It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who observed that the world makes way for the man who knows where he is. His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio may have suffered privations arising from the early loss of his father, but he knew where he was going and the world made way for him. At 53, he has proved eloquently that it is not how long but how well.
Born on December 9, 1962 and raised by a widow mother who foisted on his psyche the pep talk that the father left him to go to Heaven because God created him a strong boy, little Godswill became a man very early in life.

At the age of ten, he travelled completely on his own to Kaduna to seek admission into Nigerian Military School located in that State. He failed to clinch the admission because fate was preparing for him another platform that he would use to galvanize change.
His admission and enrolment into Federal Government College which came unexpectedly and turned him into numero uno of the Akpabio clan to gain admission into Federal Government College established for Godswill a path of providence that he was to tread. It was therefore not a surprise that in that School, he shone like a meteor and became the General Senior Prefect because God was in toe with him. His advent into the University of Calabar where he studied Law was not different as he ascended the leadership throne of Speaker of the Students’ Union Parliament with minimal efforts.
Senator Akpabio’s foray into public life has also been intriguing with hints of divination. His career as a lawyer saw him co-founding Paul Usoro and Co.

When he decided to venture into the corporate world, the rise was also meteoric signaling a man who was truly in partnership with God. His rise from executive director in EMIS TELEOMS within a short span of time to the position of managing director was a testament of a man of goodwill and recognizable administrative savvy.
While in EMIS, service to his people beckoned as he was appointed by the then administration of His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah into the State Executive Council. He served variously in three key ministries.

As it is often said, it is not the office that makes the man but it is the man that makes the office. Godswill Akpabio turned the ministries he was sent to into beehive of activities. For instance at the time of arriving the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, the place was a dead end owing areas of salaries and looking desolate with obsolete equipment and furniture that had become eyesores. Armed with his mantra of living a place better than he met it, Akpabio turned the place around. By the time he left, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs had become a juicy ministry eagerly sought after by new appointees to the State Executive Council.

In 2007, his unbridled passion for change prodded him into the governorship race. The odds appeared stacked against him but his daring and strong will were also formidable. The courage and daring saw him trouncing 57 gladiators to emerge the standard bearer of PDP. He won that election and was sworn in as the third democratically elected governor of the State. On the day of that swearing-in, he quipped a comment: “This is Godswill Akpabio reporting for duty…” Eight years later, he had a robust report card to present with pride.

Godswill Akpabio came into governance prepared. Indeed it was an opportunity encountering a prepared man. He pursued governance with zeal and alacrity breaking the drudgery that defined government and setting new benchmarks. He developed a motto that was christened uncommon transformation and imbued it with factual meaning. He changed the physical landscape of the State and the mental infrastructure of the people. He changed the narrative of Akwa Ibom people turning them from a hitherto timid lot to assertive personalities. Infact his years have been christened as the golden era leading one of his admirers to evolve a slogan, Godswill, Iya umiss.

Today, Akwa Ibom is a well defined destination. Our State now serves as home for conferences, workshops and seminars competing with only Abuja and Lagos. Our people are now proud to mention the name of the State anywhere knowing that they would be accorded respect. Akwa Ibom has changed for good for ever. All these have been made possible by Godswill Akpabio whom the people gladly rewarded by electing him a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His patent leadership qualities led to his being elected Senate Minority Leader even as a first timer.
As Senator Godswill Akpabio celebrates his 53 years on earth today, let us thank God for blessing us with this enigmatic leader and endowing him with the leadership attributes he used to galvanize us out of the doldrums. Let us offer him our prayers of good faith and let us pray God to continue to endow him for the benefit of our State and Nation.
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mumu OP! Akpabio was born on december 19th and not december 9th

The first picture is photoshop at its best.