Senator Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom State and former minority leader of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is 56 today. It has been an intriguing journey that has seen him morph from privation to a man of means with strong social contacts that put him in the bracket of who is who in Nigeria.
Senator Akpabio’s life is undoubtedly a testament of grace and divination. These, he acknowledges lavishly and makes attempts to ensure that he lives for others. For him, generosity is a creed that must be internalized and deployed to give meaning to existence and humanity. Akpabio does not necessarily give out of abundance but as a means of humanising humanity and extending joy to those who hitherto were on the threshold of despair. Those who have known him over the years would attest to the assertion that he did not learn generosity as governor, rather he had it inculcated in him as an attribute even in the days of his privation.
Akpabio’s public life in Akwa Ibom started in 2002 when he was invited by His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah to serve as a commissioner. There is an interesting story to his emergence as commissioner in the State which further adds and gives verve to the conclusion that his life is more providential than ordinary. The story which has the former commissioner, Barrister Ibanga Akpabio and the late Chief FEJ Etim and Senator Akpabio as major protagonists is in public domain and does not require repeating. But suffice it to say that Godswill Akpabio became commissioner through the instrumentality of FEJ Etim and Ibanga Akpabio. Senator Akpabio acknowledges and remains grateful to these characters till date. For FEJ who is late, he venerates his memory and has maintained cordiality with the family of the departed till date.
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There is no gainsaying the fact that Akpabio has made enormous contributions to the State first as a commissioner in three key ministries and eventually as a governor wherein he rewrote the narrative of the hitherto alienated and marginalised State that served only as a corridor to other destinations. He is therefore deserving of honour by the people of the State whom he worked strenuously to improve their lives through innovative programmes while a governor and even currently as a Senator . We recall with joy the Free and Compulsory Education which he enunciated, interventions in the healthcare sector including free medical services to various segments of the society, investments in the educational sector, the complete turn around in public infrastructure and other sundry areas of governance that stood Akwa Ibom in good stead and a choice destination after Lagos and Abuja.
Unfortunately, politics has ruined our cherished social relations and erected barriers to prevent us from seeing and celebrating our heroes. We have failed to recognise that if we kill our giants today, we would rue over not having them at the time of need. Today , Akpabio is the butt of malicious falsehood and vile propaganda including deliberate plot to destroy him at national level where providence has taken him to in our own interest. Akpabio may not be perfect and no man is but at least it is better to have him than antagonise him as we are currently doing as if it is a public policy. I have always held the view that the masses would be better off if our leaders coexist in harmoniously . Sadly, the hawks who surround them would have nothing of such as a development of that nature can not line their pockets and make them to smile to the banks.
At 56, Akpabio may not be said to be precocious but history would record him kindly and prodigiously for always doing God’s will and making human beings the centre piece of his concern. He has fought his way to the mountain top. Let us not pull him down as is typical of our people for we shall be the ultimate losers of such invidious act. Happy birthday Your Excellency.
*Joe Iniodu is a public commentator and writes from Uyo.
