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Why Akwa Ibom needs a Father figure in 2023 – Prof. Afaha
A Professor of History and International Studies from the University of Abuja has highlighted Akwa Ibom’s need for a Father figure in the 2023 governorship election.
He said this recently while pointing to the former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Effiong Bob as the best fit for the Governorship office in 2023.
“Senator Effiong Bob flaunts his experiences, antecedents, contributions to the development of Akwa Ibom State and rich proposals for the development of the state as his selling points for the Governorship office in 2023”, he said.
“He remains the most acceptable figure in the race for 2023 in Akwa Ibom state ostensibly due to his fatherly disposition and levelheadedness. People believe he’ll be more accessible and understanding in handling issues given his vast background in politics and public service”, he added.
The academician who shared insights of his conversation with one of the aspirants revealed that many of the contenders were merely flaunting the “youth card”, without meaning their words.
“Sen Bob is most fitting to succeed and consolidate on the sterling achievements of Governor Udom Emmanuel from 2023”, he started.
“During our discussion I was impressed on the youthful politician he is and agreed that indeed, God designs that leadership be handled with mature hands. In fact, God cherishes experience as a paramount condiment for leadership. According to Ecclesiastes 10:16, it is clearly in the will of God that leadership be reserved for mature, intelligent and experienced persons. When I meditated on that passage this morning I felt as if it was talking to Akwa Ibom state concerning 2023. It appears to reveal Effiong Bob as the plausible option for Akwa Ibom people. The reason for this Biblical injunction is that a society is safer in well groomed and mature hands than with unprepared minds”, he submitted.
“Just as a youth is more sensible and better in decision making than a child, a mature adult is far reliable in making decisions and handling peoples and resources than a youth. All the dominant traits of youth age bracket such as exuberance, forcefulness, indecision, arrogance, emotional insecurity and adventurism etc are not among the best assets for functional leadership”.
“Already Akwa Ibom politics is dominated by youths. A scan of the average age of councillors, supervisors, chairmen, SAs, Board members, Commissioners, and Assembly members in Akwa Ibom state shows a 70/30 ratio in favour of youths. It is not enough to have a youth at the helm of affairs (lessons from Liberia under Johnson Strasser, and the current North Korean leader).
“What Akwa Ibom needs is an experienced and matured leader who’ll not only attend to youth issues, but combine such responsibility with his grasp of other critical needs of children, adults, elders, and non-human sectors of the state. To restrict governance to “youths alone” is another crass display of “youth mentality”, and to aspire to be governor just because one is a youth or any other discriminative manifestos smacks of mental detachment syndrome”, he explained.
Prof Afaha who furthered that the
idea was not to exclude experience and maturity which aspirants such as Senator Effiong Bob brings to the table but to ensure there are youthful elements in the team with an experience field commander leading the Government.
“My endorsement of Sen Effiong Bob for the next governor of Akwa Ibom state was inspired by his blueprint for youth development and inclusion in Akwa Ibom state. Up till this moment, I have not heard of a more passionate, detailed and clinical plan for Akwa Ibom youths by any other aspirant other than the promises of street jamborees by aspirants – usual electioneering mind games that has not taken anybody anywhere since democracy reappeared in 1999.
“I fervently pray that Effiong Bob should become governor of Akwa Ibom state come 2023, when God answer this prayer nobody will remain a youth for too long in Akwa Ibom state. People will be too busy to be decieved. There’s a consensus that Akwa Ibom needs a father figure come 2023, and it’s only Effiong Bob that fits that description. May God hear our prayers”, he prayed.
