Effiong Akwa's NDDC and the Termites Within

Pastor Effiong Akwa is no doubt the current Interim Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The lawyer and chartered accountant is the former Ag Director of Finance and Administration in the Commission. Effiong Akwa holds a PhD in Law. He is a Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). A decent man who has restored dignity and respect to the NDDC, Akwa can simply be described as a proverbial messiah who came to rescue and restore the soul of the Commission.

In spite of the series of dramas which dotted the landscape of the agency, Dr Akwa's name would be engraved in the history books as one man who guided the pathway to a successful forensic auditing in the Commission.

With an impeccable trajectory of vast administrative record, Akwa prides as a financial expert with proven integrity. His wealth of experience is a plus. His sense of humility is to a fault. A man, so forthright in his dealings, the Sole Administrator maintains the likeness of Christ as examplified in his faith, humility and a sense of humanity.

A fortnight back, some youths of Oro Nation who claimed being part of a solidarity protest in support of Akwa's excellent performances, vowed to bring down heaven, except they were paid for showing solidarity to their own. Effiong Akwa is from Oron in Akwa Ibom State, and actually enjoyed their support, especially when youths from other sections of the region rose against his leadership of the Commission.

Although Òrò youths couldn't deny the superior sense of ingenuity with which Dr Akwa has brought to the fore in managing the Commission, they still couldn't escape intellectual delusion which blindfolded their sense of knowledge. Sadly, they fell into the unpatriotic trap of ignorance and refused to acknowledge the lasting programmes, projects and plans of the NDDC Boss for the people of the Niger Delta, in general and the Oron people in particular.

Of course, ignorance would remain a dominant disease in the lives of those who refused to get sense. Some of them never knew that the NDDC under Effiong Akwa had facilitated numerous trainings and empowerment schemes for youths of the Niger Delta, with reasonable fraction coming from Oron.
He had also launched an ongoing educational sponsorship scheme from which youths of Oro extraction have already started benefitting. The project is designed to see sponsorship of hundreds of youths from Jamb fees to sponsorship through their university education.

During Akwa's recent engagement with some Oro people, they were shocked to realize the level of blackmail they perpetrated against their brother. The evil schemers had not only been interested in bringing down the firm and upright image of the NDDC Boss. The coordinated blackmail had and still have the target to destroy the cord of trust and firm hope which majority of the Oro people have in him. A tested and trusted son of the soil, Akwa's list of projects was inexhaustible. From construction of roads, markets, schools and massive scholarships for youths up to the level of PhD, the report card espoused by the Interim Sole Administrator was captivating and pulsating.

As expected from Satan's heart of darkness, the interaction with Dr Akwa had barely ended when a petition started flying in the internets. The said petition was clearly endorsed by some leaders of a political group called, Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF). The group is said to be loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State. Sadly though, those who signed the petition were also present at the said interaction with the Sole Administrator. Fingers are still pointing towards the leaders of the group both in Eket Senatorial District and in Òrò Federal Constituency who are said to have also enjoyed some working relationships with Mr Akwa.

Many indigenes of Oro and Akwa Ibom state have expressed shock and anger at the pull-down character being fuelled by the ADF leaders. Pundits refer to this perpetrators as townsmen and employees of the NDDC Boss. They trace the figure to someone who persistently talks tough and spills hatred and discord against Pastor Akwa. Indeed, jealousy, envy, greed and hatred are working together. Their aim is to destroy that which they can't build.

Obviously, the person being fingered is said to have had several meetings with his boys, mainly jobless youths, prior to, and during the period of their supposed unwarranted and ignorant agitation against Mr Effiong Akwa. Again, it couldn't become a hidden truth when familiar scavengers started singing the destructive songs in the coarse tunes of their paymaster. All of them concurrently sang the same tune. Obviously, it couldn't be hidden that a known hand was standing and waving at the podium.

Apparently, fingers are clearly pointing towards the direction of Sir Victor Antai. Antai is a serving salary receiving SA to the NDDC Boss. Many have actually testified that he held meetings with the youths before and during the agitation. They have numerously reported how Victor Antai, has on many occasions made very disparaging remarks against the Interim Sole Administrator.

Whatever and however the fact is, Oro people should be united in supporting one of their own, Pastor Barr. Effiong Okon Akwa. His maturity, humble and thoughtful composure wasn't unseen during the interactive session. He sat like an expert in human management and did justice to all contentious issues thrown at him. Of course, Akwa has done his best and is doing well within eight months as Sole Administrator. His marks are clearly coming out.

Just recently, a first ranking federal university in Nigeria, University Of Abuja, invited Dr Akwa as a Guest lecturer for their Annual Democracy lecture series. Like a diligent servant who sticks to his job schedules, Effiong Akwa arrived the venue in time and justified the confidence reposed in him, through a master-class presentation. The result was extraordinary, with a standing ovation from the high calibre audience, comprising of former senate president, ambassadors, governors, professors and top ranking business men, among others. Question is, can any of those 'termites' aspiring to destroy him fit into the unique shoe?

While prayers could freely be offered for Mr Akwa to achieve more, especially for the Oro people who have suffered donkey years of marginalization, it is condemnable to realize that the termites within are bent on destroying the Piller of the house. It is time the destructive termites within are crushed and made incapable of eating deep and breaking the cord of brotherhood.

A man who goes for a solidarity protest in support of his brother must not turn back and demand payment. That would be averse to patriotism. It would assume a scandal of monumental propensity. It smacks of insincerity and pretentious manipulations. The termites within should rather allow the Interim Sole Administrator a breathing space so he can remain focused to discharge his responsibilities in the best interest of the Niger Delta people.

*CYPRIAN AFAHANAM* (ESQ) IS AN
ALUMNUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA AND AN UYO BASED LEGAL PRACTITIONER.