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Leadership is not a business
meant for little minds. It is a business for focused persons
who are bridled at heart. It is for the likes of Mandela of
South Africa, Clinton of America, Mahatma Ghandi of India,
Chris Ngige of Anambra and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom.
Chief Akpabio, if not that God protects leaders as He
protects toddlers, may cut his tongue a dozen times per
minutes because of how and the rate at which people of Akwa
Ibom at home and abroad call his name and pour praises or
vituperations on him. But he should not worry; that is what
this world is like. There are three sets of people anywhere
in the world: those who make things happen, those who know
and watch what is happening, and those who don't know what
is happening at all, whichever category or set one finds
himself, people must talk about him, but Governor Akpabio is
a man who makes things happen.
That Chief Akpabio has been variously described by
sycophantic media messages via praises, commendations,
felicitation, etc for doing well in less than one year is no
longer strange.
That Chief Akpabio, variously believed to be generous,
kind-hearted, free mixer, bridge builder, of peaceful mien,
an inclusive leader, decent talker and quiet achievers of
commendable political feats can not be over-emphasized. It
is no longer news that he has been highly vilified by his
known and unknown critics. All these are parts of the burden
of leadership. The Governor of Akwa Ibom has tried his very
best.
But some of his critics believe his best should be sustained
over time to enable him berth at the shores of enduring
victory for consolidation of his greater Akwa Ibom peace and
unity project which many believe his predecessor started.
However, if I were Governor Akpabio, issues of the future
security of Akwa Ibom State will be treated with more
attention. I salute the state Chief Executive for “Aduma”
and his magnanimity to the police force recently. But I keep
wondering where “Aduma” was when robbery occurred at Royal
Line Technology, a private business outfit along Aka Road
Uyo, two weeks ago and three persons were killed, the
robbers fled unhurt. Could it be that “Aduma” is focusing on
black market operators in the downstream petroleum product
racketeering or are the members only escorting construction
companies officials (expatriates) to avoid being kidnapped?
Are members of “Aduma” on an indefinable general services
where they can do just any job on security.
One thing is true about emerging mega cities: as
industrialization rate increases and expansion occurs in all
sectors of the economy, investors are attracted; and that
will in turn attract “the good and the bad” as the AIG of
Zone 6, Mr. Azubumo Udah, recently warned Akwa Ibom state
police command while on a familiarization visits to police
commands under his zone.
If I were Governor Akpabio, it would be clear that the
kidnapping of Mr. Sassine, a Lebanese, could mark the
beginning of hostage taking in Akwa Ibom, which has serious
implications on the state's peaceful nature and secured
heaven status harped on the media to attract investors
within and outside the country. The issue of paying any
ransomed to save the Lebanese would have been avoided to
avoid setting a precedent to boost such ungodly and
unpatriotic exercise. It would be pertinent to seek to know
what necessitates the hostage, taking to help solve the
problem once and for all.
To solve this problem might mean networking with the rural
communities where the presence of construction companies is
affecting the rural people. Come to think of it; who knows
whether the kidnappers must have been hired from outside by
mischief-makers to smear Akpabio's government, to distract
attention, cause tension and create confusion, who knows
whether they are militants migrating from God knows where?
Who knows whether they are aggrieved youths of the area(s)
witnessing Akpabio's good hands of developmental fellowship?
If I were Chief Akpabio, I would use the bottom-up approach
of corporate governance practiced by most Japanese Chief
Executive Officers of their firms by going to the rural
communities through Community Liaison Officers (CLOs). After
all, CLOs of construction companies, if they exist at all,
should be dedicated to the service of interrelating with all
stakeholders to bring about enduring peace in the areas they
are seen to cover.
I would ensure that the companies apply the funds quoted in
their Bill of quantities (especially Bill one, general and
contingencies) for the purpose such monies were meant.
I would ensure that each CLO has means of mobility, office
accommodation, a good salary per month, necessary logistics
and incentives to enable them carry out proper community
liaison through consultations with major stakeholders like
Youths, women, elders, traditional institutions, etc. to
know their problems.
I would ensure that CLOs recommend people in their areas for
employment to ensure that indigenes are considered in some
jobs which they are fit for. I would ensure that 90% of the
work force of the construction companies is locally sourced
to reduce restiveness and redundancy and engage the youths.
If these companies, supposed to be supervised by Ministry of
works, are not helping the Governor by flooding their
workforce with strangers where indigenes should be
considered, then they are not being fair to the government
and people of Akwa Ibom State. If such unfairness is going
on as eavesdropped, what is the governor' action, what about
the commissioner's action and what is the House of Assembly
doing about it.
If I were the governor, I would have asked the Finance
Commissioner why some resource persons from some Local
Government Areas have not received cheques for
inter-ministerial direct labour jobs which were meant to
spread government's empowerment scheme to touch peoples'
lives and create a positive multiplier effect across the 329
wards of the state almost simultaneously.
He would have explained to me why people from the seat of
government of AKS should not get their cheques for over
three months mow.
If I were the governor, I would favour some Local Government
Areas like Uruan, Mkpat Enin and others in my next cabinet.
I would have dropped some non-performing PAs, SAs and
Commissioners and would allow the performers to ride on.
If I were the Governor, I would drop any person in my
cabinet who appears as a threat to my seat, too rich, too
influential, seemingly in control while I am on throne or
who nurses any overt or covert intention to succeed me when
I have not even completed the first term. If I were the
Governor, I would liberalize the state economy a little more
by giving certain definable power to award Micro contracts
to Commissioners and Special Advisers to a specified sum, at
least to spread wealth.
Thanks to Chief Akpabio for donating N100m to University of
Uyo and other infrastructural development. But if I were the
Governor, I would have also injected funds into the state
owned tertiary institutions especially Akwa poly, Ikot
Osurua, College of Education, Afaha Nsit, and others to give
them infrastructural face-lift.
But poor me, I am not the Governor and I am not interested
in being one, as I have neither the kind of Chief Akpabio's
large heart to accommodates stress and still manage a smile
at all times, nor Chimaroke Nnamani's insensitivity to what
corruption portends, to own 20 or more foreign accounts now
or in the future.  |
