Courtesy of the State Ministry of Science and Technology Governor Victor Attah (left) is recognized again for his leadership and vision.

By Kevin Lambert and James Overly
Since what Wole Soyinka called the "strong man syndrome" is fading, there is a new breed of politician, and a group of men who are not so clearly defined by avocation or geography are coming up. Although no one is suggesting that the old ways have altogether died out, it is with these new men that the future lies.

Governor Attah will be running on his perceived image of honesty and devotion to duty, mixed with a formidable track record as governor. When he took office in 1999, Akwa Ibom was the seventh poorest of Nigeria’s 36 states, a destination only for those looking for cheap domestic help.

A state transformed

Attah began the transformation with "backward investment" projects. The first was a power plant, and then he pumped life into the highway infrastructure and the banking sector, and recently broke ground for a stock exchange.

Attah addressed the issue of urban migration – a festering problem all over the developing word – by pumping resources and developing micro- credit schemes for agricultural products, ones that actually work. Hospitals and roads have been built that are almost outstripping demand. In 2004, the state economy received an ‘A’ rating by Global Credit Rating Company, a sovereign rating company.

Professor Charles Soludo, governor of Nigeria’s central bank, described Akwa Ibom as "one of the states others have to learn from." Members of the National Senate have asked for his advice on how to duplicate his success. He is also known as an honest man, which is not the drawback it once was in African politics.

The violence and kidnappings and resentment voiced in the other parts of the area haven’t occurred in Akwa Ibom at all, which is generally credited to the fact that the people can see where the money is going, and it’s not into the politician’s pockets. This has created what President Obasanjo himself has described as "one of the most peaceful states in the Niger Delta region."

It can be assumed that Governor Attah will bring this sort of determination and energy to the nation itself.