By Joseph Okon
Whatever a person does in their stations of life, have the tendency of trailing them for the rest of their lives. It can be likened to planting a seed, one cannot run away from the fruits, good or bad, directly or indirectly. One man had an opportunity, and planted a good seed, and he is being haunted for the good reason years after leaving office.
On Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel and other deserving awardees will be treated to the exquisite Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Banquet Hall in Abuja as he will be crowned with the prestigious “Man of The Year” at the 6th LEEX Leadership Excellence Award by the African Film Institute.
The LEEX Awards is endorsed by the African Union and African Film Institute, an initiative to celebrate excellence in leadership and public service which was the hallmark of Mr. Udom Emmanuel while in office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State from May 29th, 2015 to May 29th, 2023.
At his inauguration into office on May 29th 2015, Mr Udom Emmanuel laid out his five-point development agenda for the people of Akwa Ibom State which was later followed by the eight-point Completion Agenda in 2019, and went to work.
With a strong financial bent, coming from a rich financial servicing sector background, the expectation of Akwa Ibom people from the administration was huge, and Mr Udom Emmanuel never let the people down as he brought his financial expertise to the discharge of his responsibilities.
Mr Emmanuel made good his promise to the people of Akwa Ibom by turning every part of the State into a huge construction site. A lot of people believed the governor was taking too many road projects across all the senatorial districts and local governments of the State than any administration, yet he was able to deliver excellently.
Within eight years in office, Mr Emmanuel opened up several villages with the construction of roads that will outlive several generations. His achievements in road construction and other critical infrastructure baffled even his staunch critics.
The 9.5 kilometer ten lanes Clement Isong, Idongesit Nkanga Way, the 29-kilometer Etinan – Ndon Eyo, the 25-kilometer Uyo- Ikot Ekpene road, and the 23.4 kilometer Eket – Etinan road projects with three bridges, are very few of Mr. Emmanuel’s infrastructural engineering. The ten-lane road project came with a 5.4-kilometer underground drainage tunnel and three roundabouts.
Through the visionary leadership of the immediate past Governor, Akwa Ibom State today has become a hub for aviation, a hub for infrastructure, a hub for healthcare delivery through completed and equipped 14 general hospitals in each federal constituency, the equipping of the Ibom Specialist and Referral Hospital, the new infectious disease and control centre at Ituk Mbang, and above all, the agricultural development and industrialisation.
The former governor believed that any nation that conquers the food problem has solved 70 percent of its problem, hence his massive investment in agriculture through the directorate of Agric investment and the Ministry of Agriculture.
In line with his industrialization agenda, Mr. Emmanuel set up factories across the state ranging from fertilizer processing and blending factory, flour mill factory, metering solution company, syringe manufacturing company, plastic factory, toothpick and pencil factory, and many other industrial concerns in the State.
Through this pragmatic, visionary, and innovative leadership, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report that Akwa Ibom State attracted more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)between 2017 to 2022 than any other state apart from Lagos. This could only be achieved through the exceptional and capable investment-driven leadership of Mr Emmanuel.
Mr. Emmanuel’s approach to governance came from his deep love for the people, and concern about the people’s living conditions, hence his determination to provide basic infrastructures for human needs like roads, healthcare, education, water, power, and many others in every community. Under his administration, Mr. Emmanuel apart from the former governor Attah who built the Ibom Power Plant had invested in power infrastructure and generation than any other administration through building many substations, and connecting many communities to power in the state. He started the process of power distribution by registering Akwa Ibom-owned distribution company.
Today, Akwa Ibom State has become a safe haven for power as it enjoys 19 to 22 hours uninterrupted power supply daily. The state is no longer affected by the incessant collapse of National Grid. All thanks to the man who saw today while working yesterday.
The former governor showed his capacity and preparedness to govern the state by taking on challenging tasks and accomplishing things that no leader in the state before him had ever accomplished, like Ibom Air that has become the National Carrier with over ten brand new aircraft and the completing of the International Terminal at Victor Attah International Airport. An achievement that no sub-National in the country has ever achieved.
From aviation to industries, agricultural development, human capital development, and education to health, Mr Emmanuel achieved these despite the dwindling revenues accruable to the state due to the economic meltdown then. He was indeed a huge blessing to Akwa Ibom State, and he’s a national asset to Nigeria.
Again, the 29-kilometer Etinan Ndon Eyo road with two cable bridges and a spur from Mbioto Ekpene Nten in Etinan to Ikot Akpan in Onna has been a nightmare for decades. It is important to note here that the administration completed road projects run into hundreds of kilometres, and the 29-kilometer Etinan Ndon Eyo road with two bridges and the 1-kilometer flyover at Ikot Oku Ikono is the first of its kind in Akwa Ibom State.
The governor who loves challenges didn’t stop there, he built one of the best Traditional Rulers Council chambers in Nigeria for the royal fathers and a befitting residence for the state Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State.
As he steps forward on Saturday for the prestigious “Man of the Year” award, Mr Emmanuel will forever be remembered and history will be kind to him for the ten year backlog of gratuity he cleared in his first 100 days in office, the backlog of pensions he cleared and brought it up to date for his successor, and for many lives he blessed by his countless show of generosity and human kindness.
Mr Udom Emmanuel wholly deserves the 2024 “Man Of The Year” having demonstrates an unbeatable track record of excellent leadership in public service.
This is indeed a deserving gift to the man who gave his all to the service of humanity and his people while in office as governor of Akwa Ibom State, and this acknowledgement of his excellent leadership service couldn’t come at a better time than now, when Nigeria begs for such a leader.
This crown serves as a testament to his managerial capacity and a reminder of the fact that a job well done always means more jobs to be done.
Congratulations, Your Excellency!
Joseph Okon writes from Ikot Essien Nsit in Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
