The morning of Monday August 31, 1998, was an event that before then, featured as mere thoughts and speculations in the minds of many as to whether it would take place or not. When the doors of the International Conference Center, Abuja, opened to key stakeholders across religions, zones and interests, it was more than certain that the convergence would birth Nigeria’s largest political movement. Away from Abuja, that inaugural meeting triggered the greatest development upset more than 600 kilometers away in an 11 year old state – Akwa Ibom.
The story of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State since inception in 1998, is a story of over 5 million people, their social, political and economic trajectory; their choices, pace forward and profoundly, their leadership. It can be rightly posited that there’s hardly any sector in the state whose growth in the last 25 years does not have the imprimatur of PDP, directly or indirectly, partly or wholesomely.
With its unbroken streak of existence and electoral victory, the party has become the people’s first choice, a political factor that entrenches PDP as a metaphoric religion in Akwa Ibom State. As a democratic mass movement of the people, the party has propelled the state from an ‘underdog’ in the comity of states to a leading force in the Nigerian federation within 25 years. From an exemplar of underdevelopment to a model of real excellence in governance, Akwa Ibom is a clean testament of the gains intended and facilitated by PDP.
From the first democratically elected governor in May 1999 to the current since the emergence of the fourth republic, PDP has given to Akwa Ibom State, governors of national repute whose strides are of a unique class. PDP produced governors in the state are those who localise global leadership and democratic models to fit peculiar concerns including Gov Umo Eno who is practically leading forward as in the ideals of the party.
Between 1999 and 2007 under Obong Victor Attah’s watch, Akwa Ibom began the historic march to modernism, the kind that took naysayers by surprise. The telecommunications technology, computers and the internet enjoyed in Akwa Ibom today were an intentional initiative of the Attah administration. Within that period, West Africa’s biggest golf course – Ibom Golf Course, sprung from the beautiful hills of Ifiayong, Uruan, where Gov Attah equally built a five-star hotel (now Ibom Icon Hotel). That daring administration also initiated the airport project which is evolving to become Nigeria’s aviation haven. Ibom Power Plant of today also bears the signature of Gov Attah as the initiator.
The Akwa Ibom evolution increased in pace between 2007 and 2015 with another PDP produced transformational leader, Gov Godswill Akpabio. That administration with its damning disposition to positive change, built the airport and witnessed the landing of the inaugural flight. That PDP led administration gave Nigeria the only CAF/FIFA approved stadium for international matches currently, the now home of the Super Eagles – Godswill Akpabio Stadium (the Nest of Champions). That administration built and saw to the actual commencement of Akwa Ibom State University, the fastest growing university in the state. It was in this era that the infrastructural renaissance in Akwa Ibom became very clear and admirable nationwide. Many are the imprints of that administration that till date still resonates in the state and beyond.
Enter the silent achiever, Gov Udom Emmanuel (2015 – 2020), who led the state through the ‘storm’ amidst two economic recessions in Nigeria and a global pandemic (COVID 19). His ‘dakkada’ philosophy worked like magic and his economic revolution started something great without end. By establishing Nigeria’s best airline, Ibom Air, which now extends to the West Africa sub-region, and building a smart international terminal at Victor Atta International Airport, his administration set a record that no state government, or the federal government is able to break. Under Gov Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom’s public infrastructure increased from record breaking kilometers of road, to the longest bridge in South-south (Etebi-Enwang bridge), tallest building in the South-south (21 storey Udom Emmanuel Tower), among others.
Today, young people and women in Akwa Ibom have a seat in the pedestal of leadership courtesy of PDP. Communities are uplifted courtesy of PDP produced administrations. Less and underprivileged individuals are raised to equal status with others through leaders produced by the party. The current administration in the state led by Gov Umo Eno, is on course to achieve even greater feats. His community development approach is a move applauded by all. In just 15 months in office, Gov Eno has not shown a people -oriented governance through projects, policies and programmes. The recent ongoing second phase of the 400 houses provided for indigent people in rural communities; the 39 academically sound rural secondary school students from Akwa Ibom who are currently in London for educational purposes; the model schools project, primary healthcare centers, among others, already set him aside as an outstanding leader produced by the PDP.
With these numerous gains in the state facilitated by PDP in the first 26 years of existence and 25 unbroken years of remaining the people’s first choice, it is in the right place to expect more in the near and far future. Like it is said, Akwa Ibom is not only PDP’s poster boy, but Nigeria’s highly sought after bride. This is not accidental, this is PDP and on this path, we will trail.
– Akanimo Kingsley
Assistant Media Relations Officer,
Peoples Democratic Party,
Akwa Ibom State
