June 03, 2015
His Excellency,
Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel
Executive Governor
Akwa Ibom State
Your Excellency,
Let me use this medium to publicly congratulate you on your
well-deserved victory at the April 11, 2015 gubernatorial election in the state
and your subsequent swearing-in as the fourth democratically elected chief
executive of Akwa Ibom State since its creation in September 1987. Indeed, your
emergence is an act of God and I therefore urge the people of Akwa Ibom State to
give you the necessary support and enabling environment to deliver on your
mandate to the people of Akwa Ibom State.
TAKING THE STATE TO GOD IN PRAYER
Your Excellency, let me also commend you for the singular
act to commit the affairs of your administration in the hands of God by first
holding a Thanksgiving Service at Ibom Hall Ground which is the norm by the
immediate past administration but you followed it with a 3 Days Fasting and
Prayers with the people of the state. The breaking of the fasting which always
ended at Government Banquet Hall do attracts the entire people of the state
including the political class, clergies, senior citizens, women, youth and
children alike. This is highly commendable and a welcome development in our
state though your hardest critics may not agree with it, but the significance
of such very important spiritual exercise cannot be quantified. Sir, you took
the right decision in accordance with the Biblical injunction as recorded in
the book of II Chronicles 7:14 that, “If my people who are called by my name
will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked
ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their
land (NIV).” Sir, by this act, I am convinced that God has already healed
Akwa Ibom State with your emergence as the governor and therefore suggest for
this spiritual exercise to be held quarterly in the state. It will go along way
to heal old wounds and restore back what the cankerworms and caterpillars have
eaten from our state.
BUILDING BRIDGES AND NOT WALLS
Your Excellency, barely six (6) days since your inauguration
as the governor of our dear state, the enemies of progress has raised their
ugly faces to destabilize your administration through fictitious write-ups and
uncomplimentary remarks especially on social media platforms. They did this
with unholy alliance with the media establishments in the state and the country
at large but I see them failing woefully. Sir, you knew the battle you faced
during your campaign tour, election and even after election. As we are
celebrating your victory at the poll and subsequent swearing-in, your rival,
brother and governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC),
Obong Umana Okon Umana is already at the Election Tribunal challenging your
victory. Also, some sections of the state are not happy that you emerged the
governor at the April 11 gubernatorial poll. The G22 is still fresh in our
memory though later fragmented where very few of them hear the voice of reason
and conceded their ambition to join hands with you to build a vibrant Akwa Ibom
State. Your Excellency, election is over and it is time to build bridges and
not walls. Though on several occasions, I have listened to you when you
extended a hand of fellowship to those who couldn’t make it at the election to
join hands with you to build a new Akwa Ibom State that will be
industrially-driven. Sir, we must go beyond making of statements but by
constituting an Executive Committee of Reconciliation among the different
ethnic groups in the state comprising of selected royal fathers, clergies,
youth leaders, women and senior citizens in the state to bring all interest together
to resolved every differences and disagreement and also facilitate speedy
development in the state.This is very important and should be taken into
consideration.
MERITOCRACY OVER POLITICAL JOBBERS
Your Excellency, less than 48 hours after your inauguration,
your first appointment was greeted with mixed feelings. There was an outcry and
strong criticism on recycling of same old names in a new administration. I
stood in defense of your decision because in every reconstituted football team,
there is always room for experience hands. There is always a place for those
who have been in the system to give direction and I want to believe that that
was exactly what compels your decision. Though there are widespread
insinuations that your administration is teleguided by external influence but I
refused to totally subscribe to that assertion. Be that as it may, for you to
succeed in your administration, you must PUT A ROUND PEG IN A ROUND HOLE. You
must appoint the right people who will help to accelerate the pace of
development that you envision for our state. As a seasoned technocrat that has
worked in the top management of your career as a banker, you know the right
people to choose to work with you who will bring their innovation and expertize
to bear in governance. You need key professionals and people who have the love
of the state at heart and not people who turn political office to private enterprise
and only attended to people of their own clan. Such people should not be given
a place in your administration as Akwa Ibom State belongs to all and we must
give fair treatment to all section.
You need to have a well-coordinated Think
Tank Team comprises of seasoned technocrats and professionals who will
coordinate the activities of your administration to deliver on your mandate.
What we normally known as “Kitchen Cabinet” should not be a bandwagon of old
politicians but an assemblage of capable hands and the best brain should be
engaged to give direction and coordinate the activities, programs and policies
of your administration. Let the right people be appointed into sensitive
positions of your administration. Let a Chartered Engineer head the Ministry of
Works; a Licensed Estate Surveyor, Land Surveyor, or Architect head the
Ministry of Land and Urban Planning, and so on and so forth. Let your
appointment into key offices be on merit and not characterized by frivolities.
The weight of governance is on your shoulder. When you succeed, the credit will
come to you and when you fail God forbid, the blame will also come to you.
Therefore don’t take chances and allow power to fritter away from your hand.
The mandate in your hand was given to you by the good people of Akwa Ibom State
and they will also demand accountability from you in due course.
INCORPORATE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION IN YOUR
ADMINISTRATION
The role of Civil Society Organizations in any developing
economy cannot be over-emphasized as they played very active role in building
and strengthening democracy. They act as watchdog by enhancing transparency and
accountability in governance and by contributing to increased public debate on
issues surrounding the formulation and implementation of government budgets as
well as supporting greater transparency of public revenues. The recent flag-off
#10PERCENT4YOUTH in Uyo by Youth Alive Foundation in collaboration with other
CSOs in the state is a pointer to the fact of what is lying ahead of us
especially within the Niger Delta region. It is on this premise that I make a passionate
appeal to you Sir for the appointment into your administration the Special
Adviser on Civil Society Matters. This will be for the overall interest of our
state and the need to see Civil Society Organizations as Agents of Change and
partners in progress rather than agent of destruction as speculated in some
quarters. It will also help to breach the past frosty relationship that has
existed between government and some Civil Society Organizations in the state.
The Gary Foxcroft’s Stepping Stone UK experience is still fresh in our memory
and we must put machinery in motion to curb a repeat of such ugly trend.
INTERVENTION ON ABANDONED PROJECTS
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| ITOKU BRIDGE DURING RAINING SEASON |
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| ITOKU BRIDGE DURING RAINING SEASON |
INVITATION TO BOOK LAUNCH
Your Excellency, as one of your key supporters and social
media campaigner, I hereby publicly invite your Excellency to the
Launching/Public Presentation of a book titled “UDOM EMMANUEL: ON A JOURNEY TO
HILLTOP MANSION” schedule to take place at Uyo, the capital city of Akwa Ibom
State on July 11, 2015. The book “UDOM EMMANUEL: ON A JOURNEY TO HILLTOP
MANSION” is a collection of selected articles on your personality, values,
philosophy and ideology. The book has extensively focus on your achievements as a seasoned administrator, banker and
technocrat of no mean repute; your brief stay in office as Secretary to Akwa Ibom
State Government; and your political sojourn, endorsement and declaration.
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| THE BOOK "UDOM EMMANUEL: ON A JOURNEY TO HILLTOP MANSION |
The book is not only a compendium of articles alone but will
serve as a reference point for your supporters and indeed the generality of
Akwa Ibom people to reflect on your long walk from corporate Nigeria to Akwa Ibom
State Government House. The book is all about celebrating excellence and
outstanding achievement as exemplified by your Excellency. The book will also
inspires and motivates Akwa Ibom youth especially those from very humble
background that they can attain to any greater height in life if they are
willing to pay the price. It is hoped that this collection will not only
portrayed your Excellency as a model of success but will prompt readers to
pause for a while and reflect on their significance and timeless relevance. The
book is a must read for every home. It is on this premise that I humbly invite
your Excellency and your teeming supporters to grace the Launching/Public
Presentation of this timely piece and art of creativity.
YOUR MANDATE IS INTACT
Your Excellency, government is a continuum and your mandate
is divine. God in His wisdom picked you among the over five million indigene of
the state to consolidate on the achievements of the immediate past
administration of Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio and all activities to frustrate
your administration are effort in futility. The scripture as recorded in Psalm
127:1 stated that, “Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that
build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Sir,
you are the right choice for Akwa Ibom people because power belongs to God and
He gives it to whoever He wishes. The power has been given to you, please guide
it jealously. Be guided by the principles of transparency, equity, justice and
fair play in discharging your responsibilities as the chief executive of the
state. Do not be intimidated by any forces that may rise against you as you
will conquer them all. Remember that even our Lord Jesus Christ was not loved
by all even his immediate families. The scripture says in Luke 6:26 “Woe unto
you, when all men shall speak well of you; for so did their fathers to the
false prophets.” Sir, you will succeed against all odd. I join all patriotic
citizens of our state to wish you success in your administration and to deliver
on your mandate.
Above all, as you take charge of governance in Akwa Ibom
State, let your words be your bond. Use every resources at your disposal to
make Akwa Ibom State an industrial base in the Gulf of Guinea. Remember all your
campaign promises to the people of Akwa Ibom State and do not deviate from it. In
the word of Stephen Grellet that says, “I shall pass through this world but
once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any
human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not
pass this way again.” Your Excellency, the ball is in your court and you must
do the needful but do not forget your root.May God give you the wisdom to steer
the ship of our dear state to an enviable height, Amen.
UBONG DAVID is a social media crusader, a Peace Ambassador
of the Commonwealth Youth Council and a Blogger. He is the Publisher of Insight
Nigeria and PDP Today Magazine. +234803709322 (text only)
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