By Anthony Onwuka
A well-known maxim of the Akwa Ibom people of South South Nigeria posits that a king can never operate in isolation of a sound deputy or cabinet. And suffice it to say that Nigeria may well have found that sound deputy in Senator Austin Akobundo, currently the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District.
A sneak peek into the political history of Nigeria shows that the success recorded by the Obasanjo administration from 1999-2007, was due largely to the power-packed team of patriots and professionals who prior to their appointments, had made notable imprints in their fields of endeavour including the cerebral Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Lt. Gen Theophilus Danjuma, Prof Bola Ige, Broderick Bozimo and others, while the Vice President, Atiku Abubakar headed the Economic Team that successfully negotiated a historic debt relief deal with the Paris Club, an agreement which resulted in the cancellation of $18 billion of Nigeria’s debt.
Several years after the end of that record-breaking feat by any administration, the nation has been unable to put together a team that can match or surpass the performance of the Obasanjo/Atiku administration. What we have now is a bunch of individuals hurriedly composed as compensation for their contributions to the emergence of the administration, for being ardent party loyalists, or tribesmen. In such a scenario, performance is the least consideration. The inevitable result is the failure of policy implementation.
While Nigerians are disenchanted with the goings-on in the country, particularly under this present administration which for nearly two years after its inauguration has been unable to impress, the name Austin Akobundu has been thrown up as a perfect fix to the ticklish Nigerian political puzzle, a sound deputy whose wealth of experience would be invaluable to veer the country off the debacle which Tinubu and his cohorts have steered this country into.
A retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, and former Minister of State for Defense under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Akobundu’s background in the military would be an asset in the war against insurgency and criminality in the country while his background as a legislator of the Red Chamber would enable him help the administration formulate legislations that have human face should he be given a Vice Presidential ticket.
Since arriving in the Senate, Distinguished Senator Austin Akobundu, has indeed distinguished himself as a man of valour, honour, and principle, and is by all intent and purposes an embodiment of what leadership should be – rooted in service, guided by conviction, and anchored in truth.
Senator Akobundu is not just a product of strategic discipline, qualities he inherited from his background in the military, but also a refined political administrator whose loyalty to principles has never been in doubt. At a time when public office is marred by controversies, Senator Akobundu has remained unblemished and is not emblazoned in scandals. He is widely respected across Nigeria’s diverse political space.
A core member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Akobundu has remained consistent and dependable in his political ideology, earning the admiration of his peers not just for his political finesse, but for the rare quality of being able to command trust and respect across ethnic, religious, and partisan lines, a real symbol of hope for the South East.
As the country searches for voices of reason and action, one can not overlook a personality in the mold of Senator Akobundu, whose leadership is driven by principle rather than opportunism. In a nation plagued by failed promises and recurring betrayals, his consistency and vision should be harnessed in larger national assignments.
Nigerians behold the new “kid” on the block: a prospect for the country’s number two position; Senator Austin Akobundu. Take your flowers, sir!
Chief Anthony Onwuka
Writes from Abuja.
