My uncle, Dcn. Gideon King, a farmer and retired factory worker with the old CalCemCo, now Lafarge (Mfamosing) in Cross River State, once told me an interesting but intriguing story of an event that preceded the creation of Akwa Ibom State on September 23,1987.
He said a few years before the Calabar – Itu road was constructed to link the Metropolitan with the Mainland (present day Akwa Ibom State), there was this strange man whose health was unstable and his sanity in doubt roaming the streets of Calabar at the time, who suddenly started screaming on top of his lungs, “Ibibio, it’s time for you to go. Behold, I have laid a bridge across the Itu River for you. Go. It’s time for you to leave.”
Of course, no one took him seriously. For many, he was sick in the mind. Moreover, there was no such thing as a bridge across the Itu River. Travellers who had to visit the Mainland part of the state, only did so using the waterways. I think the famous Elder Dempster was one of such companies that provided ferry services at the time.
Years on, the contract for the construction of the Itu bridge was awarded and years after, Akwa Ibom State was created on September 23, 1987, alongside Katsina State by the then military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, and it came to pass, like Anietie Usen would say, that the people of the Mainland left Cross River using a bridge.
So surreal. But I choose to see it as a signpost to a possible factor that there is something special about us as a people. We are not just religious for nothing. We are a peculiar people unto God. I do not think that it is happenstance or mere coincidence that we moved from a deacon to a pastor at the helm of our affairs at this time. Remember, God rules in the affairs of men including that of Akwa Abasi Ibom State, the only state in Nigeria named after God.
Sometime ago, in the early years of this century, a global leader and key figure in the body of Christ visited the State and held a service in the open field of the University of Uyo Town Campus.
In the course of the service, he declared to the hearing of everyone that God instructed him to come to Akwa Ibom and anoint little David. He said he was now in Akwa Ibom but did not know who exactly was the little David, so he opened his jar of oil and poured it on the ground and made certain pronouncements.
Pastor Paul Adefarasin alluded to a King David leadership in a Saul and David analogy he made, during the national conversation on who should be our next leader in 2023. He made it abundantly clear that we should expect a King Saul before David.
In his words, “Election may not go as you want. Saul will come before David.” And I have been thinking, does this have anything to do with our own little David foretold over two decades ago in that open service? I would not be surprised.
Like Dr. Joe Abah would tease, “I am Ezemuo, I know things.” I think there are things that I know, too. Like now, I know that Akwa Ibom State is turning 38 this year, precisely on September 23, and I also know a man who was sick for 38 years and needed help but got none while lying by the pool of Bethesda, and without Jesus would have stayed longer.
“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’
The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.’”
Understandably, couples with partners with the same need as his couldn’t prioritise him over and above theirs, same with parents with children with the same need. But what of kinsmen who had no spouse nor ward who needed to bath in the pool. Why didn’t they help? Every man to himself. God for us all. Abi?
This is how job opportunities and admission offers are won and lost daily, and the one without help goes back home to confront a bleak future. Sadly, at times we don’t just refuse to give help but also won’t allow them to pick up their pieces and reflect on their next move in peace.
I remember when my mother’s kinsman and godson, Hon. Udo Ekpenyong left office as a political adviser to the then governor. He drove to our place in Abak one morning to pick me up, so we could tidy up the paperwork on something he was helping me with.
While we were discussing his early exit from office, I commented on a snide remark made by a mutual friend, “Big brother, life is never about how long but how well. The son of God wouldn’t have done only 33 years while he was here on earth.”
I dashed back into the house to get fully dressed, but when I joined him in the car minutes later, he asked, “Udo, did you say that life is not about how long but how well? I said yes. He paused for a while, turning to me, he said, “You’ve lifted my spirit.” Note that he fondly called me Udo always, since I am my mom’s second son.
Fast forward, the former political adviser went on to become an influential commissioner and later, a very powerful party chairman in the state, while his traducer faded into oblivion to this day.
After the 2019 general elections, Senator Godswill Akpabio had more than a fair share of snide remarks from both friends and foes alike. Friends who knew I had sympathy for him from my write-ups, took the pains to climb up the staircase to my door, just to get a good laugh at my face.
For many, the trip to Ubima in Rivers State became shorter than the road that leads to Ukana in Akwa Ibom State. Akpabio indeed has his flaws, after all he is human, just like every one of us, and though down, right there on the bare floor of the tartan track he was still our athlete. And what he needed the most was our love and empathy, and not otherwise.
Fast forward, the former governor got back on his feet again, and went on to become an influential minister and currently, the very powerful Senate President of Nigeria, and many of his traducers have faded into oblivion to this very day.
Young and restless David refused to celebrate the fall of King Saul and rebuked those who did.
There is a lesson in how Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu rallied every resource to give his ally, General Muhammadu Buhari a befitting retirement home in Kaduna, good medical care when he took ill and subsequently, rallied everyone to give him a very colourful state burial when he finally passed, despite their bitter emilokan feud.
Let us rally round our own going forward. Let us not hold back a helping hand. If Ubima man and not the Ukana man were in the mix at the centre today, without being told, South South Development Commission would have gone to Port Harcourt again, just like the Niger Delta Development Commission, and others before it.
In Nigeria, our political dynamics are changing very fast. Peter Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, spoke up fiercely in support of the aspiration of his kinsman, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in another party, the All Progressives Congress in 2023. Lessons abound here for us.
By 2027, let us not celebrate Akwa Ibom at 40 and also contend for the fool at 40 prize.
Let us put our house in order. No more should our leaders serve fresh croissant to their children at home and share stale bread in the street. God is not mocked. Galatians 6:7.
Let us in return, always help our leaders pick their mats in every situation, no matter their infirmities (read shortcomings). God in His wisdom and infinite mercy chose them.
Moses had an infirmity and considered himself unworthy but God refused to pick another.
Akwa Ibom, be your brother’s keeper. We are a peculiar people unto God. This is why He gave us a state and chose Akwa Abasi Ibom State to announce little David.
Our future is bright.
Happy 38th Anniversary!!!
