ON Friday, October 3,this year, the Yoruba Consultative Council paid Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State a courtesy call in Government House, Uyo. It was a meeting to raise some matters of concern to the community.

But its leader, Dr. Ayandele Isaac Ayanyinka, also foresaw the need to clarify matters. And so, all roads, for the Yoruba community in Akwa Ibom State, led to Government House, Uyo.

Making his remarks, Ayanyinka said: “We deeply thank His Excellency for this great opportunity provided us to meet with you, and this has further re-enforced our belief in his unparalleled leadership qualities, which is currently endearing him to the great people of Akwa Ibom Satte and even beyond.”.

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State

Of particular importance to mention is your effort at ensuring peace and tranquility in the state which has made Akwa Ibom State the most peaceful state in the entire Niger Delta region of Nigeria. We are bravo!

“Having outlined all our activities as stated above, we are proud to inform your excellency that the council’s is presently undertaking a building project which is meant to be Yoruba Legacy House for our officials activities. So far, we have developed the building to a stage where we need your government’s assistance to fully actualise this dream.

The estimated amount to complete this project is put at the sum of N50 million. We sincerely requested the state government financial support to this effect so that we can have an official place for our correspondence and other activities.

“We also humbly wish to remind your excellency that most of our people are professionals in their various fields and we therefore, plead that you made provision for them to enjoy government patronage in such areas like building and constriction computer supplies and ICT training, printing, general supplies and constancy.

“Your Excellency let me at this juncture reassure your government of our unflinching support which we believe is necessary to enable you achieve your numerous laudable programme. We pray Almighty to give you the strength, wisdom and grace to carry this burden of leadership to lead Akwa Ibom State to the land of fulfillment.  Conclusively, we appreciate your effort to execute such programmes which will rank Akwa Ibom state among the first five most industrialised states in Nigeria.”

But what Ayanyinka did not mention but which rang hollow in the consciousness of Governor Akpabio was one lingering matter.

It had to do with one Sunday Idowu, whose C of O had been reportedly withdrawn by the state government.

Governor Akpabio, skilled in the art of diplomacy and human management did not even let the Yoruba delegation mention the matter before he laid it bare before them.

For a state like Akwa Ibom, which, in spite of its far-flung placement from tribes like the Yoruba and Hausa, still boasts of a very large concentration of men and women of Yoruba and Hausa extraction.
In responding to Dr. Ayanyinka’s statement, the Akwa Ibom State governor said:

“There is need for government to make conscious efforts to assist the private sector.

“This is a government that is totally detribalised. We have never given a thought to where somebody comes from because we do not determine where we are to be born. We want you to live in harmony and peace and feel free in Akwa Ibom State.

That was why I was very sad when I saw a publication by one of our brothers, Mr Sunday Idowu, in the newspapers, trying to insinuate that properties belonging to Yoruba people were being confiscated and the C of Os revoked. He is trying to create unnecessary ethnic tension. The 10th Anniversary Hotel and the environment were acquired by him. According to the agreement, he was to develop the place into a three, four or five star hotel. But he acquired the property at N50milion and went and cut part of the land to sell at N25million.

“Then, the government said no, that is a breach of the condition of sale. By selling, you have reduced the beauty and intention of the hotel; it would never come out to be a five star hotel. So the C of O was revoked. To ensure justice, because of the money he invested into the property, I have directed the commissioner for Lands to review the revocation.

It should be reviewed with a view to returning the C of O to him (Idowu). So he has the option to go ahead and develop the property to conclusion or sell it back to the state government; we are ready to buy. The Commissioner for Lands and Town Planning has been directed to review the revocation and return the C of O to him. A single case of misunderstanding and breach of condition of sale cannot amount to revocation of properties of other nationalities resident in Akwa Ibom State. That cannot happen.

“This state is one of the most tolerant states, when it comes to receiving our brothers from other states. States who never welcome visitors ca never develop. We want our brothers from the North East and West to come here and feel totally at home. So misconceptions, misinterpretations, misinformation and falsified publications intended to whip up ethnic sentiments must be condemned by all and sundry.

I am happy you reacted to it and I want to plead with Idowu and everybody involved to stop this publications because some Nigerians are very gullible. When they read it they wont know that this was an isolated case. I have revoked the C of O of the so_called excised portion which was given to another individual and returned it to the 10th Anniversary Hotel.

And I have ordered another review of the revocation of Idowu’s property so the C of O can now be given back to him in totality. This is to ensure total justice because I do not want the public to be misled into thinking that there is any ethnic tension in Akwa Ibom State or that Akwa Ibom people are not welcoming in their attitude.”
After that session last Friday, members of the Yoruba left Government House smiling.

But the impression the governor made on them, and the impression that went away with, suggests that Governor Akpabio may have magnified his coast of evangelists and people who have a stronger reason to believe in and work for Akpabio’s success.


*Olawale Akintunde, is a resident of Uyo, chanced upon this meeting in Government House, Uyo.

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