According to a quote by Douglas MacArthur which says; “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to identify the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent”
In a third-world country like Nigeria where politics and fake campaign promises have ruined the best of government’s intentions that establishing a business venture successfully have always been in total vain.
Governor Udom Emmanuel has break what could be termed self-inflicted jinx created over the years in other parts of the country as he made it a dream come true for all Akwa Ibomites which made the state stand out as a leading light for other states to follow.
Regardless of being alone in the last four years, Governor Emmanuel has threaded where others dreaded. Giving life to projects that were tagged impossible by successive governments.
The governor despite ruling an oil-producing state set out to diversify the economy, paving the way for even more oil wells in the sporting sector, oil wells in Agriculture, industrialization and most outstanding is the awakening of the aviation industry with the launch of Ibom Air, the first state-owned airline in Africa.
Governor Udom Emmanuel has break what could be termed self-inflicted jinx created over the years in other parts of the country as he made it a dream come true for all Akwa Ibomites which made the state stand out as a leading light for other states to follow.
Regardless of being alone in the last four years, Governor Emmanuel has threaded where others dreaded. Giving life to projects that were tagged impossible by successive governments.
The governor despite ruling an oil-producing state set out to diversify the economy, paving the way for even more oil wells in the sporting sector, oil wells in Agriculture, industrialization and most outstanding is the awakening of the aviation industry with the launch of Ibom Air, the first state-owned airline in Africa.
The three aircrafts at the Victor Attah International Airport, to route Uyo-Lagos and Abuja was a sight to behold.
In a society where interests are polarised along political lines, expectedly, there were myriads of criticism that were sprung at the Ibom Air project. Those who wished the project failed, took turns to throw jabs at Mr Emmanuel, describing his efforts as dead on arrival; the social media, commentaries and sponsored spewed falsehood on media blogs alleged that the planes were illegally hired and smuggled into the country and would soon be returned.
The All Progressive Congress sponsored attacks on Sahara newsblog, flooding the media space with a news report titled: “Exposed: Ibom Air’s Hangar of Old Aircraft, as Gov. Udom Promises Fails to Materialize”. The meat of the report was about how investigations had revealed that the airline was by conception governor Udom Emmanuel’s make-belief invention.
Part of the report said: “Almost four months after the launch of Ibom Air by Akwa Ibom State Government, the airline has not taken to the sky…”
Not satisfied, the APC chieftains went on-air and social media platforms to mock the airline describing it as an old and refurbished airplane dumped at the Victor Attah International Airport as monument to score political points.
Regardless the ill-comments and poor reactions meted on the airline since its announcement, Governor Udom Emmanuel, on the occasion of the inaugural flight, remarked that the airline would operate without discrimination and none would be welcome as an APC or PDP but as proud sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State.
Today, the APC chieftains and several other critics are seen chewing their words, the story has changed, not only have the project taken off successfully, but commendations have followed the historic project, with those who criticized, pioneering the commendations.
First to react was Engr. Ita Awak, Director of Air Worthiness Standards, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, who is quoted as saying that the airline operation were delayed because:
“The AOC could not have been signed and given any earlier than when the Authority is satisfied that the operator is in compliance with all regulatory requirements.
The truth of the matter is that every entity in Nigeria who wants to operate a commercial airline must surrender to and go through a rigorous 5-phased AOC certification process supervised by the regulatory body called the NCAA.
It is only at the satisfactory completion of this process that the Authority issues a certificate to and authorizes the commencement of flight operation by the operator. In the case of the Ibom Air AOC, the DG of NCAA signed it yesterday morning (6th June); and it was after this that Capt. Mfon Udom, the Accountable Manager, cranked up the operation of his airline.
From the foregoing, you can see that Ibom Air commenced its operations after it had satisfied all the regulatory requirements” Ita Awak, NCAA Director said.
Following was a rather heart-warming story captured on Mr. Anietie Usen’s timeline on facebook titled “Flying Ibom Air”. Anietie Usen is a well known APC chieftain, a long standing media professional who campaigned vigorously against all the projects of Governor Emmanuel. As he confessed in his treatise, he never believed in Ibom air. Several others in his shoes have taken to their media space to confess how relieving Ibom Air has been, despite their initial scepticism.
The most remarkable endorsement came when the All Progressive Congress Chairman in the state, Ini Okopido accompanied by several other chieftains of the party spotted boarding the flight on June 14 from Abuja to Uyo.
Governor Emmanuel in his good works and good governance has not relented, despite all the criticism thrown at his unusual projects, he opened up the first ever Syringe manufacturing company which is today gaining recognition with almost all hospitals in the country and beyond reckoning with the syringes produced in the state.
First ever industries, and projects have since queued in this irrevocable quest of the Governor to leave the state better than he met it four years ago.
With the words of Abraham Lincoln at heart that “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time” it is without doubt that Governor Udom Emmanuel is taking Akwa Ibom State to its brightest stand in the international community, one project after the other.
(Additional reporting by Treasure Esop and Abasifreke John)
In a society where interests are polarised along political lines, expectedly, there were myriads of criticism that were sprung at the Ibom Air project. Those who wished the project failed, took turns to throw jabs at Mr Emmanuel, describing his efforts as dead on arrival; the social media, commentaries and sponsored spewed falsehood on media blogs alleged that the planes were illegally hired and smuggled into the country and would soon be returned.
The All Progressive Congress sponsored attacks on Sahara newsblog, flooding the media space with a news report titled: “Exposed: Ibom Air’s Hangar of Old Aircraft, as Gov. Udom Promises Fails to Materialize”. The meat of the report was about how investigations had revealed that the airline was by conception governor Udom Emmanuel’s make-belief invention.
Part of the report said: “Almost four months after the launch of Ibom Air by Akwa Ibom State Government, the airline has not taken to the sky…”
Not satisfied, the APC chieftains went on-air and social media platforms to mock the airline describing it as an old and refurbished airplane dumped at the Victor Attah International Airport as monument to score political points.
Regardless the ill-comments and poor reactions meted on the airline since its announcement, Governor Udom Emmanuel, on the occasion of the inaugural flight, remarked that the airline would operate without discrimination and none would be welcome as an APC or PDP but as proud sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State.
Today, the APC chieftains and several other critics are seen chewing their words, the story has changed, not only have the project taken off successfully, but commendations have followed the historic project, with those who criticized, pioneering the commendations.
First to react was Engr. Ita Awak, Director of Air Worthiness Standards, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, who is quoted as saying that the airline operation were delayed because:
“The AOC could not have been signed and given any earlier than when the Authority is satisfied that the operator is in compliance with all regulatory requirements.
The truth of the matter is that every entity in Nigeria who wants to operate a commercial airline must surrender to and go through a rigorous 5-phased AOC certification process supervised by the regulatory body called the NCAA.
It is only at the satisfactory completion of this process that the Authority issues a certificate to and authorizes the commencement of flight operation by the operator. In the case of the Ibom Air AOC, the DG of NCAA signed it yesterday morning (6th June); and it was after this that Capt. Mfon Udom, the Accountable Manager, cranked up the operation of his airline.
From the foregoing, you can see that Ibom Air commenced its operations after it had satisfied all the regulatory requirements” Ita Awak, NCAA Director said.
Following was a rather heart-warming story captured on Mr. Anietie Usen’s timeline on facebook titled “Flying Ibom Air”. Anietie Usen is a well known APC chieftain, a long standing media professional who campaigned vigorously against all the projects of Governor Emmanuel. As he confessed in his treatise, he never believed in Ibom air. Several others in his shoes have taken to their media space to confess how relieving Ibom Air has been, despite their initial scepticism.
The most remarkable endorsement came when the All Progressive Congress Chairman in the state, Ini Okopido accompanied by several other chieftains of the party spotted boarding the flight on June 14 from Abuja to Uyo.
Governor Emmanuel in his good works and good governance has not relented, despite all the criticism thrown at his unusual projects, he opened up the first ever Syringe manufacturing company which is today gaining recognition with almost all hospitals in the country and beyond reckoning with the syringes produced in the state.
First ever industries, and projects have since queued in this irrevocable quest of the Governor to leave the state better than he met it four years ago.
With the words of Abraham Lincoln at heart that “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time” it is without doubt that Governor Udom Emmanuel is taking Akwa Ibom State to its brightest stand in the international community, one project after the other.
(Additional reporting by Treasure Esop and Abasifreke John)
