https://www.facebook.com/samuel.andrews1/notes
"...
You guys are being mischievous and taking pot shots
at the Governor. All's fair in love and war. Whatever you guys say, I
am inviting you to Uyo for the grand commissioning of the Tropicana
Entertainment Center end of 2013. It will be one of the biggest
entertainment resorts in the Gulf of Guinea. It will employ over 5,000
Akwa Ibom indigenes. Also the state govt is poised to unleash one of
the biggest hatcheries in West Africa situated in Uruan. There's also
the 36,000 capacity Olympic stadium to be commissioned before 2015.
????, let's talk uncommon sustainable development and leave this
mundane topic that is almost 7 yrs old. Have a great day."
The
above statement generally reflects the thinking (and they are true
believers) of the current political class and their propagandist in
Nigerian political developments. The government building few
infrastructures;roads,bridges,schools,cinema halls(?), In the 21st
century we are enjoined to canonize governors for building roads,schools
,overhead bridges and paying public service workers salary. I am really
still analyzing why and how Nigeria,got to this stage in its socio-political development.When most
of those thinking from this pedestrian, and myopic view point are
otherwise learned people and "leaders" that may one day be in
political offices. We begin to wonder when the cyclical misfortune in
Nigerian political development will be abated,when most of our supposed
leaders of tomorrow think this way.
In the 1980s, I
still remember going to watch movies in Calabar, in Cross Rivers State
in Patsol (if that is correct ) and there was another movie theatre
where we enjoyed Bruce Lee and mostly martial arts movies.I cannot
remember the government of that state being responsible for the
Business.Also in Lagos we had movie theatres in the 1970s,I am not aware
of lagos State government being the promoter of those theatre.In Port
harcourt ,I am not aware of the government investing in building the
movie theatre there. So why is Akwa Ibom governmnet bragging about
building Entertainment centres. Why is the State government investing in
such capital intensive projects that ,partnering with the private
sector would have been more effective for the economic growth of the
State.
Evidence has shown that governments (particularly in
Nigeria) do not have good records of sustaining public built
infrastructures.These structures require huge capital to maintain,and
governments are not always capable of delivering.
In Akwa Ibom
State,there used to be companies like Champion Brewery in Uyo,Qua Iboe
Steel company in Eket,Battery & Biscuits company in Ikot Ekpene and
Abak,Alscon Steel in Ikot Abasi (Federal government also involved) and
other state government promoted business and owned initiative.What in
God's blue sky happened to these companies? The clear answer is
corruption and incompetence by the state govenment and its agents ruined
these industries. Akwa Ibom State government and governments generally
have limited capacity to run businesses that would stand test of time.
Then why is Gov. Akpabio and his administration investing humongous
capital in setting up businesses that would collapse in the near
future.We have been here before.
I suggest that
creating enabling environment for private enterprise to strive is the
way to go.That is why I commend him for building roads and bridges but
that alone would not fly.The tax code in Akwa Ibom should be made to
attract investors into the state.Importantly,the issues of security of
life and property of citizens and residents of the state is fundamental
from any economic growth.He could lobby the federal government,using his
personal and political influence ,that is of high currency value now,to
be creative in the area of power generation. With current
technology,Akwa Ibom could invest in effective power generation and
distribution (with partnership with the federal government) so that the
industrial base of Akwa Ibom is enhanced.It is the private sector that
could grow the economy of Akwa Ibom existentially and exponentially. The
building of hospitals ,Stadium and other may be good,if we are sure
these institutions would not be relics worthy for the homeless in months
after Mr. Akpabio leaves office. I suggest ,that the state government
should seek highly competent,emphasis (seek) professionals of Akwa Ibom
in diaspora,partner with them or partner with other competent (not
cronies) professional anywhere in the world to run these institutions
as private enterprise. I am aware of the duties of government to take
care of the poor and weak in society.These policy objectives could
always be embedded in the controlling agreement the government would
enter into with those to manage or own these institutions.
On educational policy, the governor has shown good instinct in
introducing free education program in the state. Education being one of
the fundamental strategies that will position the state to economic
growth. However, free education (if Akwa Ibom can afford it) does not
begin and end with tuition waiver . It also must include quality
educational aids, quality and motivated instructors, modern classrooms
with digital applicable tools. Encouraging scholarship programs could
take pressure off the state finances. Private and non government
organization could be encourage to support scholarship programs. The
syllabi and curriculum of the elementary and high schools must be
reformed to make our kids competitive globally.
The
point of my note,here is that Gov. Akpabio should not distract himself
from the initiatives and policy goals he set for himself, when he came
into power as governor, by engaging in self promoting politicking and
superficial projects.He could go in history as the "Renaissance
Governor" of Akwa Ibom State, if he puts his focus on projects that will
stand the test of time and promote REAL economic growth of the State.
These
praise singers and courtiers, (
#Ekerette Udo+, and his ilk ; anyone
read,the pathetic article he wrote recently on the governor? Such Reuben
Abatirian journalism, is what corrupts the political space.
("
THE MOB ATTACK ON GOVERNOR AKPABIO IN THE PRESS: ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE", Articles | THISDAY LIVE http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/the-..), (04/01/2013).
They
(courtiers) are ready to malign and ascribe ulterior motives to anyone
who disagree on policy or politics of the governor. They are actually
not doing him nor the state any favors. In a democracy ,if one is not
ready to accept and intelligently counter criticisms,whether stupid or
intelligent,is not ready to be transformational. After all,deepening the
institutional benefits and derivatives of democracy should be the creed
of us all ;for motherland.
