By Innocent Okon
Many schools of thought have reduced the phenomenon called political power to attitudinal disposition.
The three common characteristics of the mechanics of political power so identified have remained as constant as Shakespeare’s Northern star! They remain immutable in all climes and civilizations. The deduction is pedestrian and intellectually less engaging. But it encapsulates verifiable truth and arcane wisdom!
The common visceral anatomy of political power shows that the true test of a man and woman’s character is calibrated by the premium placed on POWER, MONEY and WOMEN/MEN!
It is not the mission of this MUSING to analyse and justify all the three phenomena. But two of them: POWER and MONEY are germane and apt within the circumference of the subject matter of my musing soonest!
It is disturbing to observe that in my home state, Akwa Ibom, since the birth of democratic governance in 1999, there is this disquieting pastime of being vociferous in criticising policies and programmes of the government at Abuja than the one in Uyo!
During the tenure of Obong Victor Attah, many became obsessed with the struggle for Resource Control and literarily forgot to remind the Governor that there were many projects that humongous sums were released to contractors, but very little or nothing on ground to justify such amounts!
The “uncommon transformer”, Godswill Akpabio, came with charisma, charm and populist verve. The state witnessed tremendous infrastructural strides and incontestable human capital development. Apart from Ibom e-Library he said would make it possible for users to stay in Uyo and conduct academic researches in far away locations around the world, Akpabio sunk billions to build several other projects, including the Four Points Marriott Hotel by Sheraton in Ikot Ekpene.
But Ngozi Iweala who was the then Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister for the Economy once made it public that what we applauded as “uncommon transformation” were below the funds released to the state from Federal coffers! Akpabio’s charisma and generosity never permitted any serious interrogation of this verdict by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala! He exited in a blaze of glory with a very high approval rating. His successor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel came on board in 2015 with luminous credentials from the banking sector. He first cut the picture of a political neophyte, but later turned a grand master of politics of carrot and stick!
Every contrary opinion on any policy, project and programme was interpreted and made to be understood as voice of opposition baked in the oven of ignorant and ill-exposed individuals/groups.
During that administration, some individuals and groups queried his investment in a Coconut Refinery instead of Palm Oil Plantations/Mills which the state had comparative advantage. Same countable voices also opposed the building of a 21-storey smart building in anticipation of the relocation of oil companies to Uyo!
One year after his exit from office, those two “signature projects” have remained white elephant projects with their costs still buried in the recesses of the behemoth offices of the Accountant General and Commissioner of Finance.
On May 29, 2023, a new chapter in the governance of the state dawned with overt support of the same dramatis personae and same political Party.
The new sheriff in town, Pastor Umoh Eno, has so far sold himself to the people as “Wonder Kid of Compassion” and “Bridge Builder”!
In actions and utterances, he appears a compassionate and listening leader. He doesn’t appear all knowing, and takes measured efforts to deploy humility to connect with the masses!
His decision to complete abandoned projects inherited from two previous administrations is a testimonial of his placing public interest above and beyond personal ego! His service record in one year is arguably above average!
But two months into the second year of his administration, some decisions are threatening a serious disconnect!
The voiceless majority want him to rejig his state Executive Council with new members. So far, he has paid a deaf ear to that demand!
In the same vein, the often ignored majority on the streets and crannies of the state are bewildered by his decision to build an 18-storey plaza in far away Lagos and 3-star hotel in Abuja!
The question on the streets of Akwa Ibom is: why Lagos and Abuja? Is there no “balm in Gilead?” Why must Lagos be the first investment attraction to successive governments in Akwa Ibom? Former Governor Attah spent millions to refurbish and reconstruct the Governor’s Lodge in Lagos to make decent for the occupation of His Excellency.
Governor Emmanuel came and upped the ante. He voted several billions of Naira on rebuilding the same lodge in Lagos! The unique selling point Emmanuel advanced to justify his colossal investment was the same hackneyed permutation that Lagos was Nigeria’s economic hub, and investors needed a commanding infrastructural presence to give Akwa Ibom state any scintilla of attention and interest. Akwa Ibomites at home and in the Diaspora shouted themselves hoarse over the senselessness in the project. They called it it’s name – a white elephant. Governor Emmanuel was not moved. Several years after, the state is yet to be told how many investors have come to Akwa Ibom to invest as a result of the charming allure of the majestiral architectural wonder that public funds were deployed to build in Lagos.
Last week, our amiable and compassionate “Golden Boy”, Pastor Umo Eno, was quoted to have confirmed the plan by his government to build an 18 storey building in Lagos in order to tap into “the lucrative real estate” sub-sector of Lagos. The State government is also proposing the construction of a 3-star hotel for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja!
As expected, the projects are enjoying lavish support and provocative justification by the vocal minority and media spin doctors of the administration! That has always been the trend. No government project, no matter how bizarre, has ever lacked such support.
But it’s time to stop, think and effect a diametrical paradigm shift. The unverified, sometimes muffled, but authentic popular opinion in the marketplace and streets in Akwa Ibom, where the Governor derives his power, is that charity must begin at home! The opinion is that funds appropriated for such projects in Lagos and Abuja could be used more meaningfully to expand the existing 5-star hotel in Uyo, and possibly build a 3-star hotel in Eket.
In many climes, governments don’t exist to make turnovers on investments, but to meet the socio-economic needs of the people, by creating a favourable investment climate for private businesses to thrive!
Let the present government put on its thinking cap and consider the multiplier effect and positive impact on numerous micro, small, and medium businesses and individuals that would be released from the shackles of penury if and when these projects are located in Akwa Ibom. If state properties in Lagos and Abuja are not maximised for sufficient returns, it will not be a bad investment idea to invite private investors to partner with the state government in developing such properties on terms and conditions that would not commit much of public funds. Let nobody be deceived by the flyovers and dualised/ring roads in Uyo. Akwa Ibom state as described by the first elected Governor of the state, Obong Akpan Isemin in 1992, is still massively “rural and massively poor.”
Thinking inward and micro instead of macro should not be sacrificed for futuristic pecuniary Eldorado presented by smart alec investment consultants/advisors in government offices and hallways.
I will rather vote for the provision of 18 story books for pupils in all our model schools at all levels of our education system than invest in the construction of an 18 storey Plaza in Lagos!
Okon, a lawyer and journalist, lives in Uyo.
