Former President Goodluck Jonathan pulled up in Abuja on Thursday with major political heavyweights to honour former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah, as he turned 87 and unveiled his new biography, “Attah: Architect of a New Democratic Dawn,” written by Vanguard columnist Dr. Dele Sobowale.
The hall was packed with elder statesmen, technocrats, traditional rulers, and political leaders — a clear sign that Attah’s influence still echoes loudly across Nigeria’s political landscape. From former governors like Boni Haruna and Lucky Igbinedion to high-ranking traditional rulers and seasoned politicians, the event felt like a boardroom of national decision-makers gathering to salute a statesman whose legacy has stood the test of time.
Jonathan, who chaired the ceremony, didn’t mince words. He credited Attah with changing Akwa Ibom’s economic destiny forever. He explained that while many governors fought for reform in Nigeria’s oil revenue system, Attah’s persistence and strategic leadership were what eventually strengthened the state’s financial power. Jonathan recalled his early days in OMPADEC when Akwa Ibom struggled with a meagre one percent allocation — a situation that shifted because Attah wouldn’t back down, even after a discouraging Supreme Court decision.
Jonathan praised Attah’s integrity, saying the former governor’s life is a masterclass in leadership rooted in purpose, grit, and service. According to him, Attah’s impact on modern Akwa Ibom is “indelible,” a legacy carved with intention and discipline.
Ambassador Godknows Igali added a more emotional note, appreciating Jonathan’s presence despite it being the former president’s own birthday. He described Jonathan as a man who chose peace over power — “the man who said his ambition wasn’t worth the blood of any Nigerian.”
When Attah took the mic, he went straight into the moral lessons that shaped him: modesty, hard work, gratitude, and character — the old-school values that today’s leaders often overlook. He appreciated Sobowale for staying committed to the biography project for 13 years, saying it required nothing short of excellence.
Then came the stories — the kind that reveal how Nigeria’s expectations of leadership often twist into something absurd.
He recalled how, as a young architect riding a borrowed bicycle in Kaduna, a secretary broke down in tears because she feared people would mock him. It was a reflection of Nigeria’s obsession with status symbols — cars, convoys, and noise — instead of actual substance.
But the room erupted in laughter when he narrated how a simple comment to the late First Lady, Stella Obasanjo, landed him an EFCC invitation. After designing an extension for the famous Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados in the 1960s, he excitedly told Stella in 2002 that she was staying in “my hotel” — meaning the one he designed, not owned. Two weeks later, EFCC summoned him to explain how he supposedly owned a luxury resort overseas.
Attah wrapped up with a sharp distinction: he was “a professional in politics, not a professional politician.” After leaving office, he returned to architecture with ease, comparing himself to Jimmy Carter returning to his peanut farm after serving as US President.
Despite Nigeria’s challenges, Attah said he still believes the nation will one day rise into a renewed democracy — a day when everything aligns again and “Nigeria will be great.
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