Ex-SUBEB Boss Describes Akpabio As a World Class Leader

The development drive of Governor Godswill Akpabio in transforming Akwa Ibom State in almost five years, has been described as a world class achievement, attainable only by a development genius. This was the view of Elder Chris Okonna, a former Commissioner in the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), on the heels of the Best Governor in Transport Infrastructure Development award on Governor Godswill Akpabio recently. Obong Okonna said he was proud to attend the 2012 African Forum and Conference of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport at theRockview Hotel in Abuja were he witnessed the conferment of a professional honour on Governor Akpabio as the Most Committed Governor in the Provision of Transport Infrastructure 2011. From the avalanche of projects springing up in the State, Elder Okonna said he was not surprise that his mentor was being recognized on a frequent basis, and said only extraordinary achievers are given such recognitions. He described Governor Akpabio as a visionary, futuristic leader whose vision is manifested in the quality of development brought to the people of the state. He said projects like the Ibaka Deep Sea Port, Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) at the Akwa Ibom International Airport, the show his ingenuity and vision in leadership. The former SUBEB chieftain described the almost completed Aka- Nung Udoe road that leads to former Governor Victor Attah’s community as one of the best in Africa, just as the new flyover bridge across the ongoing third ring road, and the existing flyovers and 250 new roads, has made Akwa Ibom a cynosure of attention in the global community. He said Akpabio’s uncommon transformation has been attested to by President Goodluck Jonathan who said that Akpabio is not playing politics with projects as his projects were of very high qualities. Okonna, International Coordinator of Friends Of Godswill Akpabio Worldwide(FOGAW), said with the Tropicana Entertainment Center, the urban cities remodeling scheme, and the completed Ibom Le-Meridien Five Star Hotel, it was not surprising that major groups and organizations in the country were struggling to hold their AGMs and conferences in the State. He said the victory is a clarion call for Chief Akpabio to consolidate on his development programmes and industrialization of the state. The FOGAW boss commended the new PDP Chairman in the State, Mr Paul Ekpo and the Secretary Barr Ibanga Akpabio over their emergence in the last State congress of the party, and the entire new exco of the party a rewarding tenure. While expressing satisfaction with the Chief Akpabio’s agric empowerment schemes such as the training and empowering of: 3000 youths with N500 thousand each, 4500 women with N250 thousand naira each, and tractor training for mechanized farming, he said these gesture is a calculated attempt of a focus leader to shift focus from over-dependence on the oil sector. While also congratulating the governor on his award as the current Sun Man of the year, and Best governor in Infrastructure and empowerment by the Central Bank of Nigeria, he pledged the support of Friends of Godswill Akpabio Worldwide (FOGAW) to the continuous support of the Akpabio administration. He expressed his joy that the whole world has come to share in the vision of the group which has been in the forefront of promoting Chief Akpabio’s ideal. On the numerous awards and recognitions on the ex-SUBEB boss even after leaving office, Obong Okonna maintained that he dedicated them to the inspiration he derived from Governor Akpabio’s exemplary leadership. Elder Okonna expressed optimism that the tempo of development by Governor Godswill Akpabio will be sustained to take the state to a greater height. He admonished everyone, to set aside political and ethnic differences and back Governor Akpabio to keep delivering outstanding dividends of democracy to the people of Akwa Ibom State.