Why Akwa Ibom deserves more

Akwa Ibom State is one of the major oil producing states in the country, in fact it is the one with the most output and in view of that it is strategic to the nation.  So, whatever happens in the state to some extent has an impact on the country.  And that is where the […]

Akwa Ibom State is one of the major oil producing states in the country, in fact it is the one with the most output and in view of that it is strategic to the nation.  So, whatever happens in the state to some extent has an impact on the country.  And that is where the quality of its leader comes in. Akwa Ibom receives a reasonable amount of money from the federation account monthly, unfortunately, this fortune has not translated into infrastructural development or even  better life for the people. The ordinary man in the state still endures a lot of hardship which should not be so.

As an indigene of the state, I weep for the condition each time I think about it. A lot can be done with the money that comes into the coffers of the state with the right leadership. If we have leaders who are concerned about the masses things will change for the better.  After the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries and Mr Nsima Ekere emerged as winner of the election, I was thrilled because I believe that he is a man who can reposition the state for greatness.

Apart from being a former deputy governor, who understands the inner workings of the government, he has served the state in various capacities. He is also currently the Managing Director of the NDDC, which takes care of issues in about eight states.  Through the developmental projects the commission, spearheaded by him carried out, the Niger Delta region has enjoyed relative peace and that peace has led to the production of crude oil without any problem, thereby increasing the nation’s foreign reserves.  So, Ekere has proved that he is more than capable to handle and grow a state’s human and natural resources and it is hoped that as governor of Akwa Ibom, he will be able to replicate that achievement and even more. Indeed there are a lot of policies in the state at the moment but the only way they can make impact in the lives of the masses is if they are fully implemented. Also, there is no gainsaying that Akwa Ibom State, under the current administration has fared well. The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has been fair to the state and its people and this is evident in the appointment of some of its brains into key positions. Aside that the government has always taken issues that concern the state seriously so it will not be wise for it to remain in the opposition. For Akwa Ibom to enjoy more of the dividends of democracy which the Buhari government has to offer, it needs to key into its policies and agenda.  Therefore, it is imperative for the people of the state to have that in mind as they approach the 2019 elections. The saying that, one with God, is majority should resonate in their minds. If we are with the government at the central, and I believe that the Buhari government will get a second term, it will put the state on a sound footing. We deserve more as a state. Akwa Ibom, though a relatively small state is huge in terms of its human and natural resources, and one way to harness them properly such that they translate into development which every indigene and visitor can benefit from is to entrench a good and purposeful leadership.

Iniobong Armstrong wrote this piece from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.