Those who live in glasshouses, according to the lyrics of one of the chart bursting songs of Jamaican-born reggae artiste, Peter Tosh, should not throw stones. From all indications, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, may have heard that song but simply dismissed its lyrics as the ranting of a “ganja”-infested mind. That may have resulted in his making a letter meant to advice his successor in office, Chief Godswill Akpabio, a subject of public scrutiny and debate.

Attah in his widely publicised letter to Akpabio raised several issues and even described his successor’s policies as being unpopular and directed at ruining the state. It is very unfortunate that Attah has allowed the past to continue to dictate his future. It his no hidden fact that Attah still feels the bitter pain of defeat in his failed attempt at foisting his heir apparent son-in-law and protégé on the people of Akwa Ibom State as his successor, an attempt the majority of Akwa Ibom people rejected. To those who know Attah, he does not forgive and such humiliating defeat can never be pardoned. After his hirelings failed to ignite the flames of disunity among the people of Akwa Ibom State, the elder statesman himself through his advice, laced heavily with gall, decided to embark on a dance of absurdity.

It is unfortunate that Attah would want to preach what he never practised to somebody who in all honesty is trying to bring Akwa Ibom State out of the woods we found ourselves under Attah. Though, it is hardly surprising that Attah is bitter. Who wouldn’t be when he is faced with the present reality that Akpabio has recorded in two years more landmark achievements than what Attah did in eight years. His first two years were spent on the drawing while Akwa Ibom people suffered. Today Attah has the guts to differentiate a bad policy from a good one. Without holding brief for Akpabio, I can say as a bona fide Akwa Ibom son that we are satisfied with Akpabio’s policies so far. Attah, who talks about priority of policies, should tell the world the standard and quality of education he left behind after piloting the state for good eight years. It may interest him to know that never in the history of the state has the educational sector fared better than in Akpabio’s two years. The eight years of Attah’s administration were replete with teachers’ strikes, decrepit school structures which resulted in most students studying under almond and mango trees; his was an administration that folded its hands and watched as Akwa Ibom children of school age roamed the streets aimlessly or sold “pure water”, plantain chips, oranges, etc at Ibom Plaza when they were supposed to be in school.

Today, the same Akwa Ibom State where students had to pay all sort of fees, is promoting free and compulsory education from primary to secondary. As at the last count, the administration of Akpabio is reported to have paid N344 million as subvention to secondary schools in the state; N375.4 million for registration of NECO, and SSCE examinations for all candidates in public secondary schools within the state. Also the administration has procured and distributed science equipment and materials to public secondary schools in the state and also distributed textbooks worth millions of naira to public primary and secondary schools in the state.

Attah, who is an expert in prioritising, should make bold his achievement in the educational sector within the eight years he reigned as governor of Akwa Ibom State.

He has forgotten so how University of Uyo lost the National University Commission (NUC) accreditation in 28 courses as a result of the managerial inefficiency of his Man Friday, Professor Hogan Akpan Ekpo, who was the maximum ruler of the institution for the same period Attah ruled the state. The University of Uyo, which was at the peak of its glory during the tenure of Professor Fola Lasisi as Vice-Chancellor, lost its shine under Ekpo, while Attah was busy doling out state fund to institutions across the country. He did not show any concern about the only functional tertiary institution in the state during his tenure. He totally forgot the wise saying that charity begins at home.

It took the intervention of Akpabio for University of Uyo to regain accreditation of the lost courses. Akpabio did not stop at that, he has completely changed the face of University of Uyo, constructing roads, rehabilitating bad ones and building of lecture theatres, more class rooms and administrative offices for the once neglected institution.

Attah, in his letter, talked about the issue of daunting parking space as it affects the Tropicana project, and even asked Akpabio to visit the Tinapa project built by Donald Duke within a period of 36 months. Attah is a very funny person who does not mind cutting his nose to spite his eyes. Imagine Attah even mentioning Tinapa, a project conceived, constructed, completed, and commissioned within a period of 36 months, when he wasted scarce resources on grandiose projects he was never able to complete; projects that served as conduit pipe for him, his family members and allies to drain the state of funds that would have been used for better human-oriented projects.

Talking of parking areas, let me joggle Attah’s mind by reminding him of his personal residence at the Federal Housing Estate, Abak Road, which today houses his son’s law shop, Zenith Law Firm. Attah as a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects should tell the world the parking space he had at the said building. If Attah feels that 82 hectares of land acquired by the Akpabio administration is not enough for the Tropicana project, then he should tell the world what land mass he will recommend for the project.

It is a pity that Attah lacked N6 billion to reticulate water, which would have given half of the population of the state pipe borne water. Highly laughable! And at the same time pitiable. Attah should tell that to the marines.

Attah could not afford N 6 billion to reticulate water, yet he had over N22 billion to waste on his vain presidential ambition; another N8 billion he used to finance his son-in-law’s abortive governorshpcampaign , while he wasted over N3 billion to prosecute the futile war to wrest power from Akpabio. Yet the state lacked N6 billion to reticulate water to the populace.

I believe Attah will still attribute the long neglect of Eket federal constituency to dearth of funds, yet he wasted millions on projects that had no direct bearing on the people. It is very funny that Attah does not believe that the average Akwa Ibom man should relax, yet for eight years he consistently played host to Laz Ekwueme’s orchestra and ensured that it was televised live to Nigerians and cable users, with millions of the state’s fund.

For Attah’s eight years in office, the people of Eket federal constituency never felt the presence of his government. The only social amenities and infrastructure present in the constituency were provided by Mobil Producing and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). A former director of the State Security Service and then Clan Head of Afaha in Eket Local Government Area, Chief Ukpong Joe Odungide, at a meeting with visiting African American mayors had to openly challenge Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Attah’s government, Obongawan Grace Ekong, to point at any project initiated by her principal in the constituency. The poor lady could not.. Yet the Akpabio government has changed the fortune of the Eket federal constituency for good.

Recently, Akpabio commissioned several government funded and executed projects in Iwuokpom / Okpolom for the benefit of the rural communities. They included mini water projects, 10 units of newly constructed market stalls in both communities, rehabilitation of classrooms blocks, staff quarters, etc.
In Mkpanak, Iwochang, Osung Nse Asukpa, Idung Abasi Okure, Ukpenekang, Okoroutip, Atia, and Itak Idem Nne Ekpe, projects like mini water projects, health centre, market stalls, rural electrification, rehabilitation of schools, etc, were not only executed but commissioned for use by the benefiting communities.

In Eket, the Akpabio government has completed four rural electrification projects in Etebi Idung Akpaisang, Ikot Uso Ekong, Ikot Abia, and Atai Idung Afaha Eket. Ede Obuk, Usung Inyang, Urua Udoinyang, which had depended on nature for water, today are beneficiaries of the state government water project, while the Technical School at Efoi got a newly constructed six classroom block. The administration has rehabilitated two units of four classroom blocks at Holy Child Primary School, Idua, while two units of four and two classroom blocks have been rehabilitated and six-classroom block reconstructed at Government Primary School, Ikot Uso Ekong.

Esit Eket Local Government Area, which is by far the most neglected of the four local government councils in the federal constituency, has been compensated for the past neglect as the Akpabio administration recently showered the area with infrastructural facilities. A total of 5..77 kilometres of access roads were constructed in Ikpa, Edor, and Esit Eket communities of the area. Idung Abidang / Ikot Efa-Afaha Eket has been electrified while the Cottage Hospital, Ekpene Obo has had its children’s and men wards rehabilitated.

In the education sector, Eket Modern High School, Ekpene Obo, benefited the most with the construction of a technical workshop, laboratory block, computer centre and six classroom blocks. The school’s library and dinning hall, which had been in a state of disrepair for a long time, are now wearing a new look as they have been rehabilitated.

 Other schools that have enjoyed from the inter-ministerial projects are Government School, Ekpene Obo, Primary School, Etebi, Government. School, Ikpa, Salvation Army School, Edor, and Qua Iboe Church School, Ekpene Obo.

In Onna, the communities of Okom, Ikot Abasi, and Primary School, Ikot Ebidang, have been electrified. Awa, Ikot Ntuen, Akpabom, and Ikwe communities have water projects sited in their domain while the motor park in Ndon Eyo and the Development Hall in Awa were rehabilitated. Priority was given to the educational sector where new classroom blocks were constructed at Government School, Ikot Akpatek, Mkpok and Primary School, Abak Esiet. Also, classroom blocks at Primary School, Ikot Ebidang, St. John Lutheran Primary School, Okat, and Calvary Primary School, Ikot Abasi Oniong, were rehabilitated. Two staff quarters at CSC, Nung Oku Ekanem, were rehabilitated while a Motherless Babies Home was constructed at Nung Oku Ekanem.

All these Akpabio has been able to achieve within 24 months. The fact remains that Attah’s attempt at misrepresenting facts has collapsed like a pack of cards, because the fact herein speaks for itself. Attah may not acknowledge the good work the Akpabio administration is doing in Akwa Ibom State, but the people have seen and spoken and their voice is what matters.

Today Attah knows that the rains are “starting again and part of the capital city will be flooded; other areas of the state will suffer from severe erosion problem.” Attah should really be commended for speaking the truth for the first time. That truly is the state of the Akwa Ibom he left behind after eight years as governor. In spite of the appeals from residents of Oron Road by Uruan Street and Obio Imo; Ikot Ekpene Road, between University of Uyo annex gate and where Oceanic Bank is located; Aka between Ufan Abasi Supermarket and Babangida Avenue Roundabout, and Abak Road, between Ukana Offot and Iboko Street, Attah never did anything about the flood that continued to frustrate their lives. It is the administration of Akpabio that has come to the rescue of the residents of these areas.
Attah in his attempt at maligning Akpabio has lost the little respect he enjoyed before rational Akwa Ibom people. I will simply refer him to the book of Proverbs 18:28, if he will learn from the wise message contained in this particular scripture.

• Etuk, an analyst, writes from Eket, Akwa Ibom State.