Gov Umo Eno: Reviving Ailing Hope in Nigerian Leadership
As recorded in different historical books, Nigeria’s independence from Britain on October 1, 1960, heralded unprecedented celebrations laced with vision and hope for the promising new baby.
Amidst the euphoria, Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa remarked: “At last, our great day has arrived, and Nigeria is now indeed an independent sovereign nation…. It is a unique privilege, which I shall remember for ever, and it gives me strength and courage as I dedicate my life to the service of our country.”
Many other Nigerians also, publicly and in their closets, made solemn promises to serve and nurture the infant Nigeria to el dorado.
However, some decades down the line, the sentiments across the country has become that of despair, disappointment in the country and its leaders, as successive regimes failed to match words (their promises) with action. Some leaders in the country have openly admitted that “political promises are meant to be broken.” Sad!
Infact, in the build-up to the 2023 general elections, many Nigerians, including; CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh and the internationally celebrated Director- General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, lamented that Nigerians have lost confidence in government and the leaders. This is basically because the many mind – blowing promises during elections are only refined and repeated during another round of election and the vicious circle continues.
This, therefore explains why the people of Akwa Ibom State are gradually worming their way to Governor Umo Eno and his leadership paradigm.
For instance, during the gubernatorial campaign, Pastor Eno assured organized labour leaders that when elected into office, all arrears of promotion and the issue of gratuity would be sorted out through consistent appropriation to defray the backlog. Many took it with a pinch of salt.
At that same meeting held at the Workers’ Solidarity Centre, Atan Offot, Uyo, on March 16, which was the last campaign for Pastor Eno, he said, “I came here to make you understand as we wrap up this campaign that if you vote for me and I become your governor, I would be a workers – friendly governor.
“Before I round off, I want to say that we should press the reset button to bring all of us across party lines, to where all would believe that this is an Akwa Ibom project. As we go into this election, I have no enemy, I am coming as a peace maker. We would bring all Akwa Ibomites to the table and we would discuss the Akwa Ibom project. We would ensure that we build the Akwa Ibom State of our dreams together,” he added.
True to his promises, barely two months into the administration, Akwa Ibom people across party lines, for the first time in the history of the state sat together at a common platform (the Akwa Ibom Dialogue) to discuss the Akwa Ibom project, ARISE Agenda.
Most recently, the Akwa Ibom chapter of the organized labour unions while joining their counterparts across the country to protest the removal of fuel subsidy were amazed when the national protest turned to “labour day” for Akwa Ibom workers as Governor Eno, while addressing the workers, ordered the immediate release of 1Billion Naira for settlement of outstanding gratuities of retired primary school teachers, 800Million Naira for leave grants for local government workers and 600Million, for commencement of payment of gratuities for state civil servants from where the last administration left it off.
And just a few days ago, the promise-keeper, in a bid to cushion the biting effect of subsidy removal on Akwa Ibom people, inaugurated an 18-man committee to oversee the distribution of palliatives and openly acknowledged the receipt of 3,000 bags of rice so far, from the federal government.
With all of these, it is an unarguable fact that the Governor has demonstrated a rare sense of transparency and inclusiveness in the governance of the state
It was, therefore, not a surprise, as the State NLC chairperson, Comrade Sunny James, who was obviously elated over the towering leadership imprints of Governor Eno commended him most highly for being a leader with a rich character content and integrity by making good his campaign promises, especially as it affects workers’ welfare.
While the hope in Nigeria and its leadership generally, may be comatose, the transformational and people-centric policies and programmes of the Governor are laudable ventilators and oxygen that is reviving the ailing hope in the state’s leadership perspective and across the country.
