By Rt Hon Eseme Eyiboh
Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio’s foray into politics from his humble beginning as Commissioner in three key Ministries in Akwa Ibom state to the President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 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.
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”.
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.
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.
Today, the stadium which is the only FIFA-approved stadium in Nigeria for international matches, 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 3 and 4 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.
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.
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.
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 8- storey buildings at 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.
Happy Birthday to a Development Czar and Uncommon Transformer at 62.
Rt Hon Eseme Eyiboh is the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity and official Spokesperson to the President of the Senate
