When Pastor Umo Bassey Eno was sworn into office on 29th May, 2023 as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibomites never knew they just signed a pact for unification. This is even as the naysayers who resisted every move leading to his emergence as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State had written him off when it comes to providing good Governance to the people of the State.
Just two months into the nascent administration of Pastor Umo Eno, precisely from 24th to 27th July 2023, during the history-making event ever hosted by any State Governor in Nigeria, titled ‘Ibom Dialogue’, of which very impressive dignitaries were invited across party lines, including the Chairman, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, it became clear to the people of Akwa Ibom State that the golden era administration may turn out to be business unusual. Indeed, it is. If you are a keen follower of Pastor Umo Eno-led administration in Akwa Ibom State, you will agree with this writer that Governor Umo Eno has introduced unimaginable and unprecedented political inclusivity into governance, the kind that has never been witnessed in the political history of Akwa Ibom State right from inception.
Evidently, On April 22, 2024, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State played host to all past and present members of the National Assembly in a night of unity and bipartisanship. A gesture that is widely celebrated across political divides and adjudged a paradigm shift in the political history of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria as a whole.
Even though the word ‘Bipartisanship’ exists in the dictionary and is well known to political gladiators across Nigeria, I bet you, this is the first time such a word has been put to use productively for the common benefit of the people bound by a common patrimony called Akwa Abasibom State. Indeed, this is the golden era in Akwa Ibom State, an era of great possibilities.
I love the intro coiled from the press release by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on 22nd April 2024 as follows: “In an unprecedented show of unity and pan Akwa Ibom spirit, National Assembly Members, past and present last night, at Government House Uyo, came together across party lines to pledge their commitment and support for the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno in a drive to move further the needle of development of our dear State.” This kind of gesture is only possible in a golden era.
Speaking during the epoch-making event, the Governor said “We can, as we are doing tonight, come together and look at things that unite us rather than those that separate us”. Powerful speech, if you ask me.
Continuing, the Governor averred that “Knowledge I must emphasize is not embedded in one party alone. We should criticize constructively and shun politics of bitterness and character assassination.” Permit me to say that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno is a great leader. A man that shows great respect to leaders across party lines, not minding the fact that he is the number one citizen of Akwa Ibom State.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State came prepared for governance. He is not interested in creating enemies for himself where there is none, through political partisanship. Rather, he prefers to be a father to all Akwa Ibomites from far and near, as the only avenue to uniting the State for progress and development.
If you think the Governor is doing it for a second term election, I beg to disagree. After all, all the other past Governors of our dear State since the return of Democracy on 29th May 1999 have all had their first and second terms in office successfully, even without towing this path. I can tell you for free that this is not a familiar route. But, Governor Umo Eno himself is a trailblazer, a pacesetter and a pathfinder. Needless to say, posterity shall be kind to him.
Interestingly, Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Honourable Minister for Petroleum and Gas, during the occasion, commented as follows: “This is a show of purposeful Government, the first time this is happening, and this is because you, our dear Governor have a purpose for this State. You will not have issues on the Abuja front, you are the best and luckiest Governor. This is not a Government of APC or PDP, this is a Government of Akwa Ibom State for Akwa Ibom people. By the time you finish your term, you will take Akwa Ibom State to another level and it will be a challenge for whoever will take it up from you to meet that level of development.”
Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State is no doubt a symbol of unification for the people of Akwa Ibom State beyond political affiliations and a man of the people. What the Governor is able to achieve in office for the past 10 Months in office in terms of political inclusivity can better be imagined.
Just recently, an APC group led by Hajiya Zainab maintained that the Governor has not only delivered dividends of Democracy across the nooks and crannies of Akwa Ibom State but also assured political inclusion, tolerance and peaceful co-existence among every group in Akwa Ibom State irrespective of political affiliations.
To Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the unity of Akwa Ibom State is not, negotiable. We must do the best we can to rise up and support the ideals of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State in his quest to unite the people of Akwa Ibom State.
Arise, that same God.
Pst. Solomon Essiet (ACIA), a Seasoned Chartered Administrator, writes from Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Raffia City.
