THE GUARDIAN, Wednesday, June 26, 2013
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Opinion The next governor of Akwa Ibom By Etim Etim th
T the 50 birthday celebration of Governor A Godswill Akpabio last December, his wife, Unoma, mounted the rostrum to give a vote of thanks. In what appeared as an off-script remark, she said: “Our governor, you took over two years to prepare to be the governor. You worked hard to get elected, and you have served your people very well. It is now time for you to start preparing to leave office. You must leave office as smoothly as you came. You must have a very good succession plan in place...” The audience was understandably startled. Political spouses do not address their husbands in such an audacious manner publicly. I turned to look at the governor who also appeared miffed at such profound statements from his wife. Surprised as we were, the subtext of madam’s speech was not lost on the crowd. In 2006, her husband went through one of the most fiercely competitive primaries in the history of our democracy. It involved 58 aspirants, lasted five days and took place in two venues. Even after Akpabio emerged winner at the primary, the departing governor, Obong Victor Attah, opposed his ticket, preferring to hand over to his son-in-law. The intrigues, manipulations, deceptions and chicanery that characterized Attah’s last days would make a good movie. It should form a major section of the governor’s memoirs in due course. In making her emotional admonitions last Christmas, the First lady was essentially reminding her husband not to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor whose post-service aura has been a little sullied. Chief Akpabio has recorded impressive achievements, his ap-
proval rating is quite high and his profile as an emerging national leader is obvious, the more reason his wife’s passionate appeal resoundingly resonated with Akwa Ibomites who are equally anxious for a smooth succession in 2015. A rancorous transition is costly, divisive, destructive and energy-sapping. Akwa Ibomites have learnt that to sustain a momentum of unimpeded growth and cumulative development, the successor must share the vision of the departing leader. Having seen such a dramatic change in their land and lives in the last six years, our people now realise that a leader can make the difference. We now understand that the governor’s values and character, experience and passion, education and exposure, training and learning are the differentiating factors between a success and failure. Akwa Ibom people also realise that a governor ought not to come from a particular clan before the people of that area feel the positive impact of government. A good leader will always treat the whole state as his village and every citizen as his kindred. Another lesson of the Akpabio era is that a suitable candidate can get elected irrespective of his ethnic origin or economic class. The idea of zoning is therefore not a popular concept among the people. If the governor himself did not emerge through zoning, he will likely not use it in his own succession plan. Sensing the thoughts and mood of the people, Akpabio himself has dropped a few hints: he will not support zoning because he did not come in through zoning, but he will back any candidate who is competent and shares his vision. What then do Akwa Ibom people want for their state and what are their expectations of the next leader? What should be the agenda of the next governor? The broad consensus among the people is that the state must continue in the pro-
growth trajectory in terms of infrastructure and amenities, but must additionally record tremendous industrial investments and output. If Akpabio is reputed as a governor who has developed infrastructure in the state, his successor will be the one to industrialise it. Right from day one, he will have to pursue a bold, wellplanned and comprehensive industrial agenda. The new administration will have to grow a healthy industrial base that creates over 4,000 high quality jobs in a year. In terms of infrastructure, the government will have to hire a renowned town-planning firm to work with domestic experts and develop a master plan for the whole state. The state will then be planned into different areas: commercial, residential, school, hospitals, places of worship, etc. All development of infrastructure, amenities, agriculture and industry will also follow this design religiously for the next 30 years. In terms of the soft issues, Akwa Ibomites have high expectations for their next governor. He will be a man of enormous erudition, knowledge and intellect who will not be scared of surrounding himself with people of similar or better endowments. In discussions, interviews and speeches, he will display knowledge and intellect with a good command of facts and figures about Akwa Ibom, Nigeria and global affairs. He will display a deep passion for Akwa Ibom State, its people, cultures and traditions and show a good understanding of the politics of the 0state, geography, economics and history. Above all, he must have genuine concern for the welfare of the state and its people. Akpabio’s successor must be a man of equity and fairness. No ethnic group would be favoured at the expense of others. Nobody would be passed over for any benefit due them based on his her ethnic background. The governor will
therefore build his reputation as a detribalised leader who will not allow his ethnicity to be a factor in his decisions as a governor. He will therefore not promote or associate with groups or associations whose agenda do not accentuate our sociological homogeneity. Rather, he will consistently deliver an image of modesty through his daily interactions with every part of society in Akwa Ibom, from the lowest economic classes all the way to societal elites. The governor will portray himself as peaceful and peace-loving, God-fearing and humane leader who will not employ violence to achieve political or any other objectives. Every leader creates its own brand. The brand accentuates the personality, improves his goodwill, influences people’s perception and enhances his acceptance among the people. Leaders come from different backgrounds and possess varying skills, training and experience. With their own strengths and weaknesses, leaders have different success stories. Chief Akpabio’s next test case is how he will manage the transition to the new administration. If the new leader continues in his path, the state will be better for it. Otherwise, we will reverse to the starting point. One of the reasons Lagos State is doing so well is because Fashola shares Tinubu’s vision. The Lagos model in which the governor must build on the foundation of his predecessor is far more productive than what happens in some states like Imo State in which Okorocha is literally at war with his predecessor. Everything Ohakim did in Imo has been reversed! We want continuity in Akwa Ibom and that is why the people have so much high expectations for the next governor. He must be a visionary and planner; broad minded and fair to all. • Etim is a banker and journalist.
Achebe: Seer, writer and patriot extraordinaire (3) By A. B. C. Nwosu HEN, there was Achebe’s home-coming in 2009 for the AhiaT joku Lecture at Owerri. Fifty years anniversary of the publication of “Things Fall Apart” had just been celebrated only months earlier and Achebe’s country men were hungry to see their son. The arrangements for the visit were impeccable. Governor Ikedi Ohakim, the government and people of Imo State spared no expense and no efforts to honour Ugo be n’oji, Eagle on Iroko. The Ohakim administration had journeyed to New York to persuade Achebe to come and address the people. A giant tent to accommodate a multitude was set up in Owerri. The arena was full, in and outside the giant tent. The crowd inside the tent was intimidating. Achebe’s friends from the University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria such as Professor M. J. C. Echeruo and late Professor Adiele Afigbo, among others, were there. The compere, Dr. Chris Asoluka, President-General of Aka-Ikenga was brilliant. Governor Ikedi Ohakim spoke in superlatives. The atmosphere was truly electrifying. Chinweizu was there. George Obiozor was there; et cetera. I was there. I was involved. All of us were. When it was time for Achebe to speak, the Iroko sounded. For a while Achebe was silent and his eyes became misty. He was rendered speechless by the love and adulation of the tumultuous crowd. When he began to speak, he did not read a prepared speech; he thanked all those that gathered, “the community” for being the Iroko that made his work possible because “Things Fall Apart” was the peoples’ story, our story, the society, to demand for transparency and accountability in government and to take leadership roles in preserving the tenets of our burgeoning democracy. It was vintage Achebe at what would turn out to be his last visit to his beloved country. It is clear from reading Achebe’s works or in interactions with him privately or publicly at the Achebe Colloquium series at Providence that he remained a patriot, a Pan-Africanist and a humanist until the very end. Of particular relevance are his views on power and responsibility, corruption and good governance. He believed that the ultimate reason for failures of successive national governments in Nigeria and much of Africa; apart from unbridled corruption, is the failure of those in power to relate to the very people who legitimise their authority: the failure of the rulers to establish vital links with the poor and dispossessed of the country, “whose bruised heart throbs painfully at the core of the nations being” (Anthills p. 141). “Anthills” further makes the painful point that those who make plans for us “makes plans only for themselves and their families”. I need to end this write up now by referring to his epic work: “There Was a Country” which to me is thoroughly researched work that took decades to write. It is a serious effort by Achebe to let Nigerians grasp the true and full meaning of tragedy. How
many of the critics of “There Was A Country” have bothered to reflect on his sad poem on page 168 of the book titled “Refugee Mother and Child”. Ditto his poignant poem “Air Raid” on page 175. Who of Achebe’s critics had similar experiences of the Nigeria-Biafra war? Is their grouse the fact that Achebe (like many of us), having experienced all these, did not forever keep his peace over those tragic facts and events? The Nigerian crises of 1966 were a tragedy of epic proportions, which so many well-known non-Nigerian writers have written on. Achebe’s “There Was A Country” is the first researched account by a Nigerian writer on the 1966 crises, and the Nigeria-Biafra war of 1967 - 1970. It is a courageous and painstaking effort that represents an “insider” account on the side of Biafra. So far it is the only authentic and well researched book (53 pages of reference materials) that will be available to future generations on that most unfortunate and tragic period in our nation’s history. It would therefore be helpful, and society and history would benefit from “insider” accounts from the side of Nigeria (Non-Biafran) writers on the 1966 crises and the Nigeria - Biafra war. It will be important for the critics to examine Part 4 of There Was A Country on Nigeria’s Painful Transitions; Corruption and Indiscipline; State Failure; State Resuscitation and the postscript on the example of Nelson Mandela. I rest this matter, for now. I do not to conclude this discourse on Achebe, the writer, without referring to his 1986 Nigerian national merit Award Winners’ lecture titled “What Has literature Got To Do With It” where he very eloquently dissected the major reasons for Nigeria’s (and Africa’s) underdevelopment and reduced the problems of arrogance of power and apathy of the society to two very simply stories. Please permit me to repeat those two stories. The first story goes like this: “One day a snake was riding the horse coiled up as was his fashion, in the saddle. As he came down the road he met the toad walking by the roadside. “Excuse me sir” said the toad, “but that’s not the way to ride a horse” “really? Can you show me the right way then?” “With pleasure; if you will be good enough to step down.” The snake slid down the side of the horse, and the toad jumped with alacrity into the saddle, sat bolt upright and galloped most elegantly down the road. “That’s how to ride a horse” he said. “Very good said the snake,” very good indeed; you may now come down” The toad jumped down and the snake slid up the side of the horse back into the saddle and coiled up as before. Then he said to the toad, “knowing is good but having is better. What good does fine horsemanship do to a fellow without a horse”. This is arrogance of power par excellence a la Achebe! The second story is about apathy and “it is not my business” attitude of society that permits impunity and abuse of power to thrive. It goes: “Once upon a time, all the animals were summoned to a meeting. As they converged on the public square early in the morn-
ing one of them, the fowl was spotted by his neighbours going in the opposite direction. They said to him. “How is it that you are going away from the public square? Did you not hear the towncrier’s summons last night? “I did not hear it” said the fowl, and I should certainly have gone for the meeting if a certain personal matter had not cropped up which I must attend to. I am truly sorry, but I hope you will make my sincere apologies to the meeting. Tell them that though absent in body, I will be there with you in spirit in all your deliberations. Needless to say that whatever you decide will receive my whole hearted support”. The question before the assembled animals was what to do in face of a new threat posed by man’s frequent slaughtering of animals to placate his gods. After a stormy but surprisingly brief debate, it was decided to present to man one of their number as his regular sacrificial animal if he would leave the rest in peace. And it was agreed without a division that the fowl should be offered to man to mediate between him and his gods. And it has been so ever since”. The fowl paid the price of indifference. Again does Achebe the seer need to say more? I have gone round many of Achebe’s writings simply to emphasise that Achebe, the patriot, believes that power, whether political or religious (ARROW OF GOD) derives from the people and that those in power must be completely accountable to the people. The depth of Achebe’s vision is stupendous considering that much of what he wrote of several decades ago, are still happening today. So what manner of man really was Chinua Achebe? The late Dr. Pius Okigbo again comes to our rescue as he says: “There is this soft-spoken, quiet son of catechist, behind whose soft exterior lies an iron soul and an iron will. A man of strong convictions, tenaciously held because they are arrived at only after careful thought”. This to me summarises Nnanyi Achebe. As for me, I shall always see him in his works, I do hope that persons in leadership positions shall see the need to discuss with his family and his publishers so as to produce the Complete Works Of Chinua Achebe for the benefit of future generations. I agree with Achebe, and share his hope that “a generation will come” (as he wrote in What is Nigeria to Me? The Guardian October 2008), “if we do our work patiently and well – and given luck – a generation that will call Nigeria father or mother”. We wait. For now, I go back to his short story “Civil Peace” (Girls At War and Other Short Stories – 1972) and take solace in the resilient spirit of Jonathan Iwegbu and his family. “Nothing puzzles God”. Onwero ife gbalu Chukwu ghali. Adieu great man. Jee nke oma. It is well. • Concluded. • Prof. Nwosu is former Minister of Health.