By Bassey Ekpo Bassey
The PDP presidential primaries are around the corner and we seem to have forgotten Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. Why? I think a lot has to do with the fact that he is quiet and goes around doing his business without deliberate fanfare.
Has he been effective?
The correct answer would be to a large extent, yes. Look, I don’t like the score card of most of our governors and definitely don’t think much of them but Udom has stabilized Akwa Ibom State. Instability, armed robbery and kidnapping have been reduced to a thread bare minimum.
Infrastructural development is at an all time high and human capital development has been has received more than a passive attention. He has committed himself to ticking the right boxes and saying little.
By far, what has impressed me the most is his calming effect and ability to keep his circle close without much controversy. Those that have fallen foul were dealt with decisively. That’s what Nigeria needs. A resolute leader. One who won’t teether and let problems fester.
I didn’t like Ibom Air and spoke against it’s birth at inception. I felt the money could have gone into improving health and infant/mother mortality BUT I must say that I have been impressed by how immaculately the airline has been run. It has taken over as the number 1 airline in Nigeria and is the preferred airline of business people who are time conscious. I have flown with them a couple of times and must say that apart from their safety protocol I was blown away by the announcements in English and the native Ibibio tongue. Something I see on foreign airlines a lot.
Lest I forget; the PDP presidential ticket could come down to Udom and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State if Atiku doesn’t implode. Is Wike good enough to lead the nation? That’s talk for another day but I see him as brash and divisive; a personal assessment I must say. That strategy (his brash nature) may work in Rivers State but not in a multicultural country like Nigeria with a myriad of interests and groups from different geo-political zones struggling for the upper hand.
Without mincing words, Nigeria needs a mediator, a leader, a visionary and empathetic person, a corrupt free person and one who lives how he preaches. If Udom takes the ticket, the APC would have a formidable opponent going into the general election.
Bassey Ekpo Bassey, wrote in from Abuja FCT.
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