Iboro Otu 2023 gubernatorial ambition oration
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As usual, today Iβm again on the drawing board, Iβm strategizing on a future gubernatorial run for 2023 and mobilizing the most formidable, futuristic, inclusive, youth-oriented, ahead-of-the-curve team, running with an out-of-the-box strategy on a project I call βThe Lazarus Projectβ. In this project, I contemplate drawing new voter strength from otherwise apathetic demography that will render the largest votes and stiffest resistance to the existing kleptocratic political hegemony in our state and country. It is a movement.
A movement of people and communities dissatisfied with the present and inspired by possibilities of an inclusive future, so listen close. Yes, we are literarily raising communities from the dead.
Politics is an algorithmic game beyond logic. As such, I’ve learned never to expect big wins in familiar places and never to appear too confident. People support other people for so many reasons, some for what the person stands for, others for what the person doesnβt stand for. Some for love, others for revenge. Humans have implied beings. To manage this complexity enough to score a surprise win, I have resolved that transparency, competence, and inclusivity would be the hallmark of the movement this time. We are looking to run a global crusade on the back of inclusiveness, equity, and fairness. An effort where everyone – especially YOU – must have a part to play. A revolution that inspires every young person to look above and beyond themselves. A campaign that wins from the get-go, digging deep at the roots of our common challenges of bad governance and endemic corruption; these Jericho walls must come down!
Be that as it may, this post isnβt about my upcoming political outings and support groups, itβs rather about the questions I ask myself every day; what kind of leader do I want to be? What do I want to be remembered for?
A lot of people tend to think that leadership is all about plans and implementation of what should – and needs to – be done. Leadership goes beyond that to what we want to be remembered for. Iβll share with you how far I have gone. I have prepared and rehearsed my candidature acceptance speech even up to my winning speech. I have seen myself address the hallowed chambers of the house of assembly, inspiring our house members with lofty plans and great ideals. I have seen myself after a second term and the politics of handover, I have debated within myself whether to get involved in my successor contest or allow the people to make their choice. I have picked the best of our best to man all available positions, and still, I see myself on the road every week, assessing schools, hospitals, businesses, encouraging farmers, and our construction professionals. I have hosted investors, selling our tech entrepreneurs to global partners in zoom meetings. I have even prepared my handover speech on the last day where the baton will be passed again to a much younger generation. I have seen it at the back of my mind, as a leader looking to create a generational impact.
I would like to lead a pack of βlions and catsβ who are fearless and empathic. I would like to run an open-door policy, where the government house and the government is home to all and yet not a crowded place because no one would see the need to form long queues to the government to gain favors as they will know ours is a government of competence and not nepotism or sycophancy. We will be run live, online, as transparent as the Verzaska river.
I would like to be remembered as the man who led a government that prioritized education, healthcare, agriculture, ICT, research and development, entertainment, and sports, so much so that he allocated over 40% of the stateβs budgetary allocation into developing these areas. I desire to replicate the kinds of services I received while I was a student in the United Kingdom where every day out of my bed was a new day waiting to be relished, and lessons waiting to be learned, where opportunities were endless and it was up to me to dream big and go for it.
I believe the youths of Akwa Ibom state can lead Nigeria and indeed Africa unto the global stage in the areas of science and technology, sports, and entertainment. We can power Nigeria and the whole of West Africa from Akwa Ibom and I donβt mean with electricity, even though that is part of it. MSMEs are great starts, but I eventually see the likes of Elon Musk having their battery assembly plants in Akwa Ibom – an $800 billion industry by 2040. I see our tech entrepreneurs building mining companies around the coast from Okobo to eastern Obolo, and I don’t mean mineral mining, I mean cryptocurrency mining. I see the hub of African entertainment sitting right here in the middle of our state too because we have what it takes to host Africa and the world as a destination of choice in entertainment, sports, and tourism. I hear new nicknames for Akwa Ibom like βSmall Londonβ, βMini Dubaiβ and I know that together we can do it.
Enough of wasted lives of our young men and women, doing glorified sycophancy as PAβs and SAβs or sitting home doing nothing. Youth unemployment will be a thing of the past. I see opportunities in the 24hour night economy in Akwa Ibom. Our skilled and youthful workforce will provide accelerated economic growth and innovation from the powerful opportunities we will provide, servicing the global market place and bringing the needed foreign exchange into our state.
In a few years from now, in conversations in downtown New York, or uptown Kensington, London, from Bali to Monaco and Santa Cruz, you will hear chatter about Akwa Ibom as a small city to visit in Africa. If you donβt key into this vision and work for its actualization as a struggling young person, Wetin you gain? Donβt sell your future for peanuts, together we will make this happen.
It doesnβt matter where you are in life, who you are in life, what matters is your matter. Donβt let anyone talk you down or talk you out or drown your voice simply because they think they can. Together, we have the number to win every election and transform this state for good, if only we see the same vision and work together.
I canβt promise to give you any money, I donβt even have it and it is not my style. Donβt expect the usual from me; t-shirts, bags of rice and padded envelopes, etc. First, I canβt afford it, secondly, itβs not what you need. You donβt need fishes, what you need is to know how to fish for yourself. Let us fish together. What I can promise you is this, I will provide that big green ocean liner and we will sail together right up the mouth of the South Atlantic Ocean and we will fish and fish and fish for generations unborn.
It is time for us all to have some sense. It is time for us to do the work. Letβs come together and start this mission, now. Whatever your competence, make yourself available.
Think am well…
