The Man Bishop Samuel Akpan by iReporter Edet Edet

Morality is not a doctrine of how we make ourselves happy, but it is how we make ourselves worthy of happiness. How does one make his or herself worthy of happiness if one may ask; it is certainly enclosed in the conscious pursuit of other people's happiness, there and then can the satisfaction of happiness be achieved.

I can recap vividly my days in Ndon Eyo science school where Bishop Akpan (Known then as Bro. Sammy) resided at Mkpok; a village that shares tie with Ndon Eyo where our school was, and operated a healing home. On permission from the school authority, we usually attend his Friday healing service, alongside with lots of people with problems numerous to be stated. He was so dedicated to the worries of people he knew and never met. People who needed courage from God and seek solution to their problems. Bishop was always there spiritually and physically.

This piece is a reflection of Bishop Akpan's yesterday. It is not praise singing, neither is it a campaign for supporters for Bishop Akpan, rather it is the truth the public needs to know. It is also the bisector that will open the in-depth of the Bishop that is misconstrued as evil and egoistic by critics, which will bring the conviction that he is the Governor Eket Senatorial District need for effective governance.

Selectively, Akpan stands out to be a carrier of divine purpose, ordained from birth as a mentor, prophet and leader, with an insatiable curiosity. He is identified as one with an uncanny insight for recognizing things that will benefit others, and then uses it to integrate into the realm of public awareness. Bishop was formed for this purpose. Just as the golden fish has no hiding place, It is obviously certain that irrespective of any campaign of calumny raised to smear the Bishop's integrity, as he is crested in gold, he will always remain an acknowledgeable figure to be emulated by generations.

Bishop Akpan's conscious pursuit for the well being of the people he knew and didn't from the primordial days of his life where politics was not invoked, brought the grace of governing upon him. His service to the helpless caught the attention of God, who proclaimed him "my beloved".

As the 2015 elections draws near, and the gubernatorial sit is zoned to Eket Senatorial District where the bishop hails from, Posterity envisage a Governor from Eket Senatorial who will outdo what Godswill Akpabio has done, a Governor that has acquired knowledge in every aspect of the economy, who poses an extraordinary thinking skills, with the insight in handling and taking decisions that would guide our state to the proposed destination. Though the destination of Akwa Ibom is beyond the incomprehensible thoughts of man, it is like minerals hidden in the earth that can only be identified by a geologist.

Akwa Ibom needs more than a geologist to understand the path that leads to the diversified minerals, which will get us equipped for the challenges ahead; it needs more than a seer to look into the imaginary future, and predict the outcome of every situation, a friend to faith and the custodian of hope.

Akpabio has set the pace for history to applaud; as a Governor who saw development to be a priority that has to begin from home, he forged himself into an artist. With a large quantity of paint in his hands, he threw all to beautify his home. He did it with no fear of person, or minding the words of the critics, he dared and succeeded.

Bishop Akpan is an artist that doesn't need advertorial; his conceived consecrated style of governance is an improvised uncommon transformation, which will be a continuity of Akpabio's achievements. He has the heart to convey true democratic dividends, and he's also filled with the capability to extempore developmental creativities.

Placing him in tandem on the crucible with other aspirants for the 2015 gubernatorial race, Bishop Akpan is the golden fish that preponderate with them in our state political waters, knowing and following the tenets of true leadership with exceptional prowess.

His leadership attributes was birthed with him, and was in full usage. From the days of Bro. Sammy in a boys quarters healing home, where everyone who came there needed help, he demonstrated cordiality and affection in manner admired by people and applauded by nature. Bishop fed the poor; paid debts he didn't owe, interceded in people's problems and above all, he was a driving force that kept the sick healthy with his magnificent ethos of a good patriot.

This display of moral excellence in days he was a-nobody, is the part that brings the conviction that he is ready for the job, and he is non-egoistic, nonpartisan, but will deliver true governing dividends to the public.

Bishop Akpan is a prophet of governance, he knows the binaries to use in other to opt out of complex situations, he understands the technicality required to build a sustainable leadership, and can confront democratic difficulties with strength without fear. Akpan is the man to be endorsed for the number one seat in the Hilltop Mansion come 2015.

Bishop Samuel Akpan is not the man castigated in the public as a menace in our state. He is not that man subjected to fabricated questions; Akpan is never that man in the picture. Although accusations are never setback to his dreams and aspirations, he has remained focus and conscious. He identifies himself with the set of politicians who let the states interest set precedent over partisan and egocentric interest.

The campaign of calumny, ranging from being a cultist, assassin, no certificate for gubernatorial contest and etc. against Bishop Akpan is a calculated attempt to smear his integrity, sponsored by enemies of democracy.

Bishop understands the nitty-gritty of politics, which is why he takes it as a career. A man, who decides to take politics as a career have passed through the furnace of political tolerance, and has been molded to conform to laid down ethics of politics. Akpan is a politician, whose definition of politics is beyond blackmail and threats that is why he is silent. I was born to hear the saying that silent people are more deadly. If this saying is true, why then do people misconstrue Bishop Akpan's silence?

Akpan's silence may be misinterpreted to be his weakness or an act of cowardice. But the truth in this picture is obvious; Bishop's silence is his strength, his courage and conviction.

Bishop Samuel Friday Akpan portrays the same conviction Dr. Ben Carson's mother had while raising Ben and the brother as a single parent. In Ben's book titled "Think Big", he explained elaborately how the mothers believe that he can be the best, coupled with faith, hard work and conscious pursuit, projected him from the dumbest student who was mocked, ridiculed by his contemporaries to the best.

While others are scribbling love letters on the pages of newspaper and internet forums, Bishop goes solo with faith, consciously pursuing his ambition to be Governor.

He wants the best for ESD and Akwa Ibom.

His vision for Akwa Ibom is for the sustenance and establishment of new strides of development.

He is pregnant with ideas and seeks to deliver.

While castigating Akpan, ask yourself a question, who will dare threats to give our senatorial district the face it requires? Who will not be controlled by powers when enforcing enshrined constitutional responsibilities in his administration?

That man is BISHOP SAMUEL FRIDAY AKPAN.

Source: iReporter