The Akwa
Ibom state government has named the Ibom International Airport after Victor
Attah, the second civilian governor of the state.
Mr Attah,
widely revered as the “father of modern Akwa Ibom”, conceived and began
building the airport when he was governor between 1999 and 2007.
The airport,
managed by the state government, is one of the busiest in Nigeria’s South-south
region.
“By the
special resolution from the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, I now rename
Akwa Ibom International Airport to Victor Attah International Airport,” the
state governor, Udom Emmanuel, said on Saturday, during a state banquet
organised in Uyo to honour Mr Attah on his 80 birthday.
There was a
loud ovation from the crowd at the banquet.
The people
kept shouting and clapping, joyfully, as Mr Udom and Mr Attah hugged each other
passionately.
“Because you
have honoured me tonight, in future somebody will also honour you,” Mr Attah
told the governor.
One group in
Akwa Ibom, Greater Peoples Forum for Social & Economic Development, has
been leading a campaign for the naming of the Ibom airport after the former
governor.
“Obong
Victor Attah fought and won several battles for Akwa Ibom state, the chief
among them being the 13 per cent oil derivation fund which we are currently
enjoying in the state. It will be a befitting recognition and honour,
therefore, if we as a people do at least this one thing for him.
“An
international stadium has been named after Senator Godswill Akpabio, while the
beautiful state secretariat has been named after the former governor, Otuekong
Idongesit Nkanga. It is only natural at this point in our history that the Akwa
Ibom International Airport be named after Obong Victor Attah,” the group had
said in June this year while pleading with Governor Emmanuel to take steps to
name the airport after Mr Attah.
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