Eminent Nigerian leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Goodluck Jonathan, are set to attend the public presentation of a new biography chronicling the life and legacy of Victor Attah, the second civilian governor of Akwa Ibom State.
The event will hold on Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Abuja, as part of activities marking the elder statesman’s 87th birthday.
The book, titled Attah: Architect of a New Democratic Dawn, highlights the visionary leadership of Obong Attah, whose tenure from 1999 to 2007 laid the foundation for modern Akwa Ibom through landmark projects and reforms.
A statement from the organisers noted that the event aims not only to celebrate Attah’s contributions to national development but also to immortalise his role as a courageous advocate for true federalism, resource control, and equitable derivation for mineral-bearing states.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan will chair the ceremony, while President Tinubu will attend as Special Guest of Honour. Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State is expected to serve as Chief Host in recognition of Attah’s enduring influence on the state’s growth, identity, and long-term development blueprint.
Sam Amuka, veteran journalist and publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, will formally present the book, while Effiong Johnson of the University of Uyo will lead the review session, which is expected to examine the biography’s thematic depth and historical relevance.
According to the organisers, the book captures Attah’s achievements, including the establishment of the Victor Attah International Airport, the Independent Power Plant, the Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort, Shelter Afrique Housing Estate, and other infrastructural and urban renewal projects that transformed Akwa Ibom into a modern state.
The launch is expected to draw political leaders, intellectuals, journalists, and citizens whose lives and careers have been shaped by Attah’s leadership philosophy. Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s strongest voices for fiscal federalism and subnational autonomy, Obong Attah’s ideas continue to influence contemporary debates on governance, development, and national restructuring.
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In a telephone interview, Udeme Nana, Secretary of the Central Planning Committee and former Media Adviser to Attah, described the former governor as the best president Nigeria never had since the country’s return to democracy in 1999. He said Attah’s imprints are evident across Akwa Ibom State and remain indelible.
Nana, who is also founder of the Uyo Book Club, added that one of Attah’s most enduring contributions was securing the derivation formula that now channels billions of naira to South-South states, significantly boosting their economic prospects.
“The public, admirers, and well-wishers are invited to attend the event in honour of a man many have described as ‘the architect of a new democratic dawn,’ a title the book affirms as reflective of Attah’s vision for Nigeria’s unity, progress, and equitable development,” the statement added.
