Appeal court victory
sets new challenges for Akpabio
By CHIDI OBINECHE
Thursday, March 27, 2008
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•Gov.
Akpabio
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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The landmark victory recorded by Governor Godswill Akpabio
of Akwa Ibom State last week, at the Appeal Court Tribunal,
almost went unnoticed.
It suffocated under the euphoric victory of Labour strongman,
Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who floored Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor
for the governorship seat of Edo State at the election tribunal.
Unlike many other states, where the contest has been bitter
and rancorous, Akpabio, with the appeal court victory has
notched up with ease, a progressive and noiseless stride.
Since he won the April 14, 2007 polls, there has been no stopping
him. Although, clinching the ticket of his party, the Peoples
Democratic Party, (PDP) was herculean, he has since put all
that behind. The erstwhile governor, Chief Victor Attah, had
then sought to impose his son-in-law, Dr. Bob Ekarika as the
standard bearer of the party, using his structure. The struggle
was long and arduous. Eventually Godswill prevailed and that
marked the beginning of transcendental current electoral struggles.
Like a man destined to cling to the claws of victory, Akpabio
has managed to win and win.
In the beginning, there were 58 people, who wanted to be governors
and when Akpabio floored them, he deployed his pacifist style
by urging them to let down their arms and join in building
the state. Many did, but there were a few who resisted the
move and went to the tribunal.
The tribunal ruled in favour of the governor against the Action
Congress (AC) candidate, James Imama. He proceeded to the
appeal court and a seeming tension enveloped the state. It
has been drama all the way, as one of the biggest challenges
for election related cases at the level of the state, is at
the appeal court.
With the final verdict on his election, what now remains is
the verdict of the people, which will flow from his performance
in office. It also demonstrates the potency of his name, and
destiny that a man from a minority ethnic group has not only
succeeded to be governor of an atomistic state, like Akwa
Ibom, but is also riding the waves.
Again, Akwa Ibom State is lucky. While there is a long queue
of election petition cases at the appeal court, the state
is now free, which means the governor can now settle down
without legal distraction and work for the people who elected
him.
If speeches and manifest action are the compass to peep into
the future, then the next 40 months hold great prospects of
radical transformation for the state.
In most of his addresses to the people, Akpabio has raised
hope. He had said: “I believe that very few of Nigeria’s
36 states can provide the strategic advantages and commercial
opportunities, which you require for soar-away success within
the Nigerian environment, like Akwa Ibom. Our state is blessed
with enormous wealth. Our land is arable and our weather clement
to support year round agriculture.
Our soil is rich with numerous mineral wealth. You will find
across the state, very large deposits of gold, limestone,
and black and white clay, salt, coal, silver nitrate and glass
sand. They will support a variety of processing facilities.”
The state is also endowed with oil and natural gas accounting
for about 28 per cent of the nation’s crude oil output,
although much of the crude is offshore.
The judgment, therefore, could not have come at a better time,
when the state is in tranquil peace and offers a suitable
positioning for the actualisation of his visions for the state.
“My vision is to build an empowered populace and stimulate
private sector-driven economy that will act as a catalyst
to the development of our state. Let me assure our people
that we are determined to fulfil our electoral promises. We
are ready to make sacrifices for a better tomorrow,”
Gov Akpabio said.
With this victory, he has entered into another covenant with
the people, and he has demonstrated that providence is far
above earthly straining.
The days ahead will either situate him properly in the hearts
of the more than 2.5 million people he governs or shortchange
his rising political profile.
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