TheHILL | OPINION | JULY 30, 2021.
Written by Joseph Okon
The process to elect the next Governor in Akwa Ibom State who would succeed Mr Udom Emmanuel had long begun with consultation to groups and individuals by aspirants informing them of their intentions to contest for the number one seat in the state.
The outcome of these ambitions will solely be determined by the political parties at the first stage who would file candidates for different political parties for electorates to choose on the election day.
While the process of consultation is ongoing, there are agitations on which federal constituency is most suitable to produce the next Governor since it has been agreed that 2023 is the turn of Uyo Senatorial District. Another is the clamour for what some call a “homegrown” governor.
Permit me to say that in the political configuration of zoning in Akwa Ibom State, offices are more often than not zoned to people than places. It is when a person assumes the office that it will be counted that that area took its turn.
On the ongoing debate on which Federal Constituency in Uyo Senatorial District is more suitable to produce the next governor, permit me to say that it should not be about the federal constituency as a right, but who has what it takes to govern the state, pay salaries and undertake development projects with or without allocation from the federation account.
Akwa Ibom people must not sacrifice good governance on the altar of popularity or homegrown syndrome, but should base their choice on who has the requisite credentials (not in academic terms only) to govern at a time like this.
Between Itu/Ibiono and Etinan federal constituencies, none is more qualified than the other. The quality of aspirants they parade would determine who is more qualified than the other when the chips are down. Again, leaders are made for their own time: a governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2023 to 2027 will be very peculiar, different from conventional politicians. That is why in a time like this when allocation from the center cannot guarantee meaningful projects, who is that man or woman who has the capability to salvage the state?
Hence the trajectory of conversation regarding Akwa Ibom 2023 gubernatorial elections should center on the economic policies that would transform the state and create wealth for the people. It should be based on what the people can see with their eyes and feel with their hands.
The state needs a leader who would be able to set up businesses and manage successfully. A person who wouldn’t mortgage the destiny of Akwa Ibom and its people on selfish aggrandisements is a sine qua non for the 2023 governorship position.
Political and opinion leaders should carefully dissect the managerial ingenuity, competence, economic blueprints of aspirants, and not the deep pockets of aspirants seeking to govern the state. This will give them a clear direction on who should be followed.
While searching for that man or woman for this time and season, Akwa Ibom people must take a queue from other developed climes when faced with similar situations. The so called homegrown mentality should completely be jettisoned for the avalanche of broader and sophisticated perspective vis -a- vis the succession politics.
There are no data globally that affirm that it’s only when somebody stays for a certain number of years in a particular area that he or she can govern the place well. All these are confusions fused into the discussion by politicians to brainwash the gullible for their selfish political interest. The people must be vigilant and should not fall for this cheap gambit.
That is why in 1986, when China needed someone to salvage the country’s economic accounting system, they appointed Dr. Fengbo Zhang to head Chinese Macroeconomic Research, and he was someone who obtained his PhD overseas. This was not because they didn’t have “homegrown” economists in China, they chose their very best who was not even known much at home.
The research project led to China publishing their first GDP which utilized the World Bank’s method as a reference, and made numerous appropriate adjustments based on China’s national condition. The GDP also has been converted to USD based data by utilizing the moving average exchange rate. The research systematically completed China’s GDP and GDP per capita from 1952 to 1986 and analyzed growth rate which formed the Chinese economic model today.
In times like this, the kind of governor Akwa Ibom needs is that governor who has the requisite experience to build something out of nothing and the needed connection to link the state to investment opportunities globally, and grow the economy astronomically like Governor Emmanuel is doing today. Popularity and self aggrandizement is antithetical to good governance. The people must put away sentiments and emotions to be able to see better.
Akwa Ibom needs that person for governor who will able to sustain the record breaking legacy of peace in Akwa Ibom state. And who is willing to key into the peace maintenance movement of the state without considering any personal ambition. It won’t be possible to sustain the industrialization legacy of Governor Udom Emmanuel led government without peace. Hence Peace Maintenance Movement (PMM) becomes a panacea for continuous growth and progress.
It is important to note here that the 2023 governorship will neither be about popularity- where a person worked before nor how long one has been in Akwa Ibom. It’s about who has managed what before outside politics? What has such an individual established and grown successfully in a private capacity?
After answering these questions sincerely, the person that will take over from Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2023 will emerge clearly. That is why in God’s power game, he doesn’t give power as a right but by Grace to whoever He qualifies.
Put succinctly, Akwa Ibom needs someone with the Grace of God, just like Governor Udom Emmanuel who was neither the most popular nor a “homegrown” politician. He had answers to the economic problems and has successfully navigated the state out of a turbulent successive economic and health crises. Let the best hand have the job, and Akwa Ibom will be better for it.
God bless Akwa Ibom!
Mr. Okon hails from Nsit Atai LGA of Akwa Ibom State.
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