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President Mohammadu Buhari, Hon. Minister Godswill Akpabio and Pastor Efiong Akwa: The Trinity That rescued N.D.D.C.

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Opinion

Obong Godswill Akpabio

The much heralded ‘’Forensic Audit’’ of the Niger Delta Development Commission, has come and gone and we look forward to a better formatted future for the generality of the Niger-Delta citizens. It is ‘’Eureka’’ to all of us

I deliberately, used the word, ‘’Trinity’’, because it best captures the egg or apple metaphor that succinctly explains the extant scenario. Trinity, is essentially a state of being three or a set of three. This group of three, may also, be called, ’’Triad, Trine or Trio.’’ I will try to discuss the recent success within and outside the pale of Christian orthodoxy and dogma. The Spiritual essence of the NDDC can be underlined and justified by monotheism and polytheism. Even the African cosmology accepts and appreciates; an understanding that Africans worship one Supreme Being and venerate ancestors as intermediaries to the one Supreme Being, without clear roles being ascribed to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (Jele S. Manganyi, Johan Buitendag,2013). In this context, we should lay credence and emphasis on the Three Protagonists, whose determination, gumption and dynamism steered the NDDC ship towards the Success River.

The Honourable Minister for Niger-Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had sought to drain the murky swamp of sleaze he discovered in NDDC, President Buhari had benevolently acceded and granted a carte blanche access and an ally cum competent professional, was found in the person of Pastor Efiong Akwa(and his dynamic team) – they were three, who made a success of the task. That is my Trinity – Mr President, The Hon. Minister and The Interim Administrator.

When Senator Akpabio set out to make a success of this particular assignment, he was aware that failure would not only tarnish his enviable record in public service, but would further delay and frustrate the hopes and wishes of the people of our region; and dash the desire of Mr President to turn around our dwindling fortunes and bequeath a ‘’tabula rasa’’ (clean slate) to our people to rewrite their story. A story of hope, peace and wealth.

It is usually admonished that a leader, ‘’has to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.’’ In delivering this assignment, the Trinity had to endure taunts, travel to the swamps and through the creeks (amid the sharks and crocodiles) and engage all the stakeholders to achieve success. Archimedes had said: ‘’ Give me a fulcrum, and I shall move the world. Give me a firm spot on which to stand, and I shall move the earth.’’ And that has always been the Hon. Minister’s mantra.

Rosalynn Carter, reiterates further, that: ‘’A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.’’ Now that we have arrived at the new dawn, despite the initial expression of apathy, expression of misgivings and general reticence. And we thank the Almighty God for His Abiding Grace.

Thank you President Mohammadu Buhari, for giving Senator Akpabio and Pastor Efiong Akwa the opportunity to continue to serve Nigeria. Like Oliver Twist, ’’we want some more.’’ As we in the Niger-Delta region are wont to adopt, ‘’Eureka’’ as a refrain, we may be begging him, ceteris paribus, to move on to a higher assignment. The future is bright.

‘’ The whistling of the night wind,
Heralded the onset of an uncommon glow,
Like the fire flies of moons ago,
The shooting star never returns home.’’(Dances on the Plains,2014)

Rt. Hon (Chief) Orok Otu Duke (JP)
(Niger Delta Delegate to the 2014 CONFAB, Abuja)
(2 Term Deputy Speaker/4th Term Member, CRHA
)

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