Leadership (Abuja)
Udeme Nana
19 November 2008
opinion
Attah is the commander-in-chief of the resource control army in the Niger Delta region. The oil-producing states wanted to control this vital national resource. The late Bola Ige was the then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. He sought for an arbiter in the Supreme Court. The court subsequently ruled in favour of the federal government.
The worst part was this: Akwa Ibom State suddenly became a non-oil producing state. Its oil revenue crashed to zero. The state's share from the federation account could not pay the salaries and wages of its civil servants. Attahrefused to give up. He badgered. He threatened. He fought in the open. He fought in the dark. The ground shifted. Former President Obasanjo settled for a political solution. He sent a bill to the National Assembly to abolish the controversial on-shore off-shore dichotomy among the oil producing states. The National Assembly said yes to the bill. Good news. Akwa Ibom state has become a rich oil producing state again".
That was how Dan Agbese, in an article "Man of the Moment", published in Newswatch of November 25, 2002, captured Architect Victor Attah's engagement with the issue of the time during his first term in office as governor of Akwa Ibom State.
The story of mankind is replete with examples of men and women who are challenged by circumstances to intervene in the destiny of their people. Some, like Moses in the Bible abandoned the comfort of life as a prince in Pharaoh's palace to lead the exodus of the Jews to the promised land.
Back home, this country was lucky to have had titans like the great Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, and Michael Okpara, all of blessed memory, who lit a torch to brighten the pathway for their people. There may be hundreds of worthy successors to these exemplary politicians in all parts of the country today, perhaps, one of the finest is the accomplished architect and visionary statesman, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Bassey Attah. Attah joins the eminent club of Septuagenarians in the world today.
A man imbued with a deep expansive intellect, Attah is blessed with an outstanding pedigree. He was born 70 years ago into the prominent family of Chief Bassey Udo Adiaha Attah of Ikot Akpan Ndua in Okop Ndua Erong, Asutan Ekpe, which is in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
This bold and articulate statesman attended renowned schools in Uyo, Calabar, Zaria, England and the United States of America. His professional landmarks include the University of Calabar master plan, the University of Port Harcourt master plan, the Akwa Ibom State Regional master plan, the Nigeria Defence Academy, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) head office in Abuja, the Maiduguri International Five Star Hotel and the Sandy Lane Hotel, Trinidad and Tobago among others.
Victor Attah's detribalised attitude was shaped by the nature of his father's work in the field of agriculture which took the family to Ibadan, Nsukka and other locations in Nigeria. He has exhibited this attitude courageously. When he was faced with majority opinion, he shifted power in his state to the Annangs, a minority group after his tenure. After his return to the country from Europe and the America's, Attah settled in Kaduna from where he worked and built up solid relationships in Yola, Bauchi and Maiduguri, before he moved to Lagos and Abuja.
His engagement in politics has made the amiable icon a reference point, as he is totally committed to one united, but truly federal Nigeria. This was best displayed while he served with other Nigerian patriots at the 1994/95 constitutional conference. He vigorously articulated the need for a true federal system in Nigeria and distribution of oil revenue on the basis of derivation.
Attah was one of the shining lights of the National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN) and was also, one of those who fought for the emergence of the present democratic dispensation under the auspices of the G-34. As one of the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was Attah, the quintessential architect who designed the symbol of the party, the umbrella. Attah wrote his name in gold in the political landscape of Nigeria when he emerged as the second elected civilian governor of Akwa Ibom State in 1999, a responsibility he discharged, as spelt out in his agenda "Come Let Us Build Together". Attah took the reins of leadership in a state whose people were wrongly stereotyped as drivers, gardeners, cooks, stewards, houseboys, gatemen etc. Then, any good-for-nothing Nigerian who could not express himself properly in the English language would certainly be from Akwa Ibom.
As the people existed, weighed down by this negative perception occasioned by low self-esteem, the federal government re-introduced the obnoxious off-shore on-shore oil dichotomy. Victor Attah rose to the occasion and in his bold, articulate, self-assured oratory, re-invented the new Akwa Ibom person. Thanks to Attah's psychological empowerment, Akwa Ibom people now hold their heads high and bubble boldly everywhere, chalking up successes in politics, business, the academia and in all facets of life. The billion naira allocations that now accrue to the Niger-Delta states is a credit to the dogged fight of Attah.
Attah's visionary blueprint to catalyse Nigeria into the 21st century during his first term in office was stymied by paucity of funds from the federation account, but while he fought against that injustice, he changed the psychology of his people positively and changed their perception by others too. He worked hard to empower his people through co-operatives. The beneficiaries included motorcyclists, farmers, churches, fishermen and the interministerial direct labour committee was set up to oversee such bread and butter dividends of democracy like water, electricity, massive renovation of schools and health centers in all the wards of the state.
The success of his empowerment schemes which included patronage of local contractors saw to the transformation of the skyline in the state, as new and magnificent buildings sprang up everywhere. Attah moved into another area of basic need for the people by building 50 units of housing in each of the 31 local government areas of the state. He built roads in each of the ten federal constituencies of which Abak Road, Uyo Village Road, Nwaniba Road and Oron Road, including the 6 lane Nsikak Eduok Avenue stand out as flagships. His focus in the health sector saw the establishment of ultra modern hosptials in Ikpe Ikot Nkon in Ini, Ukpom Abak and Okobo.
To his pride are such magnificent monuments as the renovated Uyo Township Stadium, the Governors' Lodge in Abuja, the Nigerian Stock Exchange building which has eased capital market transactions in the state and the new Akwa Ibom House near the ICPC headquarters, Abuja, in addition to the Akwa Ibom Museum of History located in the lush greens along Udoudoma Avenue, Uyo.
Perhaps, what sets apart visionary leaders from the run of the mill politician is how they are misunderstood while in pursuit of their big and uncommon dreams. Attah was not spared when he set out to recreate Uyo's city center into what has turned out to be, arguably, one of the best sights in Nigeria. The Ibom connection provides a good lesson in urban renewal, just as the motor parks he built are the best in the country.
It is a pleasant coincidence that Attah and his wife of more than 40 years, Alison, were born in the same year. Both are 70. Alison, a Barbadian-Nigerian, is a strong pillar behind her husband. Both have total respect for each other. Very loving, Alison was not an over bearing first lady. She stayed at the background and pursued her pet project, the Child Development Trust without state government funds.
At 70, Attah still maintains a routine of waking up early. A staunch catholic, he attends the early morning mass and still reads voraciously. He is fresh and still stands strong. His physical appearance and his work schedule belie his age. Is Attah a hero or a villain? May he live longer to see his vindication.
Nana, was Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Attah and now, SSA to Governor Godswill Akpabio on Media and Public Affairs
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