UDOM EMMANUEL – “AKPAN EKA TIE SUNG’

Please you will pardon me if I speak my language in this write-up. I am rarely effusive with praise but the milestone that is not only Ibom Air but other strategic positionings of this my governor in Akwa Ibom keep strengthening my position that the problem is leadership and not all the crap people have been bandying around.

Every time, they will be fighting me when I say ineptitude, nepotistic leadership and pure shallow outlook is the bane of our development as a nation-state. They will be shouting, restructuring, separation and all that crap. So, I ask them, if we separate, won’t we still carry with us these kinds of vampires who lead us now? They will just be abusing me. Akwa Ibom is not perfect. In fact, very far from it, you will marvel and rekindle your hope in Nigeria via robust and vision-driven leadership when you see what is happening there.

Let me give you some stats on Ibom Air, what I want to call the flagship policy of the state government. According to the information I gleaned from my sister Aniekan Essienette’s write-up, with 708 scheduled flights, only two cancelled, giving it a 99.8 per cent schedule reliability. According to her, of the 708 operated, 678 departed on time, thus delivering 96 per cent – these results are in line with the very best of airline performances globally. These are verifiable o. Ask Osa, who swears by Ibom Air.

Now, do you know why this is working? It’s simply because the governor understands the role of the government in creating an enabling environment for business, pushing noninterference and empowering resolute quality in manpower. This is why Akwa Ibom today is a veritable destination for business, making me proud as a true born son.

Wait, while Hope Uzodima was busy running around, dodging bullets and crawling in craters trying to cover his head from unknown gunmen who seem to have sworn to make him miserable, Ibom Air was celebrating the arrival of two new planes- A220 -300 Airbus. The other day, on my way back from Abuja, I met my brother Abubakar Sheidu, a powerful lawyer and real estate guru. He is the company secretary of Brains and Hammer. He said, Edgar, what are you guys doing in Akwa Ibom? I say Abubakar wetin happen, leave our women o and he say no be woman matter. You know I no dey that matter, na the environment. We are working with the state government on a huge real estate project, and before we even finished the plans, the whole thing has been subscribed. I hug the man, pull him beard-beard and say, well done. He never finish o. My other brother Garba -not real name doesn’t like publicity – has the biggest rice mill in the whole southern region in Akwa Ibom. He loves the place like mad.

You see, it is sweet for all of us to point to Buhari. Yes, Buhari is the reason we all cannot impregnate our wives and housemaids. In fact, it is Buhari that is making us lose our erections and become impotent. The fact is that what exactly are we doing for ourselves? Why are the other Governors not moving like Udom, Zulum, Makinde and my personal favourite Sanwo-Olu? It is very convenient to dodge and point to Abuja and be shouting marginalization, insecurity, restructuring and the rest gibberish but failing to even work with the little given. Let’s keep shouting and crying and not redirect our focus on the childish and corrupt leadership at the state and local government levels. Childish. Very childish. Chief Udom, mbok, I know I cannot take ice to the Eskimos, but there is this afang at the Monty Suite. When you are ready, just give me 24 hours. I fly in and fete you: you, your beautiful first lady, Deputy Governor Akan Udofia, Annie Essienette, Orman Esin and my brother, the information commissioner.

Sorry let me add, Uto my sister at MTN, Tony Ndah, who recently used afang to mock me and my senior brother Udeme Ufot, who will have to sign an undertaking not to go after my meat. Finally, Gabriel Ukpe, my invincible brother. At about N4,000 per plate, I can handle it with a soft loan from my brothers in Access Bank. We will do it. Well done Akpaneka. God protects you.