A NOTE BY MR. CHURCHILL UDOH.

MAY AKWA IBOM A.R.I.S.E. IN THE SPIRIT OF DAKKADA

I have taken 3 weeks to dissect the flyer I have posted above.

I tried to analyze its sectoral content impact if implemented and it honestly hits me as a well thought through 5 points agenda with capacity to very significantly further our developmental course as a people that seek to build a virile economy.

Its content is not only great, but very accomplishable, if our endowed fundamentals are well researched and articulated as a Land and a people.

Akwa Ibom is a Mighty Land, and home to a Great People, who own an Awesome God – Churchill Udoh.

Leadership is the most DEFINNING THING in the Success or failure of any human society. It begins with influencing the people’s present wellbeing to sculpturing their future.  everything in life revolves around Leadership.

H.E. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the present and very pragmatic Governor of Akwa Abasi Ibom State (AKS) was divinely brought by God at a time the state and nation was at a cross  road threshold on issues bothering purposeful leadership, to clean the Irgun stables, deinstitutionalize   squanderers impunity as our governance status quo ante, reconcile the land and its people back to God, and then create the template for total societal emancipation through spiritual rebirth, and as well position the Land on the part of economic empowerment expansion through ambitious economic envision, deliberate policy adaptation in a  direction that is not only radical, but revolutionary.

Just to refresh our memories, and possibly also carry readers that are not resident in Akwa Ibom along, Ibom Air, our pride in the skies (the current emerging tiger in Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector), has redefined how the Flying business should be done. A peep into its current operations, especially its future growth and expansion blue-print clearly points to aviation sector dominance in the near  future. Their new partnership with Airbus and the Emirate Engagements reassures us that a regional hub STAR is rising in the sub-sahara.

Still talking of the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration’s strategic footprints in the aviation sector, the tarmac runway expansion and reinforcement, as well as foresighted Oron Road bowl carriage capacity expansion from 2 to 4 lanes, the Aircraft Maintenance Hanger dream repositioning in addition to the Cargo Terminal construction when completed and commissioned has capacity to create legendary economic opportunities as never witnessed in the history of our region.

Just like clothing’s are not just made to cover our nakedness alone, but it is equally meant to define our peculiarity in style and swag, the strategic road sector infrastructure investment this administration has embarked upon from inception, spread all across the state, is in my interpretation anchored on prudence, economic viability prioritization. It’s well thought-through navigational network linkages has not only made traveling easy and pleasurable, but equally economically resourceful.

Peace and Security are the most sought-after priorities in life, because every other human decision depends on them as a matter of deliberate discernment. Now talking as an entrepreneur, no matter how mouthwatering any investment returns promises are in Afghanistan, or some of the states in Nigeria, I will never dare to give such a second thought. The reason is just common sensical, because there is no slim guarantee that neither I, my workers and even the investment itself will return in one piece. Needless to say that today, AKS by every square foot is the safest, most secure and infinitely very peaceful place in a very insecure and volatile Nigeria where bloodbath and gun powder triggers grandstands.

Not too long ago our land (AKS) used to accommodate all manners of cult gangsterism and by extension indulge violence and carnages associated therefrom. It permeated all strata of our governance, political and socio-cultural lives. It even dictated appointment sharing matrix in formal governance environments, as well as influenced its leadership recruitment opportunism.

Above is now a thing of the past, and my message for every Akwa Ibomite of goodwill is that this particular achievement cost a lot of investment in funding, spiritual realignment and courage to confront and uproot those alters. Moreso the financial toll to enforce their eviction can only be imagined. Therefore, as a people we must not only covetously own this PEACE and Security in our environment, but must defend every inch of our territory from back-tracking to the days of old. This we can only achieve by maintaining, and enhancing its advancement. Peace and security are for me today and I suppose it should be for Citizens of our dear State regarded as a hard fought and won TROPHY to be adored, coveted and preserved. This is the only sure way to continue to retain and attract more investments to our land.

In recent years many SMIEs and allied businesses have, and are still relocating from neighboring states and other troubled zones of the country to AKS. Our population expansion from about 4.5 million in 2014 to current 7+ million is eloquent testimony to the benefits associated with PEACE in our land. It will therefore be unwise to undo or reverse these WINS by wrong choice of leadership at The Hilltop Mansion come May 29, 2023.

It needs no debate that industrialization and organic or systemic economic growth has taken firm route and still making serious advancement on the Land of Akwa Ibom. The coconut industry and refinery, Jubilee syringe manufacturing company, Paragon paint company, etc have been established by the Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration and currently running as viable institutions. This without doubt has resulted in astronomical rise in job opportunities for people that seek decent means of livelihood. In line with the above, yours faithfully, our organization has also landed in Uyo and currently concluding plans to divert its next major project (500 staff capacity shopping mall) from a verifiably lucrative location in Lagos to the amazing Uyo market that by reliable feasibility study and business plan promises stronger emerging market opportunities now and in the very near future.

This administration has also raised the paradigm on human capital development with robust learning technique and school environment upgrades, academic curriculum retooling, teachers’ refresher program activation, consistent provision of leadership and entrepreneurial training schemes, all in a bid to convert our conventional schools to contemporary educational facilities in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 Standards on education.

In the last 3 years our schools are overflowing with student from far and near states, especially in the unity schools. This speaks volume not just about improved quality standards in our institutions, but a “flight to safety psychology” as well, knowing that no parent wants to ever consider the flip side trauma to safety (kidnap, or ransom payment), even if the child returns home alive.

With the resuscitation and repositioning of 6 previously moribund state-owned Technical Schools, creation of 3 brand new ones, and additional 3 at various stages of completion in the pipeline under the Completion Agenda, our state today lays very serious priority on technical, skilled and vocational education. Additionally, the about to be commissioned Dakkada Skills Acquisition Institute at Ikot Ada Idem promises to up the ante in the Skills, Entrepreneurial and Leadership Training Program in Nigeria and the African continent.

Although the Ibom Deep Seaport Project, the fertilizer and ammonia plant and a host of other mind blow mega projects dreamt and embarked upon by this administration are not likely to be completed within the life of the administration, but they definite sign-post great mercantile and industrial sagacity for the Akwa Ibom State of the near future.

Amazingly, what is important to note is that although the administration is in the closing stanzas of its second 4-year tenure, it continues to exude such vibrancy, optimism and impetus at every project commissioning occassion that reassures Akwa Ibomites that all projects under the Completion Agenda shall be exquisitely consummated before the exit date. The real wonder is that all these are achieved under a moment and atmosphere of lean FAAC allocation fortunes, and incomprehensible depreciation or continues southwards slide of our local currency (naira).

ADDRESSING THE REAL MATTER:

If we must be sincere with our consciences; life and indeed our future is defined by our choices. It is an inalienable right of every living organism outside the jungle to exercise this prerogative when opportunity presents itself. In similar vein, democracy is a game of numbers, whereby your vote is your weapon, and every citizen has and must ensures he or she expend such at ballot for a preferred candidate of his/her aggregated maximum points conviction. The outcome is usually that although the majority must carry the day, the minority also must have their say.

Most times this decision is defined by party affiliation, but in recent history, we have seen where leaders have even extended support to candidates of rival political platforms. Honestly, whatever you choose to do with your vote is entirely your choice, and this also does not place restriction on  status or office of the decision maker, including His Excellency Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, who on January 30, 2022 confided in a group of political leaders, statesmen and stakeholders that escorted the current AKSG Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno on consultation regarding his ambition to run as his successor as governor of this great state in the 2023 general elections, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. That the subject consultee is his preferred choice for a successor, amongst all that have indicated such interest is his fundamental prerogative under the constitution. His position as far as I am concerned in the political lexicon does not foreclose or desalinate others from aspiring for same office, at the same election. Although he is the Governor, he is entitled to just a single vote!!!

In same vein, I already have mine too, and made it known to everyone that cares to listen. I have even commenced campaigns for everyone who is not contesting for same position to support my candidate. As a professional salesman, I have even moved a step further to package and market my conviction to other people that had indicated interest in the race to join me since I have a MORE FANTASTIC PRODUCT as a candidate in the race. No need to debate further on these democratic fundamentals. Chinua Achebe said in his book, There was a Country, “… tell your story and let them tell their story, let the listeners decide which of the stories to believe”. So don’t let them tell your story and theirs on any matter, because you may not get justice.

Now talking about my preferred candidate for the exalted and sensitive office of the governor of Akwa Ibom State, I have classified the demands of the office on its occupant to include, but not restricted to these 3 dimensional:

                         (1)

SELF/SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

                    (A)

“… there are many aspects of leadership, but self-leadership is the most important of them all”. – John Maxell

Above quote is undebatable because it is impossible to lead others if your life is a “chaos”. A leader is a dealer in HOPE. It is impossible to therefore give/sale what you don’t have, more importantly in abundance.

                   (B)

“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord”. – Luke 4:18 & 19. How many of our current contestants understand this calling concerning this office?

Therefore, since Akwa Ibom State is named after the Almighty God, with Christianity as its official religion, whoever shall be the occupant of that office shall not only be a product of some prophesy, but must have capability to also function in the office of the Prophet, because the physical must subordinate to the SPIRITUAL (at all times). Since you cannot simultaneously serve God and mammon, it is therefore not just a question of ascending the saddle, but finishing WELL, and the only guaranteed way to success is “… that same God”. You cannot doubt what has never failed (God).

                        (2)

INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY

A lot of people mistake the number certificates or degrees as the only parameter for measuring Super Intelligence. Yes, while there is absolutely nothing wrong with multiple certificates or degrees gathering, but I still insist that it must not obliterate our sense of discernment as the only yardstick for measuring intellectual capacity. To avoid this misconception, please take out time to Google about our Lord Jesus Christ, Abraham Lincoln, the Wright brothers, the Toyota Theory & its Dynasty, Bill Gates and Microsoft, Steve Jobs and the Apple Group, the Asian Tigers (Japan, China, Korea & Malaysia), Lim Kuan Yu, Sheik Rashid Al’mouktum, Aliko Dangote, etc for more insight.

Not to distract the seriousness of the matter at hand, I promise to make extracts of these great achievers and other People of Significant Global Impact (PSGI) available in a subsequent special write-up, soon.

Akwa Ibom State is home to about 7.5million predominantly very literate, enlightened, industrious and resourceful people, with a very youthful demographic concentration. They need a leader in the office of the Governor that does not only live in the cutting-edge digital world capacity of today, but equally reside in the contemporariness of the world of the future. Such a person must realize that a great leader is not one that knows everything about something, but one that know something about everything, particularly how deep thinking and hard work can create prosperity and jobs, to decapitate systemic poverty and lack, to rewrite unfortunate opinion such as:

                   (A)

“Black leaders, especially of African extraction are so poor, to the extent that all they have is money”.

                      (B)

“The greatest problem of the black man is not the ability to think, but the capacity to think-through”.

– Myles Monroe (A&B)

                  (3)

HE OR SHE MUST COME WITH PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF CAPACITY.

“It is suicidal to entrust an A380 Commercial Airbus flight across the oceans in the hands of the best molue or Uyo-Lagos AKTC driver.

My preferred candidate for this office must be one with proven track record of successful management of enterprise investment beyond a decade and as well demonstrable competence in public governance to ensure that he or she hits the ground running. It is very evident to every discerning eye and mind that as the Founder/CEO of the Royalty Brand, Pastor Umoh Bassey Enoh as a private business man has been able to build glory out of ashes. Commencing operations 25 years ago with 5 rooms and 15 workers mushroom hotel, to the respectable national hotel chain with over 500 staff. This is outside other chains and lines of businesses.

Coming into Governance as Commissioner for Lands & Water Resources Ministry, De governor (Pastor Umo Bassey Eno) as he has always been fondly and prophetically called from teen age has acquitted himself very well. The current resuscitation and enterprise progression at Akwa Palms, the digitalization of land title documentation, the Research, Intervention and Integration of abandoned Marine economy into Mainstream economy, shoreline security activation, etc are eloquent showcase of sublime capacity in a single person.

It is also very important for a leader at this pedigree not to come with some baggage of moral and character question marks (?) on source of wealth, to enable him or her operate from a High Moral Authority Pedestal (HMAP). This will win the confidence, respect and support of our citizens for not just the person, but the office by extension. This will as well guarantee that the state’s resources are not at risk of sleaze and quandary, but put to optimal use in terms of all parameter of Competitive Efficiency Index (CEI).

Realistically speaking, all of the above qualities may be very difficult to find in a single leader seeking this office, not just now, but trans-generationally, however I am strongly convinced that De governor as Pastor Umo Bassey Eno has been prophetically nick-named from his college days had for long rehearsed and consecrated himself for a task and year like 2023, and just like His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, I have thrown my weight behind De governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno (U.B.E).

MY PRAYERS

FOR U.B.E.

May he also be favoured by and the Heavens, and Akwa Ibomites through the Party Processes, to a destiny date with history, through the Ballot Box come March 9, 2023 and Inauguaration on May 29, 2023, as a product of PROPHESY to:

                   (1)

Continue with the good works of his immediate predecessor.

                     (2)

Implement the Letters and Spirit of the 5-point agenda of A.R.I.S.E. for the growth and prosperity of AKS, and to the glory of God Almighty.

                      &

More importantly may God help him to be a good STATESMAN that he has always been, and even moreso, when he assumes duty come May 29, 2023, by God’s special grace.

FOR US & AKS

May God bless this mission & its missionary!!!

May God continue to bless Akwa Abasi Ibom State with GOOD & VISIONARY Leadership!!!

Credit : CHURCHILL UDOH

Move Media Team