By Ubong Sampson
November 2018 appeared to have had something only for the positive side for its 19th day. Years after the Ibom Airport had existed and years after former Governor Victor Attah had left office, the Akwa Ibom state legislature had chosen to recognise the foundational contributions of Obong Victor Attah to the state while serving in the lead role.
In a rather urgent situation, the legislature had set that 19th day to rename the only airport in the state after the the governor that started the advent of democracy.
Victor Attah, an architect by profession, began his reign in an ancient looking Akwa Ibom. His reign in the state was blessed with initiatives though challenged by resources or its insufficiency. The airport was of course, one of his ideas, when he thought an operational airport in the state can save Akwa Ibomites the stress and risk of having to hurry to catch flights at the Margaret Ekpo airport in calabar. The lack of resources challenge forced him out of office before the coming alive of the airport dream, but that takes nothing away from him as the initiator.
It was about the 80th birthday of the revered statesman and in thinking of a more honouring and memorable birthday gift, the Onofiok Luke led legislature had elected to rename the Ibom international airport to Victor Attah international airport. The legislature had even keyed into his personal activities to mark the event, part of which was ensuring the presence of the House in the pre-birthday book lunch in Abuja.
In all fairness and truth, the House as of the morning of November 19, 2018, had only ex governor Attah and the airport renaming in their agenda when it called for an emergency plenary. It was nothing more than for the appreciation and recognition of the Ibesikpo-born Pan Akwa Ibom man’s legacies. Of course, it was unknown to them that a certain member who, in the unprincipled political practice in Nigeria, had defected from one party to another, was driven by fear of his political character of inconsistency to approach the federal high court in Uyo, to seek injunction against what was never after him, and resorting to mobilising some unfortunate political thugs to frustrate a plenary that had nothing in its agenda concerning him. While unknown to him, the forces that were advising and pushing him had a hidden agenda of unsettling the government and was looking for anything that could trigger confusion. Alas, they found one.
Rather sad that the positively memorable history this day had intended for the ex governor was infiltrated by the political desperation of a few, who apparently would never consider keeping personal interests away from important matters of statehood… and more saddening that for every year this season will come to remind the state and its people of this great statesman in the light of the legacies he left behind while in service, there will be a compelling feeling of nostalgia to be brought about by that infamous side of history.
Be that as it may, we hope that Akwa Ibom people, in every of this season, will gradually learn to push aside the negative side, and focus on the positive, while continually commending the firm and resolute approach with which the legislature had tackled and conquered this challenge and standing up for what it believed in.
Sampson, a journalist writes from Ikot Ntot, Mkpat Enin LGA.
