So like the proverbial woodpecker who couldn’t show up.
To peck down the tree with the hardest bark on the day of her mother’s funeral, as she swore.
Because it suddenly developed a sore beak.
I was missing in action when President Tinubu visited.
As early as 8am, I was already at the Government House Press Centre to meet our Dean, Dr Essien Ndueso, for a duty briefing.
Alas, deployed to the awesome Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ring Road at the Idoro axis, I hit the road.
A meal of rice and stew from a food vendor to hold my stomach altered my day.
Within 30 minutes, my system rebelled, and I ended up seeking emergency treatment.
I’m back on my feet. Thanks to the Dean who kept tabs on me.
Let me proceed to the post-mortem.
I understand the debate over President Tinubu’s APPROVED proclamation on the Ibom Deep Seaport quest.
Voices of dissatisfaction are mounting to pooh-pooh the pronouncement.
Dismissing this Presidential declaration as vain.
They say previous presidents approved the Ibom Deep Seaport.
Dr Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari.
So I ask, what happened thereafter?
Let me weigh in on why this approval by President Tinubu was a big plus for Akwa Ibom State.
Read this scripture:
“Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” Exodus 1:8 (KJV
That is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible.
That one verse changed everything for Israel. From favour to slavery.
Not that this new Pharaoh never heard of Joseph?
He simply refused to acknowledge that history or endorse the covenant.
A change of government erased the reward of what Joseph had done for Egypt.
Pharaohs change. Governments change. People forget.
The same Egypt that made Joseph a Prime Minister later relegated his descendants to slaves quarantined in Goshen.
Suffering a very severe apartheid.
Let me anchor this truth in Nigeria’s recent history.
Remember the Lagos Metroline Project.
A project initiated by the first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande of the UPN fame, when Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the NPN was President.
The Groundbreaking was on 29th August, 1981.
General Muhammadu Buhari terminated the project in 1985 after he took power in the December 1983 coup.
Tens of millions of dollars already sunk into the project were lost.
The rest, we say, is history.
In the supreme irony of life, Buhari returned 39 years later, as civilian President.
To inaugurate the Lagos Blue Line Rail in January 2023.
Enter President Umaru Yar’Adua, who took over from Obasanjo on 29th May 2007.
He reversed almost all major decisions of his godfather and predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
Here’s a list.
📍Sale of Port Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries.
📍Sale of Nigeria’s biggest Power Plant(Egbin) in Lagos.
📍 Revoked the sale of Ajaokuta Steel Complex, NITEL, and others.
I trust you now see why the APPROVED seal helps advance the Ibom Deep Seaport vision.
Every would-be investor in that humongous project needs that loud reassurance from the incumbent President.
It guarantees investors’ confidence.
Thank you, President Tinubu.
Other benefits accrued.
Akwa Ibom State became the spotlight for nearly 36 hours.
President Tinubu’s visit put Akwa Ibom on the centre stage of the world of arts, culture, and tourism.
He even spent the night in Akwa Ibom State.
That’s a big deal.
Recall a State, where he stopped his visit at the Airport.
This was a bold endorsement of the peace, hospitality, stability, and security Governor Umo Eno has ensured in Akwa Ibom State.
The world took notice, as did the rest of Nigeria.
President Tinubu therefore advertised Akwa Ibom State.
Her aviation industry, with the upgrading of Victor Attah International Airport – and her world-class terminal building, Hospital, and Aviation Village.
An unbeatable combo in the Gulf of Guinea.
A boost for international flights, tourism, business travel, and jobs in the State.
He inaugurated Ring Road 3 named after him and the 14.5km Nsit Atai- Okopedi road.
These roads open up rural communities for trade and farming in five Local Government Areas cumulatively.
A showcase of Governor Umo Eno’s rural development thrust of the ARISE Agenda.
President Tinubu inaugurated the incredible Akwa Palm Resort.
‘Nigeria’s New Riviera’.
We can’t overstate this unbelievable transformation of a deadly gully site into a booming paradise.
Other Projects he inaugurated include:
– AKWA-GIS Office Complex – For digital land administration, better planning, and fewer land disputes
– Command and Control Centre – advancing the Security Management theme of his ARISE Agenda.
– ARISE Palm Resort – For tourism and hospitality
With all these on display, where are those who say Governor Umo Eno has done nothing?
Wey dem dey 🙄?
Truly, Akwa Ibom has locked down that synergy with the centre for good.
That stronger Federal-State Partnership gives renewed hope for a brighter future.
Governor Umo Eno has successfully pulled this stunt.
I rest my case.
