By: Solomon Essiet
With all sense of humility, the word transparency is one of the English words, that seem to be very easy to understand. But for the sake of this article let me give one or two Dictionary meaning of the word transparency.
According to Wikipedia, transparency implies openness, accountability and communication. I need not go further. Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State has been very open, accountable and sincere to the people of Akwa Ibom State since he assumed the office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on May 29, 2023. It is the same leadership style that has given him much recognition, distinguished him as one of the best Governors in Nigeria today. Not to mention the numerous awards won by the Governor from his admirers from various organizations. All traceable to transparent and inclusive leadership style of the performing Governor.
With this record of achievements in Governance, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State is not interested in adopting a rather questionable and opague leadership style. It is too late for that. The confidence with which Governor Eno goes about his business is simply amazing. Like him or not, he will not fail to tell you the truth. Come today, come tomorrow is not in his dictionary. Let someone say transparency.
As a leader, there is really no need to say one thing in the morning and say another thing at night. This is the attributes that has retired so many leaders before they wake up to the realization. So, for those of us who were at Ikot Ekpene Stadium for the Town-Square meeting on April 17, 2025, when Governor Umo Eno declared his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to go for a second term in office, that is who he is. The Governor has graciously told Akwa Ibomites that he will speak some more on the subject matter when the time comes. He has spoken as the leader and the father of Akwa Ibom State, let there be peace. We are even very lucky as a people to have a Governor who can communicate his mind to the people. Loyalty is Hundred Percent. Let us follow our leader, believe our leader and trust our leader.
Until you wear a particular shoe, you won’t know where it pains. Let us celebrate this Governor, who has through effective and transparent leadership, brought unimaginable development to Akwa Ibom State in about two years of leadership. For someone that was not given a chance to talk about his manifestos before being crucified by men and women, called all sort of unpredictable names, named selfish tithe collector, he has tried with the spade of development in Akwa Ibom State under his leadership. This is evidents by the number of awards that trails the Governor. If you feel he is paying money to collect the awards, please pay and collect your own. You will discover that it’s not an easy task. There must be something that the Governor is doing differently that is announcing him to the whole world.
Akwa Ibom State is our promise land, the Governor is doing everything possible to ensure that it remains so. What more assurances do we need from a leader like Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State? So far, the Governor has proved his mettle in the area of Agriculture, Entrepreneurial Development, Healthcare Delivery, Educational Advancement, Rural Roads Construction, Gigantic Projects and programmes of great worth, such as the Arise Park, Command and Control, Ibom Model Farm, Arise Elder Citizens Home, Over 200 Arise Compassionate Homes, Bulk Purchase Agency, Ibom Community Watch, Tourism Potentials, Ibom Towers, Lagos, an audacious projects, first of its kind to be conceived by a seating Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The components that made up the Arise Agenda and its blueprint have been covered through exemplary leadership. All these and many more are the beautiful work of our amiable Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, executed without borrowing a dime.
It is normal to criticize. But please, do so with dignity. Endeavor not to insult all our leaders across party lines. For God alone ordained them to lead us in this very time and season. Like Paul Apostle, let us endure their own foolishness for now, and when you become the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, we will endure your wiseness. Don’t forget it is turn by turn. Bending a little bit to the left and little bit to the right is not fight, it’s play. Like Macbeth, “If music be the food of love, play it on”. Let love reign.
Akwa Ibom State is govern by a man of peace. The same peace that exist in our State in abundance. Let us walk together as one to maintain the level of peace we are enjoying in State. As we respect the constituted leadership today, it will definitely be our turn tomorrow. Thank you very much Governor Umo Eno, for your inclusive leadership and transparency in Governance.
Pastor Solomon Essiet, ACIA
Writing from Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, the Raffia City.
