Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity and Official Spokesperson to Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio, in this tributes describes Distinguished Senator Akpabio as a leader par excellence. Timesreporters Online reporter Abba-Eku Onyekachi was there. Excerpts.
Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has just turned 62, how do you see him as a leader?
Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio’s foray into politics from his humble beginning as a commissioner in three key ministries in Akwa Ibom State to the president of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) is a narrative characterized by humility and tenacity. Akpabio’s leadership qualities became manifest when he served for two terms, as a governor of Akwa Ibom state between 2007 and 2015.
Would you say that he performed well as a governor in your state?
During his tenure, Akpabio worked assiduously to transform the social and economic landscape of the state. Within this period, Akwa Ibom state witnessed unprecedented improvement in infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, capacity building and education that earned him the name, ‘Uncommon Transformer.’
Although you are not expected to speak against your boss, but can you prove your points, by telling us some of his achievements, as a governor in you state, Akwa I om?
Some of his remarkable achievements as the governor of Akwa Ibom State included: free and compulsory education; free medical/healthcare to children, pregnant women and the elderly; construction of an international airport that has today placed Akwa Ibom on the global aviation map; building of roads and flyovers; payment of the 13th month salary to civil servants popularly called, ‘Akpabiomber’ and; the provision of civil service buses which today are still conveying civil servants from their respective local government areas to the state capital.
So just stopped at this, can you make me tion of more if there any?
Other legacy projects are the Ibom Multi-Specialist Hospital in Uyo, a befitting government house, a five star hotel in Ikot Ekpene and an international stadium in the state capital, fittingly named after him as the Godswill Akpabio International stadium, among other projects.
It is one thing to put in place, a stadium, and another for it to be befitting and meet standards. How befitting is the stadium, sir?
Today, the stadium is the only FIFA-approved stadium in Nigeria for international matches, and it hosts grade A matches involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
A few months ago, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had directed Ghana to secure an alternative venue outside the country for the Matchday three and four ties, involving the Black Stars of Ghana because the African Football Authority had declared all the stadia in Ghana not good enough to continue hosting CAF competitions.
How are we sure that Ghana did see what they were looking for in the stadium?
Consequently, Ghana was already looking the way of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium until the issue was sorted out.
Ghana had considered the Godswill Akpabio Stadium because of its topnotch facilities. Regardless of the aesthetic of the stadium and its facilities, Akwa Ibom State is a modern statement in development architecture and luxurious flora and fauna to complement the uncommon transformation legacies.
According to a one-time British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, ‘The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.’
Senator Godswill Akpabio’s trajectory in engraving his name in gold and leaving legacies that sprawl the sands of time comes handy.
To get this clearly, sir, can you tell us more about Mr Senate President and exactly the difference the stadium has made?
The imposing structure of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo serves as a testament to the visionary leadership and enduring legacy of the former governor, now President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is a testament that the Uncommon Transformer School of politics of transformation and good governance is never a ruse.
It is indeed a study in the lexicon of democracy and its derivatives.The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, in particular, has become an iconic symbol of his legacy, showcasing the state’s capacity to foster regional cooperation and promote sports tourism.
He was once the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, can speak on his achievements, while he was there?
Akpabio has also left indelible marks in the sands of time as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. He completed many abandoned projects, despite the challenges of Covid- 19 pandemic and scarcity of funds. Some of the iconic projects he completed were the 20-year old abandoned 13 and eight- storey buildings at Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Headquarters.
It is on records that Akpabio took pro-active steps to address burning issues, including underdevelopment, corruption in the NDDC through forensic audit of the Commission, Ogoni clean-up, insecurity in the region, the East-west road, Foreign Direct Investment and engagement of Public-Private Participation to complete some projects through alternative sources of revenue.
Today, Senator Akpabio is the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Executive Member of the International Parliamentary Union, deploying legislative and diplomatic enablement to help President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transform Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“So, I am here saying, Happy Birthday to a Development Czar and Uncommon Transformer at 62.”
