Senator Godswill Akpabio is a known name in the politics of Akwa Ibom and in Nigeria. As a one-time Akwa Ibom Commissioner, governor and now a Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West, he has caused an unusual impact in various facets of human life. This has earned him many admirers and haters. In an interview conducted by Straightnews on February 23 (President/National Assembly Elections) day, Akpabio talked on a number of exciting issues.
Excerpts:
Why do you still have people who admire you and your style of administration?
I believe strongly that if you have a life of service, and the people trust you, they will go with you. It is not a function of your colour or your tribe. As my constituency projects, I had done a six-classroom block equipped with solar-powered boreholes in Urue Offong/Oruko. I have done the same thing in Ibiono Ibom local government area, and I have given employment opportunities to more than 100 people.
Are you shocked that there are people who said you cannot win election in this senatorial district?
You see the world sometimes does not love good people. And even the journalists cannot bestow the virtues of good people, because they cannot sell their papers. If you have 12 disciples, one must be a Judas. But majority of the people love me since I am with them, and they are with me. You can see one or two people rise up, not because they hate Godswill Akpabio, but because they want to be like Godswill Akpabio. But when you give them the responsibility, they cannot perform. It is a common belief in my place that if your uncle is sick and you give him money for treatment: as soon as the person returns from the hospital, you will be the first person he will want to challenge. Do you know why he is challenging you? He is not challenging you because he does not like you. He is challenging you to show you that he has strength. For instance, the boys I empowered are challenging me because they want to show me that they are now richer than me. So, I am not shocked, but sometimes I get perplexed. Sometimes I am perplexed because it will come from quarters that I did not even expect. It is not just anybody; it is the same people that you have extended assistance to. But let me ask you a question; are you shocked?
Yes, I am shocked.
Why are you shocked?
Apart from ensuring a balance in the political equation in the state, you have taken the people to the national…
(Cuts In). But they have never even met the president one day since the election. When I joined All Progressives Congress, APC, I told the President that I want to bring my people on a visit to him. He said I should bring them, and we breached protocol. We were supposed to go with 50, but we ended up with 98 persons. It took two hours for us to introduce ourselves to the president. And he was watching them one by one. There was one Eniang who used to be the President Buhari’s secretary, many years back when he was the General Officer Commanding (GOC). Do you know that I put the man’s name in the protocol list. Eniang stood and introduced himself, “Sir, your former secretary when you used to be GOC.” The President looked at him and motioned him, “Stand up again!” He looked at the face and said “That is correct.” For more than 30 years, they have not seen each other, but through that courtesy visit, they met again. The President stood up and rolled out his development programmes for Akwa Ibom State and the South-South Region.
-To be continued.
