From the city of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria we have not been unfortunate having state governors who is ''not an economist'' or did not have little or no idea about economic planning and strategy. Our first governor since the return of democracy was an Architect who successfully laid the foundations of town planning and beautification. As a professional he carefully planned the layout of big cities and small town, liking the small villages and siting industries strategically for developmental strides. to build the state economy, he patronized local firms, contractors and enterprises. He handed over to a Barrister who took development seriously, building structures in major places in the state and making sure the road networks are revamped, rebuild, constructed and built standard roads across the state. He open up the town with beautifications and complete changed the outlook of the state. This second democratic governor was given to empowering the people through gifts and employment, while he was governor, citizens enjoyed well and meaningful living as the cost of living was low while industries thrived, the economy was stable.
Our Barrister projected my state to the spot light of the Nigeria, the small extraction of Ibibio people where known and noised all over Nigeria and beyond, his reign was so impactful just as he stirred the state economy. Life seem very stable cost of living and food was affordable and the state was quite talked about. After successful completion he took a bow and was in for other political role not within the state but in Nigeria as a whole, truly well deserving of him.
Then came a banker who pretended not to be an economist, promised industries that never existed, did not pay salaries timely, did not pay pensioners and with held gratuity of elderly citizens, and did not create avenue for economic strides. He ran the state with a tough fist and brought political instability to state well known for peace, livelihood became difficult for citizens as cost of living became very high, there was food scarcity, no industrial growth and no strategic means of circulating and stirring the economy of the state. While it was said of him to have owned two banks using the state funds as anti crime agencies came calling few months completing his tenure as a governor, but looking at his professional background it was possible to ask if indeed he was ''not an economist, he performed badly and lacked good advisers.
The only thing good about him was appointing an entrepreneur a successor, a true economist, if you wonder why am so particular about the present governor then know I studied macro economic planning which helps me understand, identify and appreciate the beautiful work the present Akwa Ibom State governor is doing. He injected funds into the economy through small businesses and firms, training them and ensuring they having the right knowledge to utilize the funds, not ending there, he injects more fund into the circular flow of the state by paying gratuity and pensions, helping elderly persons and their family members process economic power for consumption. While GDP rekindles due to injection of funds, he initiated a policy that returned citizens to farming and encouraged industrial farming and not forsaking individual and personal farming in his policies. cost of food and food items has been brought to a low as individuals plant for home consumption.
As I write there has been comparative stability and cost of living is stable, he is now focusing in tourism and hospitalities and he is engaged in further road expansions and construction, continuing in this trend will maintain the spotlight where which the state has been placed. Not many states in Nigeria are fortunate to have intellectuals who are given and intentional about economics building, frankly speaking, many politicians voted into service are out to loot and embezzle, initiates governmental policies that portrays and lets you know such individual is not an economist.
This is my entry for todays @dailyprompt on @freewriters.club , it it my first involvement and participation as a @hivelearn