Day Katsina stood still for Akpabio

INFORMATION about his planned visit to the state had spread over the nooks and crannies of Katsina state and when he finally landed at the Katsina State International Airport, at about noon on November 26, 2021, the enthusiastic crowd went into frenzy. The Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs and former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, is no stranger to Katsina having visited for no fewer than 10 times.

Akpabio was in the state to perform the ground breaking-ceremony for the Muhammadu Buhari Faculty of Law Building, at the Federal University of Dutsin- Ma and to deliver a pre- convocation Lecture titled: Impact of security on education and sustainable development in Nigeria.

Prior his arrival, virtually all available space at the arrival area of the airport had been taken over by various groups, drumming, dancing and singing the praise of the former governor of Akwa Ibom State. While Akpabio and his entourage had hectic time meandering through the horde of supporters at the arrival point, he was to face another ‘obstacle’ on his way out of the airport. It took the intervention of security operatives attached to the minister’s convoy from the state to appeal to the various women groups to pave way.

From the airport arrival ceremony, the Minister and his entourage made a journey of almost an hour to Dutsin-Ma, permanent site of the federal institution where he formally laid the foundation stone for the Muhammadu Buhari Faculty of Law Building. Akpabio, a legal practitioner of over 30 years standing, said the decision to name the building after the president was in recognition of his contributions to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary under his leadership. He specifically recalled the granting of financial autonomy to the judiciary, which was made possible under the president. The minister said: “This is an honour done the president, who has shown respect and love to Nigerians and the rule of law. My presence today signifies unity and love. I am very happy this Faculty of Law Building is named after the President of this great country, who has done enough for the judiciary.”

After the foundation laying ceremony, Akpabio arrived the lecture hall for the pre-convocation Lecture. Clad in an academic gown of Red and Green colours, he was led in an academic procession comprising the chancellor, vice chancellor, registrar of the institution, members of the Senate and well-wishers, which included the interim administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Efiong Akwa.

The minister’s citation, which was read by the university’s orator, was intermittently stopped by the ecstatic students recalling all what he achieved as the governor of Akwa Ibom State and his activities in the Niger Delta ministry.

In his lecture, Akpabio suggested ways sustainable development in the country and national security can be achieved, saying,” to a large extent, the synergy between security and education impacts substantially on the quantum and quality of development achievable in any organised society. National security is the first duty of every government, but education is the foundation of every nation. “Where we are today is the fruit of our investment in education yesterday and where Nigeria will be tomorrow is the fruit of what we invest in education today,” Akpabio said. He announced to the admiration of the students and school management the decision of his friends and associates to contribute the sum of N50m for the take-off of the building. At the end of the lecture, gifts and awards were presented to the minister by the students, university management and the various ethnic associations in appreciation of his contributions to the development of the institution.

Before leaving Katsina same day, Akpabio and his entourage, largely made up of northern leaders and stakeholders, paid a courtesy visit to Governor Bello Masari, at Government House, Katsina, where both leaders spoke on the imperativeness of unity of the country, devoid of religious or political linings. Akpabio left the state a fulfilled visitor, having laid the foundation for the law building named after his boss and delivering a thought provoking lecture on national security.

Kareem writes from Dutsin-Ma Katsina