By IDORENYIN UMOREN, Uyo

“Uncommon” was the most fitting word. Not “remarkable.” Not “unwonted.” Not “unusual.” Not “abnormal.” Not even “exceptional.” They all mean the same thing and describe the same phenomenon. But “uncommon” was just the right adjective.

That was the spontaneous description by the people of Akwa Ibom for the whirlwind of inclusive development that swept through the entire spectrum of life in Akwa Ibom State. The “Uncommon Transformation.”

But there was also the “Uncommon Transformer.” An enigma. The grace conundrum and phenomenon. Chief (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio (CON). He came and conquered, and sceptics and critics scampered and scoured for the true definition of grace.

Perhaps, the life of the President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio, Uko Akwa Ibom, is the very true definition of GRACE. A construct of immunity. Immunity against darts and vitriol.

Akpabio lost his father, Chief Obot Akpabio, at an early age and was raised by his loving mother, Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio. He was born on December 9, 1962, in Ukana Ikot Ntuen in the Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom State.

The Senate President was educated at Methodist Primary School, Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State; the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and the University of Calabar, Cross River State, where he obtained a Degree in Law. Apart from the conventional schools, he was also educated through the crucibles of the borderline of orphanage and lack.

While at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, he was appointed the Senior Prefect. In the University of Calabar, Akpabio was elected as the Student Union Government (SUG), Speaker of the parliamentary year.

His grandfather, Okuku Udo Akpabio, was a Warrant Chief in Ikot Ekpene province. His uncle, Dr I. U. Akpabio was the Minister of Education/Internal Affairs in the then Eastern Region of Nigeria. Justice Nsima Akpabio, his cousin, was a senator in the Second Nigerian Republic.

Chief Akpabio, a Christian of the Catholic faith is married to a virtuous woman, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, the founder of Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI), a non-governmental organization providing a platform for redirecting the focus of development to the family as a strategy for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Because of the recognition of her philanthropic programmes, Mrs Akpabio was often delineated as one with altruism. It is uncommon, as Her Excellency, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio was compared with historical, female figures like late Mother Teresa and Princess Diana.

Akpabio was a teacher and also a legal practitioner, working as an associate partner in Paul Usoro and Co., a law firm in Lagos, Nigeria.

He later worked in EMIS Telecoms Limited, a wireless telecommunications company in Lagos, Nigeria. In 2002, he rose to the position of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company. In this position, he helped in shaping the future of the burgeoning telecoms industry. He had earlier served as the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria (ATCOM) while a director of EMIS.

In 2002, Akpabio was appointed Honourable Commissioner of Petroleum and Natural Resources by the then Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah. Between 2002 and 2006, he served as a Commissioner in three key ministries: Petroleum and Natural Resources, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as Lands and Housing Development.

In 2006, he aspired for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State in a keenly contested primary election and defeated 57 other aspirants to emerge the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). His campaign with the slogan, “Let God’s will be done,” received mass support and was elected governor in 2007. He was re-elected for a second term in office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2011.

In 2013, Dr Akpabio was elected chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors Forum.

His administration, as the uncommon governor of Akwa Ibom, constructed and delivered over 300 brand new roads. This in itself was phenomenal. But as an icing on the cake, one can not fail to notice many flyovers in the different parts of the state capital, easing vehicular movement and enhancing scenic aesthetics across the state.

Chief Akpabio took over the Ibom Airport now Obong Victor Attah International Airport project and completed it on schedule. Obong Victor Attah International Airport, reputed to have one of the longest runways in Nigeria, commenced international flights with Akwa Ibom pilgrims flying directly to Israel. But as a man of vision, Akpabio started the second phase, which was the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities to serve the West African sub-region. With the MRO facility, airlines could do some basic checks of their fleet of aircraft in Akwa Ibom State and save the nation capital flight. This project is being vigorously pursued and perfected by the present governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno. The intangible, but about the most difficult aspect of the airport project, was the acquisition of certain several approvals. It was almost an impossibility to the ordinary man, but the uncommon transformer accomplished it with ease.

Akwa Ibom State also boasts of the first e-library in West Africa, with accommodating capacity of 1000, to offer the largest collection of downloadable electronic books and audio files in MP3 format. Hence it remains one of the leading symbols of educational transformation in Akwa Ibom. This project is a component of the free and compulsory education policy of his administration, with phenomenal impact.

Spread across the 31 local government areas of the state were over 4,000 life-touching projects. But, in the area of rural electrification, the achievement of the Akpabio administration was unprecedented. Over 1600 communities were powered and linked to the national grid. This raised electricity coverage in the state to not less than 85per cent. He completed and expanded the state’s Independent Power Plant (IPP), Ibom Power Company, in Ikot Abasi LGA.

He built and commissioned the world-class international stadium named after him, which is today about the only stadium in Nigeria to gain the approval of both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) for international football matches.

The Senate President opened and dualized several new roads, including federal roads. For example, Ikot Oku Ikono junction to Ekit Itam junction, Uyo – Abak, Uyo – Nung Udoe, Abak – Ikot Ekpene, and Uyo – Oron road. Even Nwaniba – Uruan road was completed by him. All the 31 Local Government Areas were linked by well paved roads that were devoid of potholes, courtesy of Operation Zero Pothole. It was an era where no street light ever blinked. An era where no waste ever littered our roads or streets.

He built and commissioned a new state-of-the-art Governor’s Lodge Complex with an international conference centre, among others.

Akpabio built over 3,000 school blocks in over 1,000 public primary and secondary schools in the state. He overhauled the infrastructure in the two campuses of the state owned university, Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), as well as in all other tertiary institutions in the State, such as: Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua in Ikot Ekpene (AKWAPOLY), Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit in Etinan, College of Art and Science in Ikono, etc.

He built and commissioned a world class hospital, Ibom Specialist Hospital, to curb medical tourism abroad. Akpabio also rehabilitated and equipped all the general hospitals and health centres in the state. The government’s central pharmacy was fully stocked at all times. All the medical doctors in the state were offered cars for ease of movement.

The state’s fire service was fully equipped with brand new state of the art equipments to respond to any fire emergency anywhere in the state. It was a complete overhaul.

Civil servants were motivated beyond their wildest imagination with excellent working conditions. Especially with the introduction of the 13th month salary, called Akpabiomber. In fact, all the labour unions in the state benefitted, either with brand new secretariats or brand new vehicles. No major labour union was left out.

Local and overseas scholarship programmes for indigent students were more consistent than ever.

Chief Akpabio empowered so many people. Politicians and non politicians, men and women, young and old, through the direct labour projects that were managed by the Inter-Ministerial District Labour Committee (IMDLC). Through this strategic means, a lot of schools, health centres, and many urban and rural infrastructure were fixed. There was prompt government’s response to the citizens.

Very efficient and sufficiently equipped security task force were set up. Security vehicles were bought in excess of immediate needs and branded and made ready to replace anyone to bridge any security gap. Armoured Personnel Carriers and Toyota Hilux vans were donated to the Nigerian Police. All divisions of the Nigerian Police were properly equipped.

Senator Akpabio completed the state’s premium 5-star Hotel, called Ibom Icon (former Le Meriden) at Nwaniba, Uruan LGA and built the Four Point by Sheraton at Ikot Ekpene, which now plays host to many national and international conferences and seminars. He built the uncompleted Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre with a 5-star hotel, modelled after the Disney World.

In the area of information dissemination, it’s worthy to note that his government was preoccupied with effective communication systems as follows: Acquisition of a digital Outside Broadcast (OB) van for the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC), Replacement of analogue transmitters with a state-of-the-art digital transmitters for AKBC, Procurement of a Goss Community Web offset press and Computer To Plate (CTP) digital machine for the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC), Establishment of a 27-system media center for online activities, Publication of magazines, bulletins and booklets in collaboration with private sector partners, Establishment of a recording and production studio, among others.

He contracted Julius Berger to introduce the pipe-jacking drainage system or micro-tunnelling drainage technology for the management of floods. He also initiated the conversion of erosion sites to tourism sites.

Chief Akpabio also revamped the Akwa Ibom educational system. In his words, “To eradicate the industry of producing houseboys and girls to other part of Nigeria, we declared free education in Akwa Ibom State “

His administration midwifed the very viable gas companies in Esit Eket Local Government Area, Seven Energy, and Frontier Energy.

In summary, as Akwa Ibom Governor, Akpabio was tirelessly realizing his dream of transforming Akwa Ibom into a commercially vibrant State that is free from industrial isolation. Hence, the State became a place of preferred interest for investors, visionaries, travellers and tourists, thanks to the strategic blending of several interconnected social and economic factors.

In 2015, Chief Akpabio contested and won the Senate seat of the Akwa Ibom North-West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District to represent the district in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Dr Akpabio was nominated for the position of the Senate Minority Leader by the South-South caucus of the PDP, ratified by the caucus of the PDP in the Senate and announced by the Senate President as the Senate Minority Leader on July 28, 2015. His constituency projects included roads.

In August 2018, he resigned as the Senate Minority Leader after he had announced his “movement” to the All Progressives Congress (APC). His defection was marked by a political rally at Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, where it was jokingly christened ‘uncommon defection’ by the then National Chairman of APC, His Excellency, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.

In July 2019, Akpabio was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari and screened by the Nigerian 9th Senate for a ministerial appointment. On August 22, 2019, he was sworn in as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, and he completed the Niger Delta Development Commission Headquater’s office complex in Port Harcourt that was abandoned for about 25 years. He fought endemic corruption at the NDDC and initiated a forensic audit of the commission.

In June 2022, Akpabio resigned from his position as minister for Niger Delta Affairs to contest in the presidential primaries of the ruling APC but stepped down on the night of the primaries for the eventual winner, Bola Tinubu. A few days after the presidential primaries, he emerged as the senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, having won his party’s ticket at a rescheduled primary election. However, the primary election was fraught with contentions and legal issues, but he went on to confirm his party’s mandate at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He proceeded to defeat his closest rival, Bar. Emmanuel Enoidem (SAN) of the PDP in a very free and fair election to become the senator-elect in the 2023 general elections.

Despite all the landmines on Akpabio’s way to the Senate, the will of the people of Akwa Ibom North West finally prevailed. The uncommon man with an uncommon favour, the man of grace was declared the winner of the Senatorial contest in a landslide victory and subsequently elected the President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, congratulated Godswill Akpabio on his election as Senate President.

Speaking at the reception, Governor Eno promised to work with Senator Akpabio in the overall interest of the people of Akwa Ibom, saying “with what I have seen here today, party politics has been broken down”.

In his words of appreciation, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno thanked President Bola Tinubu for the support given to an Akwa Ibom son to emerge as Senate President and assured the President of continuous support to enable him succeed.

To the Senate President, Governor Eno said it is a privilege and a blessing for the State to have a Senate President under his leadership as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, and urged him to bring the dividends of democracy back home.

In his response, the senate president thanked Pastor Eno for the visit and praised him for opening a new chapter in the governance of the state by making “old things to pass away”.

During the Governor’s birthday on April 24, 2024, the President of the Senate said that Governor Umo Eno has, within 11 months, united the state across party lines.

Senator Akpabio, in a birthday message personally signed by him, described Governor Eno as a peace loving leader, adding that his tenure, so far, has been encouraging and promising with numerous developmental strides.

Also, at a grand reception organised in his honour held at Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium in Ikot Ekpene LGA on Saturday May 4, 2024, the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno described the event as a statement to Nigerians that the people of the state are united behind their own, stressing, that Senator Akpabio deserves to be celebrated.

Governor Eno thanked the people of Akwa Ibom Northwest (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District for coming together to honour their own, stressing that Akwa Ibom people could not afford to be divided or trade the benefit that should follow the rare opportunity of having its indigene in one of the country’s top leadership positions over political differences.

His words ,”My presence here as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State conveys the wishes of the Government and people of the State on this occasion. When a man is celebrated at home, he will definitely be celebrated by outsiders.

“And this is the statement Ikot Ekpene (Akwa Ibom Northwest) senatorial district and indeed Akwa Ibom people have made today. Your ascension to the seat of the Senate President is for all of us to celebrate.

“It is my avowed commitment that as an Akwa Ibomite, we will continue to celebrate all our sons and daughters that God has raised in their various fields of endeavours because first, they fly the Akwa Ibom flag and the Akwa Ibom blood runs in them. We may be from different political parties, but we are first of all Akwa Ibom and as Akwa Ibomites, we are united”.

According to Wikipedia, this uncommon human being has received many International honours, among them are: The Congressional Certificate of Recognition of the United States Congress (2011); Africa Lifetime Achievement Prize awarded by Millennium Excellence Foundation in Kenya; The Gold Humanitarian Services Award of the Republic of Niger 2008 conferred on him by Niger’s Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Alhaji Moussa Ibrahim; Exam Ethic Marshall 2009: Exam Ethic International, Ghana; Best Governor, Infrastructure Development 2009: BEN Television, London; Honorary citizen of the city of Georgia, New Jersey in United States; among others

Akpabio who is the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), was also Best Governor Infrastructure and Empowerment Award of the Central Bank of Nigeria (2012); Most Prolific Governor by the National Councillors’ Forum.

He was awarded Doctorate of Management Science, Honoris Causa, Nigeria Defence Academy (2011); Doctorate of Law, Honoris Causa, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2010); Doctorate of Law, Honoris Causa, University of Calabar, Calabar (2009); Doctorate of Law, Honoris Causa, University of Uyo, Uyo (2009); Doctorate of Public Administration (Honoris Causa), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (2009); Doctorate of Management Science (Honoris Causa) Federal University of Technology, Owerri (2011): Doctorate of Public Administration, Honoris Causa Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu (2013); Doctorate of Human Resource Management (Honoris Causa) Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo; Honorary Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers (2010) (Only fourteen non-engineers have so far been so honoured in Nigeria).
Fellow, Kazaure Polytechnic, Kazaure (2008).

The Senate President is a Fellow of the Yaba College of Technology, Yaba (2011); Fellow of the College of Education, Bichi, and a host of others.

He was awarded the Most Education Friendly Governor in Nigeria (2008) by the National Parent-Teacher Association; Best Booster Governor Award for Promoting Science, Technology and Mathematics by the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria; and Goodwill Ambassador of the Nigerian Medical Association.

Media honours won include: Best Governor in Africa, Africa Development Magazine; Governor of the Year 2012, Leadership.[64]
Man of the Year 2011, Sun (newspaper); Best Governor in Nigeria and Outstanding Human Brand 2010: Billboard World; Man of the Year 2010: National Daily Newspaper; Governor of the Year 2010: Nigerian Tribune; and Award of Excellence for Outstanding Performance 2010: Nigeria Union of Journalists.

Others are the Nigeria’s Emerging Tiger 2009: Thisday Newspapers; Man of the Year 2009: The Daily Independent (Lagos); Man of the Year 2009: National Daily Newspaper; 2008 Most Outstanding Governor in Nigeria (South South): National Daily Newspaper; Governor of the Year (South-South): City People Magazine; Best Governor Infrastructure 2009: Encomium Magazine; Best Governor (South South): Encomium Magazine; Excellency Award as Best Governor South-South 2009: Global Excellence Magazine.

Dr Akpabio, who had been honoured, at different times, by the Ibibio, Annang and Oro tribes, is blessed with four daughters and a son.

Finally, this is not only a success story, but also a success story that must be retold and preserved for posterity.