06 Jun 2009: Etim Etim
Even to a cursory reader, the open letter written by the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah to his successor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, and published in the newspapers recently, is clearly an indecorous opinion meant to embarrass the incumbent governor. The article drips with inaccuracies and anger, and once again reveals that Attah has not yet come to terms with the fact that he could not install his son-in-law as the governor. When his contemporaries like James Ibori, Bola Tinubu, Aliero Adamu have since moved on to serve their communities in other capacities, Attah has descended into primordial politics inflamed by disaffection and discontentment. The letter raises several issues with Governor Akpabio's policies. So far, the governor has offered a commendably restrained and matured response. Much of his comment was on the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre, conceived as a big entertainment and recreation complex comprising various
and numerous facilities. The former governor believes that the location of the project is wrong, total land space too small and parking space inadequate. He also questions the administration' s sense of priority.
I don't work for the government, but I take considerable interest in my home affairs and make the necessary enquiries to gain balanced knowledge. In October last year, I attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the Tropicana project in Uyo. Since then I had spoken to the Quantity Surveyor and the main contractors to the project. Just the other day, I went back to the QS to review the site plan. I have also spoken to several government officials who are involved in this facility. I'm lucky to have been a journalist. We were trained to be inquisitive, curious and observant and to hear from all sides and be fair to all. I don't know what type training Nigerian politicians get.
The Tropicana will occupy a total of about 88 hectares of land which would extend from Udo Umana Road to the proposed fourth Ring Road, about five kilometres away. With all the facilities in place, it would compare with the Sun City of South Africa and bears a semblance to the well-known Disney Land. Like all major projects, it would be developed in phases. The first phase, occupying 27 hectares, should be ready in two years, and will comprise a hotel, conference centre, Water Park, Dry Park and several other facilities that we see in such places. I should not bore the reader with a long list of facilities in a project of this nature. The car park area is generous and well demarcated, and in some areas would be multi-storied. How then could Obong Attah have concluded that the entire project is to be located on a land size not bigger than Hilton Hotel's car park? Last October, the President performed the ground breaking ceremony on a portion of the area
cleared for that purpose by the road side. The space still remains cleared; the plague that Mr President unveiled is still visible but the area is now used largely as plant yard by the construction companies. Could Attah, a former president of the Nigerian Institute of Architect, have mistaken this to be the total land space for the project? Why then did he not cross-check his facts?
In a season of falling oil revenue, there are obviously concerns for budgetary constraints. Could a project of this magnitude be a priority or does the government have the capacity to provide social amenities simultaneously with the Tropicana? Chief Akpabio should feel challenged to make a point here. But my sense is that for a state that is the largest crude oil producer, the safest way to save is to invest in important economic enterprises. Such investments do replace provision of social amenities and infrastructures. It requires astute budgeting skills and economic planning. So far, the administration has recorded considerable strides in these areas.
One reason the Tropicana has attracted criticisms from some quarters is the erroneous impression that tourism is a social service. No. Well managed, it is a major income earner the world over. Cities like Florida, and countries like Dubai, Kenya, Namibia owe a lot to tourism. Countries like Angola, India and Malaysia are continuously show casing their attractions in international media. Yet they are equally well endowed in other resources. The logic is that a well-developed tourism industry will trigger growth and so provide revenues that would fund other social needs. In addition to its aesthetic value, the Tropicana will promote recreation and employ several hundreds of people both directly and indirectly.
Although recreation is sometime regarded as largely non-productive enterprise, research has shown that it contributes to satisfaction, and that the stress management aspects of it contribute to quality of life, health, wellness and happiness. The government can complement the Tropicana by developing beachfront resorts (a replica of La Campaign Resort, near Epe, Lagos) at Nwaniba and the Ibaka areas.
Our experience with government-funded projects has not been particularly pleasant. So many failed, not because they were not important but because they were poorly conceived, badly implemented or incompetently managed. Others were riddled with corruption right from inception. The challenge therefore is to avoid these pitfalls and not to abandon the idea itself. The government should hire experienced firm run the Tropicana. With the international airport, the power plant and the Ibom Industrial City that would house industrial oil and gas-related projects, the state would be teeming with visitors and expatriate community a few years ahead. There is also the oil community in Eket, in addition to those in the neighbouring oil-producing states. Trapping the money they spend within the state to trigger the much needed multiplier effects should be one of the objectives of this project.
This episode has brought a few things to the fore. First, there is the predilection of our elders to easily retreat into parochial roles instead of aspiring for space as national figures. Just two examples: AVM Nsikak Eduok who retired as the nation's number one air force officer has been largely forgotten in national affairs. He spends his time brawling with small-time politicians unlike his contemporaries like Mike Akhigbe who are very influential in politics. Don Etiebet, a computer tycoon, former oil minister, presidential candidate, chairman of two national political parties, recently returned to Uyo to run for governorship election. At a time it was even rumoured that he was looking for a cabinet job.
This easy road mentality usually creates the crab-in-the bucket syndrome. They all begin to claw at each other in an attempt to gain supremacy. Attah's case is poignant. When he left office two years ago, he promised that he would use his contacts and appeal to fight for Akwa Ibom interest. My understanding was that he would team up with other celebrated Akwa Ibom senior citizens, align their thoughts with the governor's and push Akwa Ibom agenda. Today, our people have been passed up in many federal appointments because we do not present a common front. I note that it was Attah's contemporary, former governor Peter Odili that was instrumental to Mike Okiro's appointment as the Inspector General of police. James Ibori arranged for his former commissioner of Finance, David Edebvie to become Yar'Adua Principal Secretary, performing the functions of Chief of Staff. Who is helping our people? The position of the Managing Director of NNDC's could go anywhere.
No Akwa Ibom person is on the board of NNPC, NPA, FAAN, etc. Yet our elders are squabbling over selfish interests.
Second, Obong Attah is also unhappy because, as I learn, he has lost out on the scheme of things as the governor has full control of the party machinery and the political structures in the state. Well, he should remember the epic battle of 2006/2007 and how Chief Akpabio emerged as governor. If he really wants to share power now, throwing tantrums is not the route to go. By the way, don't we all recall Chief Don Etiebet's fate after Attah himself was inaugurated in 1999?
Etim is a bank executive in Lagos
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