition. Throughout his eight
year tenure, Akpabio and the wife were torn-in-the-flesh for the same people.
They turned their village, Ukana into a shrine. Where politicians and aspiring
ones as well go there for spiritual cleansing and acceptance. The eight years
of his reign was a terror in disguise. They feared no one. But fought everyone.
They created factions with more negative scenes. They were the uncommon
leaders, with a common black heart.
After the completion of his tenure as governor. Godswill Akpabio
forcefully snatched the senate ticket from Abak-5. Knowing too well that it was
unanimously zoned to that area. And they had prepared to utilize that
opportunity with time. Only to be chased away by the Ukana gods. It was never
the turn of Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency to go to the senate. Shockingly,
Akpabio dropped zoning for senate in his area, and then shouted for zoning in
the governorship. Abak-5 has never been to the senate. But it never bothered
the uncommon man. He blinded his right eye and then used the left one to
canvass for zoning of governorship in Eket Senatorial district. Just because he
wanted to impose his stooge as governor. He was so powerful, that he even
turned the former Nigeria's president into his stooge as well. The pains of
having Godswill Akpabio as one of us is that everything is a threat. What
doesn't surrender in reverence is blasphemous to a high opinion of himself. He
has succeeded in reconstructing the law of gravity which states that all things
and all creatures must adhere to his personal satisfaction. Even after leaving
office, Akpabio is still detecting how governance should be run in the state.
And that is why I am asking, 'what does Godswill Akpabio really want?'
Last week, during a stakeholder meeting of Ikot Ekpene
Senatorial District at Abak, Akpabio in his usual manner bashed Udom Emmanuel
in a funny way. According to media report, Senator Akpabio is quoted to have
said “2018 is less than one year to election, all is not well, don’t allow
anybody to deceive you that all is well." He lamented that most of the
projects he initiated in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District have been abandoned by
the Udom Emmanuel led administration. Surprisingly, the issue of project
abandonment by successive administration isn't a new thing. Partial distribution
of projects did not start today. Akpabio, when he took over in 2007 abandoned
most of the projects initiated by the previous administration of Obong Attah,
which he was among. And today, Udom Emmanuel is also doing the same thing. And
he's complaining. Maybe, he does not like his child to take after him.
To us at the other side, what Akpabio said is more to the brain
than the eye can see. It may not really be about those project abandoned by
Udom Emmanuel led administration. It may not even be about 2019. Maybe there's
something they've not told us. Knowing too well that it's something that
triggers something. No smoke can be seen without flames. Besides, if all the
monies Akpabio has so far collected from Udom since 2015 is summed together, it
would have been used to complete all the abandoned projects in Ikot Ekpene
Senatorial District. Udom Emmanuel isn't stupid. Funds that were meant for
those projects were handed over to Akpabio under another subhead. Which we all
know. And now, he wants heads to roll over nothing. But we want to know. What
does Godswill Akpabio really want after now?
Honestly, Akpabio has created more problems that any functional
government can solve. He's a case study that no analyst can proffer solution
to. Neither is he predictable. The pains and anguish on the people are just too
much. And no one knows what may become of tomorrow. What does he really want?
What's his target. Why is he behaving this way? What does he want to achieve?
Because most people expected him to rest after that eight years of turbulent
and disordered government. But it's even worse now. The earlier we know his
plans the better. And he must be sincere to serve his generation of the
impending rejection. Because with all these, it may be difficult for his descendant
to easily have a stake here. Until then, what does he really want?
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