Begging Governor Umo Eno for Salt
By Eric Adila
Akwa Ibom might be the State singing the song, but whole Nigeria is familiar with the chorus. Even those who do not perfect the lines of the lyrics hum it like a refrain on their lips.
Their song is written about a special approach to governance which the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has put on the table. It is an unusual style but the rendition shows the governor is a maestro.
From stanza to stanza, the Akwa Ibom State Governor thrills. He is doing it from agriculture to infrastructure. There is the Ibom Model Farms which is the rallying point for food sufficiency and food security which are cardinal concerns in the agricultural revolution praxis in the State, epitomised by the ARISE Agenda.
And then the aggressive rural development which has placed infrastructure on the top shelf. Already, the government has committed billions of Naira into road infrastructure, completing the ones inherited from the last administration, in addition to the new ones it has initiated, a combination of which is over 80 road projects.
The Umo Eno administration is noted for welfare and this is shown in the governor’s commitment to the payment of gratuities to retirees of which about 20 billion Naira has so far been approved for the purpose.
Education is receiving adequate attention. From the model primary school which is to be replicated in all parts of the State to the institution of Education Trust Fund for students in tertiary institutions with physical disabilities and payment of bursary to the students, the education sector is smiling.
That smile has infected other sectors of the economy. There is a breathtaking aviation sector development, support for entrepreneurship, healthcare development and tourism development.
The song reaches its crescendo in the security management where the Ibom Neighbourhood Watch is complementing the statutory security agencies especially in the area of intelligence gathering, which has helped the State to maintain its position as the most peaceful State in the country.
Governor Umo Eno’s passion for compassion is award-winning, earning him the sobriequet, Mr Compassion. He has shown up for his people in their difficult moments.
Perhaps, the icing on the cake is Governor Umo Eno’s bipartisanship relationship with everyone. This is seen in the support he is giving to President Bola Tinubu and his good relationship with the Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, not minding that they belong to a different political party.
The guiding principle here is his policy of inclusivity which has given everyone opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of the State irrespective of political backgrounds.
With all of these accomplishments and sterling attributes saturating the media space, the governor deservingly attracted the compliments of the Nigeria Institute of Social Media Analysts. The institute settled for an award on the governor to serve as a spur to other Nigerians occupying leadership positions. But they got disappointed.
Ordinarily, the impression that most people have about leaders is that they are always anxious if not desperate for awards and honours. But Governor Umo Eno showed the exact opposite of that.
He told the people that when he set out to make the people of Akwa Ibom State feel the impact of good governance, he never anticipated applause let alone awards.
He said the feeling that his people are happy is the most expensive, valued and cherished award he would love to receive.
It was a huge shock on the people that would prefer the happiness of his people to his personal glorification.
They were equally thrilled that the governor is a noiseless statesman, a pan Nigerian. This was seen in the way Akwa Ibom lodge literally became “Nigerian Lodge ” as Nigerians from all tribes and ethnic groups were seen comfortably engaging in one activity or the other. The receptive and contramyopic nature of the governor showed clearly in the ambience around the governor.
The truth is that Governor Umo Eno loves his people passionately, and rather than get excited about honours and awards, he takes them with a pinch of salt.
That was responsible for the governor developing a cold feet for the receiving an award rather than jumping at it to blow his trumpet and sing his praises to high heavens. He is rare specie of leadership, and it is instructive for others to borrow a leaf from Governor Eno and take awards and honours with a pinch of salt. Governor Eno should be kind enough to share this his salt with others.
Nigeria should be begging Umo Eno for this salt of good governance!
Eric Adila,
Director for Training, NISMA, and PR consultant, Abuja
