He’s a good student of governance

A good journalist is a critical mind who would not believe until he sees. Sometimes, the journalist disbelieves even when he has seen the subject matter. Such journalist may want to live the experience, to touch and feel the texture of the substance. He may want to luxuriate in the pleasure and grandeur of the subject or in some instances, to feel the pain of the subject before believing. This is why a good journalist does not flap, is not unduly excited nor given to fantasy fables. And it was so for some of the editors who were in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for the All Nigeria Editors Conference. Some had come with the typical critical mind-set of the journalist. Is the media blitz about Akpabio’s uncommon transformation of the once sleepy state mere propaganda? Is the mantra about massive infrastructural engineering a ruse? Can we find good roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and totems of modernity in the state as we were made to believe these past years? Such was the torrent of questions that seized the minds of some of the editors until they berthed in Uyo. At the end, doubt turned to belief; the wax of pessimism melted and out of it sprang forth rivers of optimism. Editors were driven through good solid roads, strong enough to last through the ages. They saw sure evidence of development: modern and model schools complete with 21st century learning aids; hospitals that needed no signpost to announce them; resort centre that could better even the best in Europe; they saw a state in the throes of transformation. They saw much more; far more than they had imagined.

For Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information and former Deputy Political Editor with Champion newspapers, Akwa Ibom is a state where the biggest miracle of development has taken place. The minister who said he was in Uyo in the late 90s said all the old landmarks have given way to modern signposts of real development. “When I come to Akwa Ibom today, I see flyovers that were not there before, I see street light that were not there before, I see e-library that is the best in West Africa that has access to 70 million books across the world; I see an Ibom Meridien Hotel with a golf course that when you look at it you can have a dream and write a beautiful story. That’s what a journalist wants; an environment that can make him dream and write a beautiful story”, he said.

Gbenga Adefaye, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard newspaper described the landmark transformation of the state as “incredible”. This is how democracy should be; it should have direct positive impact on the people, he said as editors were conducted round the state.

For Ebere Wabara, former editor of the Post Express and member, Editorial Board of the Sun, mum was the word. The language purist who is never in short supply of words to describe any act, occasion or trend, was simply speechless. “This man is ahead of his peers and his time”, he said in utter amazement at the buzz of commerce and the splendour of modernity that now defines the Uyo metropolis surmising that every state needs an Akpabio. “You can see why this man exudes so much confidence when he speaks. He has so much good works to show for his stay in office”.

Yemisi Fadairo, Special Adviser (Information) to Ogun State governor said Akwa Ibom people were lucky to have an Akpabio as governor. Fadairo who has traversed the country in his heyday as political editor and later editor, Saturday Post Express exclaimed he had never seen such bold expression of good governance in a manner that beguiles the mind.

When one of the editors suggested that Akpabio’s performance was a function of the huge crude oil cash at his disposal, Ikeddy Isiguzor, Chairman, Editorial Board of Vanguard newspaper cut in. “In this country, we have seen governors, both military and civilian, who got big money but squandered it on frivolities. We have to be practical in our assessment. Akpabio is performing because he has a heart to serve the people. It is as simple as that”.

For Ted Iwere, a fellow of the Guild and former managing director of Independent newspaper, it’s res ipsa loquitur (the thing/fact speaks for itself). According to him, Akpabio’s performance will continue to speak for him long after he has left office.

Ahazaiah Suleiman of Voice of Nigeria described the development strides as something worthy of replication in other parts of the country. “You don’t see good and call it bad. This is a good performance by a good student of governance and it is a good example to show to the world that out of Africa, good can come in the area of delivering the fruits of good governance”.

United States-based publisher of popular online news portal Pointblanknews.com, Jackson Ude, described the level of infrastructural development as “something to be proud of by every Nigerian. The roads are of international standard, there is security and there is a good night life. This is a sign that the state has transformed from a civil service enclave to an emerging business destination”.

Mustapha Isa of Silverbird Group while assessing the quantum and quality of democracy deliverables in the state concluded that the people did not make the wrong choice when they voted Akpabio as Silverbird Man of the Year during his stable’s last award ceremony.

Indeed, Akwa Ibom is fast transforming and behind the transformation is a governor who has demonstrated that he is not only endowed with oratory skill but with a good conscience to know what his people want and how to deliver it to them. Not many leaders combine these attributes.

With an international airport which boasts the best runway in the country, a good network of roads shorn of potholes, a five-star hotel with a golf course, a resort centre complete with Cineplexes, security which guarantees a good night life, a growing platoon of banks, a thriving oil and gas community in Eket and a preponderance of industries active in the primary sector, Akwa Ibom is clearly an emerging business destination in the West Africa sub-region.

Such is evidenced not only in the buzz and spurt of energy on the streets but also in the number of events now being held in the state. In recent months, the state has played host to judges, senators, corporate Nigeria for AGMs, retreats, and sundry meetings, editors and other professionals. As the buses conveying editors on the tour of projects zipped through the streets of Uyo, climbing flyovers and descending to smooth roads void of ditches and craters that signpost most roads in Nigeria, some of the editors could not but wonder if this was not a dream. But it was not. It was real. The uncommon transformation mantra is not a propaganda after all, it is as real as the expansive e-library which promises to be the honing field of knowledge, as real as the new classroom blocks, as real as the fact that no person of school age was sighted hawking on the streets during school hours; yes, as real as the fact that editors freely mingled with fun-seekers at the Ibom Tropicana Resort which has started skeletal services to the public well ahead of commissioning.