Ibom Golf celebrates Obong Attah at 83 with tournament
The Ibom Golf and Country Club has celebrated Victor Attah, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, with a one-day golf tournament.
Attah, who marked his 83rd birthday on November 20, was honoured by the golf club with a trophy at the end of the tournament.
The former governor built the 16.5 kms world class Ibom Golfolf course in 2007. He was represented at the tournament by Captain Mfon Udom, the chief executive officer of Ibom Air.
Mr Udom, while appreciating the club for the honour on behalf of Attah, described the former governor as an amazing leader who saw the future of Akwa Ibom.
“”Without Obong Attah, there will be no Ibom Air. First of all, you must have an airport, and that is what gave Governor Udom Emmanuel the thought of conceptualizing Ibom Air; because there was an airport.
In his remarks earlier, Usenobong Akpabio, the captain of Ibom Golf and Country Club, said that former governor Attah remains one of the best gifts that God gave to Akwa Ibom and Nigeria.
Mr Akpabio further said that the former governor was a visioner who had seen Akwa Ibom from the future and laid a solid foundation for that future to be established.
He noted that when Attah embarked on building some of the infrastructures he did under his administration, many people did not see the purpose for many of the infrastructures but today the state is reaping bountifully from the vision.
Akpabio, who revealed that the Attah’s golf tournament had since become a yearly event, promised that the club will continue to be the forefront of celebrating the former governor.
Edidiong Idiong, a barrister and member of Ibom Golf and Country Club, said that many years after Attah left office, people have realized that the former governor was a man ahead of his time.
“I think Attah was probably one of the most misunderstood administrators because during his administration, this project was started. Quite a number of people did not think that the project was viable. A lot of people criticised it and thought it was just an elephant project and waste of resources.
“But today, we have seen that the decision to put up a facility of this nature was visionary. Probably, a lot of people still don’t see it, but we who play golf have seen that Attah was a man ahead of his time,” he said.
Mr Idiong, while commenting on the tournament, noted that the 2021 edition of the tournament was much better than other years in terms of the organization and participation.
George Uriesi, the chief operating officer of Ibom Air, described Attah as a rare visionary who had planned the Akwa Ibom through to the future.
“Attah is a rare visionary. He is not a common architect and town planner because he drew the blueprint of Akwa Ibom many years ago and included everything that would be needed for Akwa Ibom to become a progressive state.
“”So his successor, Akpabio came and continued on the path because it was all there, then followed up by Udom Emmanuel. The blueprint being implemented by his successors has made this state very special,” he said.
Edo Ukpong, a legal practitioner, who also participated in the tournament, said that Attah is a detribalized leader and a unifying force in Nigeria.
“”Obong Attah is an exposed and detribalized Nigerian. He is an architect whose profession reflects in his outlook, his life and leadership. He is the architect of this golf course and his background is reflected in the beauty of this golf course.
He noted that most golfers across the country admire Ibom golf course because it was built to meet world class standard.
On his part, Isuamfon Archibong, the public relations officer of the club, noted that the club will always be indebted to former Governor Attah for building the golf course even though he was not a golf player.
He noted that the club was committed to projecting Ibom golf course to the world.
The tournament had close to 100 players from across Nigeria. Highpoint of the event was the cutting of the 83rd birthday cake on behalf of Attah and presentation of trophies to winners at the tournament.
