Umo Eno: The Sleek Face Of Nigerian Politics By Mike Effiong

Nigeria’s political panorama is witnessing a indispensable shift. Indeed, there would possibly per chance be something queer and distinctive occurring in Akwa Ibom Issue, and it’s time to your entire nation to rise, applaud, and emulate Governor Umo Bassey Eno.

In barely barely one One year in impart of job, Governor Eno is carving a dilemma for himself in conjunction with his leadership and governance stye, which would be rooted in the values of team spirit, empathy, humility, integrity, and prudence. Many now discuss to him because the brand new face of Nigerian politics.

For these following Governor Eno’s actions, this moniker just shouldn’t be mere flattery. In phrases and actions, he has demonstrated traits that are uncommon in our political position. Even these traits hitherto exhibited by others, he is taking these traits to a new diploma. He’s the dependable epitome of politics without bitterness.

Many politicians claim to feature an birth-door coverage and construct selections without political bias, however their actions assuredly snarl a distinct narrative. In his inauguration speech, Governor Eno stated, “Elections are over, and our kindred spirit can also unbiased silent be renewed and deepened. We are all Akwa Ibomites first sooner than politics. Politics must never separate or gash the ties of our brotherhood, general heritage, and aspirations. I pledge to be Governor for all, without reference to political persuasions.”

Governor Eno understood from the open that no event has a monopoly of recordsdata and that reducing the political temperature in the impart would attend him succeed. A toxic atmosphere stunts insist, no topic how honest or sparkling a person is.

As a “Discuss and Discontinue” leader, he has extended his hand of friendship right by map of event lines extra than any different unusual Nigerian politician. That is exemplified by his decision to hover to Abuja to congratulate old style governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio good hours after he became elected as President of the Nigerian Senate.

This action drew blended reactions in the impart. Some political leaders in Umo Eno’s PDP were dejected, feeling the trail became uncharitable to his supporters after a bitter and divisive election season. On the opposite hand, as a thoughtful, earnest, first price, dignified, farsighted, and centered leader, Governor Eno knew that, as a pastor, there is no replace for Cohesion and Faith. Even the Nigerian coat of hands displays that what assuredly follows are Peace and Progress.

This trail has change into his tenet, he has embraced All Progressives Congress (APC) individuals who obtained federal appointments and opened his coronary heart to leaders from different parties. It is no surprise Nigeria’s Minister of Issue, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt Hon. Victor Ekperikpe Ekpo described him as a blessing and vessel of peace. Consistent with the Minister, “As a Pastor, you’ve not disenchanted the pulpit; as a politician, you’ve not disenchanted us. As Governor, you’re the champion of team spirit in Akwa Ibom Issue. That you just would possibly per chance additionally very smartly be a unifier.”

Despite rumours that this birth-hands and fatherly gesture can also unbiased precede a crossover to APC, Governor Eno affirms that his rapprochement with APC political appointees and working carefully with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu makes honest commerce sense, because it would yield fruits and democratic dividends for the impart and its of us. Collaboration and cooperation trump difference any day for the astute entrepreneur.

The dividends of this relative peace are in actuality evident as he is making wide strides in agri-commerce, rural constructing, infrastructural renewal, education and extra, without traducing his predecessors. In rural constructing and street constructing, the governor has continued initiatives started by the closing administration and initiated his dangle in all 31 native executive areas.

Statistics show conceal that over 280 kilometers of street are ongoing, with some performed and commissioned sooner than his first anniversary. On memoir of the quantum of initiatives, some now name him “Mr. Projects Expert Max.”

Some of the street initiatives brought to fore his responsive and empathetic leadership style. Hang for example the 1.3 kilometers underground concrete flood adjust and reconstruction of a section of Atiku Abubakar Blueprint, Uyo, total with walkway, drainage, and photograph voltaic street lights. After receiving a tip about the street’s flood-ravaged impart from a fervent citizen, he verified it for my part and awarded a contract for its immediate reconstruction to forestall a recurrence by the following wet season. The street has since been performed and became commissioned by old style President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Governor Eno’s empathy shines by map of his actions. Moved by the inflation biting the land, he established the Akwa Ibom Bulk Buy Company wherein a Food Voucher plot became launched. Beneficiaries chosen from the as a lot as this point Nationwide Social Register now receive 5kg bags of rice, beans, and garri. Emphasizing that the meals voucher programme is a stopgap, he has begun an aggressive “Attend to Farm” programme, where the impart is supporting farmers and requiring political leaders to be pleased interplay in agri-commerce.

To show conceal his seriousness, he is constructing his dangle farm too whereas declaring every first and third Friday of the month as work-free days to enable civil servants embody farming. Pointless to deliver, one can not forget his partnership with Songhai Farms. A Model Farm is already sprouting in Nsit Ubium LGA.

Governor Eno consistently states that his mantra is constructing from the underside up and touching the poorest of the dejected.

One other proof of that is the ARISE Shelter Initiative, fondly called ARISE Properties. Within the first part, 100 dejected of us right by map of the 31 LGAs will probably be talented ticket-new 2-bedroom properties.

His mannequin Most essential Properly being Centre initiatives are a lullaby to rural dwellers. These centres be pleased consulting rooms, a theatre, doctors, nurses, matrons and quarters, a laboratory, ICT and records unit, a unusual kitchen, photograph voltaic-powered electrical energy, a standby generator, and 214 medical equipment and consumables. To make it probably for unbiased staffing, 200 extra medical examiners are to be recruited.

Furthermore, he initiated medical outreach programmes in the three senatorial districts which reached thousands, with a total bunch of surgeries and therapies performed on-the-dilemma.

Making sure peace is furthermore the motivation for constructing goodwill with organized labour, rather then many perks for workers, he has launched over N18billion for gratuities, trail away grants and pensions.

Other folks residing with disabilities have not been skipped over, with a N100 million facility for faculty students and grants of N250,000 per undergraduate and N300,000 for postgraduate college students.

Working out his dangle grass-to-grace narrative, Governor Eno if reality be told cares about helping of us compose a ideal residing. This mindset led to the establishment of the Ibom Management and Entrepreneurial Style Centre. Via its Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (EAP), the executive has knowledgeable 800 budding entrepreneurs and given them N400 million in grants. His thought is to explain 5,000 entrepreneurs sooner than the head of his tenure, with N2.5 billion in grants. The industrial effects of this would possibly per chance well presumably absolute self belief be huge.

To boot to, he has performed the impart-of-the-artwork Dakkada Talents Acquisition Centers (DASAC), reputed to be the first-of-its-sort in Nigeria.This facility which now has a governing council will explain of us in numerous abilities in agri-commerce, woodwork, plumbing, ICT, Tailoring and heaps others.

Governor Eno needs to equip youths with resources to construct their dangle money and explain others, slightly than defend up for handouts.

In barely one One year, Akwa Ibom is de facto rising. As a topic of fact, Governor Umo Eno has shown competence, capacity, and character. He has pursued his financial blueprint, the ARISE Agenda, with such gusto without borrowing a single kobo. So, describing him because the brand new face of Nigerian politics just shouldn’t be enough, we can also unbiased silent furthermore name him “Mr. Performer.”

Effiong, a Senior Particular Assistant to Governor Eno writes from Lagos.