Governor Godswill Akpabio is undoubtedly one of the most visionary leaders Nigeria has ever produced. That his political acumen is not to be trifled with is a widely known fact. The lesser known fact, his flair for economics.
The Governor of Nigeria’s richest state does not have the same view of money as say a Silicon Valley entrepreneur or a Local Government Councillor in Borno. No! He is in the league of petro dollars, most people only read about petro dollars on the pages of newspapers. Akpabio is awash with them. He is the only Governor ever rumoured to have a ‘money mobile’, an actual car in his convoy loaded with cash for anytime he was in a generous mood. And if you’re awash with petro bucks, chances are that happiness of the Pharrell variety happens all the time.
Akpabio is the stuff of legend when it comes to cash kings in Nigerian politics. He reportedly had $250,000 (N40 million) cash stolen from Akwa Ibom Government House, Abuja by a driver in employ of the State Government. The money was missing for weeks, safely stashed away in an Air Conditioning unit, until the AC had to be repaired.
Akpabionomics is the study of having an endless supply of cash and being able to utilize said cash in manners that befuddle, astound and confound the average Nigerian.
This is one of the luxuries Governor Akpabio in his infinite wisdom acquired with the cash at his disposal.
But let us not digress into toys on wheels. You name it, Akpabionomics has bought it. Most interestingly now is how Akpabionomics plans to leave a legacy the people of Akwa Ibom state will not forget for a long time. And even if they do, the State’s treasury will never cease to tell the testimony.
Akpabio was exposed by Premium Times as sponsoring a Governor’s Pension Bill called Akwa Ibom State Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Bill 2014.
This Bill ensures Akpabio gets his salary (consistently adjusted for inflation) at the current rate of N2, 223, 705. 00 a month, totalling N26.6 million a year.
Other perks of Akpabionomics embedded into this bill include N2million naira or an equivalent of $20,000.00 monthly allowance to hire cooks, chauffeurs and security guards; access free medical services at a sum not exceeding N100 million or an equivalent of $600,000.00; a befitting house not below a 5-bedroom maisonette in either the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or Akwa Ibom State for the Governor; provision of furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary once in every four years.
The fun goes on Provision of yearly maintenance and fueling of vehicle allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary (adjusted for subsidy removal spikes and inflation); Provision of severance gratuity allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary as at the time the officer leaves office; provision of entertainment allowance of 100 percent of annual basic salary.
There is more Akpabionomics where that came from and many observers are upset that a man who is leaving office in a few months will get these perks. Even more fascinating is the fact that Akpabio is said to wish to seek a Senatorial seat as soon as his term as a governor expires.
Perhaps if the average indigene of Akwa Ibom state could feel only a hundredth of what Governor Godswill receives under Akpabionomics, they would truly be living the Nigerian dream.