During the last 23 years that Akwa Ibom State has gained its independence as a State since its creation it has been built on certain principles. These principles among others were taught by the elders to the young people. During the military rule throughout Nigeria, the entire States and Nigerians sole wish was for us to be a democratic Nation.

Today as we are practice democracy, when you look at the young Akwa Ibom Man’s State of mind, for the most part you can see how we have become a strong State. Although there are some few very strong Akwa Ibom men and women. Before often when people think of a young AkwaIbomites they think of the house boys and house girls’ syndrome and epidemic.Why is this? One reason I believe is that we were loosing an intellectual war. Since the September State creation 23 years ago we have failed to be on the wining side of this war except until recently through the effort of Akpabio administration. Many AkwaIbomites need to understand our history correctly.

“History has the function of a clock”. Akwa Ibom people must understand that we are made by how we think of the past. The truth is hard to see for some, but others have a clear understanding.

Initially our early parent’s failure to understand the young Akwa Ibom males and females genius caused them to fail us. They did give us the appropriate vision to motivate and inspire us to achieve obtainable goals by telling us to go to school. To say that we have reached this level of consciousness that exist in many of our so call rural and urban communities by ourselves would be untrue. What has happened as a result of this lack of guidance is that many of our young people have become a prisoner of borrowed lifestyles and existing vain native fetish traditional practices and believes and some are still indifference and oblivious of what is going on the State. The things we love and cherish are destroying us.

I learnt from one of my lecturers Proff Edet Okon Uya while in school as an undergraduate that nobody is a monopoly of knowledge, hence knowledge acquired should be used to assist others who in turn will learn and impact on others.

God’swill Akpabio, the governor of Akwa Ibom State has opened a lane for the young Akwa Ibom sons and daughters for knowledge. We must realize our purpose to live and understand that it is not enough to just have a governor. We too must do the ground work ourselves to make us prosper together. We must have the true understanding of who we are, which the first step to maturity is. 

The fact is that we won’t always agree but we can disagree to agree based on the issues and interest of the state and have some sense of solidarity through love for each other for the advancement of our State. Imagine kidnappers, child traffickers, prostitutes, armed robber’s, petition writers social miscreants, blackmailers’, ignorant people, militant etc deciding to change for good by reaching this level of consciousness of love. We would see change in our communities instantly. Akwa Ibom Men and Women Rise!!

We can help the world civilized itself through science, technology, arts, sports, entertainment, agriculture, religion, social political science etc. We must begin to inspect our self and analyze everything we put in our minds and bodies. This is most important when it comes to compulsory education and human capacity development policy of this present administration for this generation and the future generation so as to banish ignorance, illiteracy, brain drain, mental slavery and backwardness etc. This beautiful policies are meant to uplift us and allow us feel our advancement. This is a huge role for child, youths and adult positive consciousness.

There are evidence when you look around as children have come out from every nook and crannies to go to schools. Many parents and guidance have stayed true to their responsibilities and positive roles of being obedient and loyal citizens. In this lies evidence of our strength as a people that even though we seem to be at the middles of the barrel, the world still imitates us through our food delicacies and many more of our culture , hard work, dressing and values.

I wish and see on daily basis the underlying love that we have for each other, who doesn’t get portrayed in mainstream media on a negative side, but on a positive side as an architect of positive change in the world. Just look at the way we speak and our natural endowments. Look at our strengths, culture, and our natural and physical endowments. Lets consider our extreme public religious attitudes. We just need to re-channel our love into more positive things. We must eliminate old fetish, diabolic practices, and bad habits, ethnic baseness and have respect for one another.

The hating, kidnapping, house boys and house girls mentality, armed robbery, blackmailing, oppressing each other, refusing to help each other rise must stop!

We can change lives, empower and strength our communities through our local, National and International connections. By this we will help each other rise and step up and dominate every parts of the world just like the Yorubas and Ibos. We must abolish the mentality of neglecting our most valued resources that is the people around us. We must learn to be our brothers and sisters keepers by opening doors and windows for others to climb through. We must give in something and positively influence our community. We must seek for our collective interest and not selfish interest. We must imitate the leadership values of Governor Akpabio so that we can experience multiplier effects of his positive lifestyles. Remember that from birth none of us choose to be from where we are currently from.

I am talking about the influence Akwa Ibom men and women have on themselves in terms of raising their standards, taking actions and trusting in their number one product which is their selves. We have to raise our standards and my simple message for AkwaIbomites is rise for excellence!!! Mediocracy is an insult to us. Achieving excellence is the key to success, be encouraged to invest more on human potentials so that we will do same for our community and our selves.

Let us play the good boys and good girls image to ourselves and to others in the world. Living together without love is like being in a battle field. A house divided against it self can not stand. No matter the number of jeeps, houses and all over the globe throttling we make, if we have not touch lives at all, it is vanity upon vanity as portrayed in Mathew 25;35-40

Akwa Ibomites we are the answers to our problems. Let us stop sabotaging our future with our negative behaviors. Let us re-adjust our mentalities and actions so we can become a better people. Love peace and good things of life. Love one another. Think productive and creative thought.

Udom,a policy analyst sand researcher writes from 19 Hewett Street Calabar. 08076158749  Sucess4udom @yahoo.com

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