Akwa Ibom and her blessings

I am not a lover of the abrogation of the oil dichotomy because it makes mincemeat of our states in the North in terms of revenue allocation from the Federal Government coffers. We should not forget that the proceeds from the cocoa of the West, groundnut of the North and probably palm produce of the […]

I am not a lover of the abrogation of the oil dichotomy because it makes mincemeat of our states in the North in terms of revenue allocation from the Federal Government coffers. We should not forget that the proceeds from the cocoa of the West, groundnut of the North and probably palm produce of the East were what made the early development of Nigeria.

What I am not sure of is whether the money now accruing to Akwa Ibom State from the federal allocation is being utilised judiciously. A state with a population of about three million people only, I do not expect any poverty there, but on the contrary, a friend of mine from the place tells me that what is happening there is like the “winner appropriates all”.  

Another thing is whether the state appreciates those that God used in granting its present status, because judging from what I read from Obong Ndaeyo’s article, the present government, I now remember retrospectively, deployed all its arsenal against the woman, Lady Christy Essien Igbokwe, on a flimsy issue which later turned out to be politically-motivated; but I doubt she is a politician.

I also do not think that it did occur to any of Akwa Ibom State governments (past and present) to honour former President Ibrahim Babangida, the main God-sent architect of Akwa Ibom and her resources. I was in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, sometime ago and the on the wall of the Governors Lodge located on a hilly area was inscribed “Abacha House” (noticeable from any distance) in recognition of the man that created the state. What about the former governor, Obong Victor Attah, whom Obasanjo dreaded for resource control fight; how is he being treated by the state now?

All this makes one to think that Akwa Ibom could mean ‘ingrate’, whereas I know it is not.

Alhaji Mutum Bello, 1, Bello Close, Bukuru, Jos, Plateau State.