In this interview with SAMUEL OGIDAN, David Steven Okpon, Akwa Ibom state governorship aspirant, took a critical look at the politics in the country and his state and concluded that politics cannot be left for the ungodly. He spoke on several issues bordering on the well-being of the country, noting that Akwa Ibom needs a governor ‘who has links with heaven’.
May we know you?
My name is David Steven Okpon. I am from Akwa Ibom State and am aspiring for the office of the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2015. I have already bought the form, filled it and submitted it. So that puts me in the race. I am a minister of God, besides just being a pastor; I am also a member of intercessors for Nigeria, intercessors for Africa and also member of the board of international chamber of commerce for Christians.
At what point did you go into politics?
I began to hear God speak to me concerning leadership that was how I began to position myself. Sometimes in 1999, that was the first time I heard him, but I did not understand the political terrain that time so I had to speak to somebody who understood it. In 2009 I spoke to somebody who encouraged me to go ahead. That was how I went for the office of Local Government Chairman and that election did not hold because the governor at that time in 2003 was Obong victor Attah and he decided that we were going to have a parliamentary government at that level, which meant the councilors will go in and vote themselves and vote in one councilor as a chairman. I think that was the first time that happened in Nigeria. I now had my ticket as the local government chairman but I could not go for the election because I was voided. Although I was asked to go and take the ticket of a councilor for my ward but I did not think it was fair, that was why I just left. That gave me so much experience in the political arena and I became known. We continued to pray over the land of Akwa Ibom state in the 31 local governments because too many things were wrong in the state. One of the things was we were silent. It is not as if silence doesn’t come from other areas. Let me give you an example, if you go to Ikot Ekpene, you will find out that there is biscuit factory, battery factory that have been shut down for over 20 years. If you go to Oron you will find out that companies that have been there for over 20 years are not working. If you go to Oku Iboku, we had newsprint that used to be the best newsprint in this country; it has been down for the past 18 to 20 years. In Eket, personal businesses were all shut down. So I want to say that we are looking forward to creating jobs for people and coming as a governor, one would like to create companies and industries in his state. For example, if you have a fast food business you can’t do another one if the first one was not a success. So for you to create more companies, you need to know why these other ones failed. We find out that the next governor of Akwa Ibom state must be a man who has links with heaven, who can deal with spiritual issues in the land that has denied and affected businesses on ground. A lot of young men have tried so many things and did not work. It is not because we don’t have good managers, because Nigeria Newsprint company for instance was not an Akwa Ibom company, it was federal government company. So we need to come spiritually to deal with these things.
How much understanding do you have of the political terrain in Akwa Ibom? You are from Uyo and it is clear now that governorship is going to Eket Senatorial district and others who are coming out on the platform of PDP are being sold out. How do you address the situation?
Having been in politics from 2002 to today, I think that is about 12 years, the political arena cannot be different from who we are as Nigerians because there are no foreigners in the political arena. It is going to be in our mindsets and the value that we place in it. Being that we are running a democracy and the democracy is growing, what we are trying to is to support it and aid it to mature as possible. So it is a growing democracy and all of us have contributed to that.
Secondly, the zonal issue. There is a sentiment that the political platform has declared that anyone who is a bona fide citizen of Akwa ibom state can contest for governorship post so that is clear. Now, what Akwa Ibom State needs now is the touch of God. Therefore, Akwa Ibom needs a governor that can bring the hand of God down. There are times in some dispensation where people need something; you cannot deny them what they need because there is a certain sentiment. This is very critical. The past governors have done their best and we really appreciate them for what they have done but the way forward now is to make sure that Akwa Ibom moves to its destiny, and that destiny is not just mouthed things – Promising them and telling them things. You need to give them practical solutions to their problems. For instance, there are over 17 companies that are not functioning. If you put these things together, you would see that more than 22 different organisations that would have created jobs.
How do you intend to make your way through when 26 people are in the race?
I have a passion and strong conviction to do something about the situation. I think I have answer to the situation. If I look at the number of people who step out and refuse to step down I think that would be denying the people what they deserve. Therefore, irrespective of the number of people who have come out I have the responsibility to step out and to offer myself to serve my people and bring them from the where they are to where they ought to be, irrespective of the number.
What is your relationship politically with the governor of Akwa Ibom state?
I really don’t have direct relationship with him except a formal relationship, I wasn’t his friend before and we hadn’t really worked closely. But I have a formal relationship with him and he has done his deeds as a governor. When one comes in as a governor, he will have areas of concentration where he has passion. The governor succeeded in those areas and we thank him for that.
Why did you choose to join the PDP?
The PDP is the ruling party in Nigeria and I am really encouraged by Mr. President. I think he has done enough for the country and that’s the reason I am one of his supporters and I really want him to go for a second term and I will give him the highest support possible. I believe I would like to work side by side with him when he comes back into office. I have been a member of PDP since 2002. I have not moved to another party. I don’t have any reason to leave. The atmosphere and circumstances are very favourable.
What is your background?
I did my primary school in Uyo, I did my secondary school in Abak city from where I went to Collage of Education in Uyo. Then I proceeded to ABU Zaria, where I read Industrial Design at the Samaru Campus. I had tried to have a Masters Degree between the two universities but the work I was doing won’t let me so I stopped half-way. I had few training in oil and Gas Company. I began for the last company I left in 2008 where I grew to be the Regional Manager taking care of the South–east.
