Akparawa (Prince) Godwin Ntuk Udeh, PhD, Political Adviser to His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, is a grassroots politician and seasoned administrator who is well-versed with the happenings in government and consequent effects on the people of Akwa Ibom State.
In this in-depth interview with Crystal Express, Dr Udeh dissects the two-year leadership journey of Pastor Eno’s administration – highlighting the governor’s developmental blueprint, ARISE Agenda and its impact on rural transformation, health and educational development, civil service reforms, welfare of retirees, housing for civil servants, agriculture, business support grants, tourism development, community policing, political/governance inclusion, leadership awards, economic empowerment and infrastructure development. It is a must-read. Savour!
Excerpts:
The journey for Governor Umo Eno which started on May 29, 2023 has rolled up to two years. As an insider, what is your assessment of the performance of the Governor?
Thank you very much. First of all, we must give God the glory and thank Him for life, because those who are not alive cannot give account and be true witnesses to the passage of time and the developments. His Excellency is two years in office and exactly a time good enough to require a midterm report.
Having served as the deputy director-general of his campaign organisation; therefore, I was there from the day Pastor Umo Bassey Eno was presented to the good people of Akwa Ibom State by a combined team of eminent personalities, led by His Excellency, Architect Obong Victor Attah and other prominent persons. From there we started the need to consolidate, consult with other stakeholders, and you cannot consult without a message. So there was a message already put in place, and that message is what you know today as ARISE Agenda.
ARISE Agenda is a basket of prospective, proposals and ideas. It was at that time a basket of intentions by His Excellency, would-be governor. And with that, we went to the people, to eminent persons, and at the end of the day, by the grace of God, we transited from consultation to full glare campaigns. Having transited from an aspirant to candidate, he therefore became the baby of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), our great party.
The people of Akwa Ibom State got convinced by the singular content of that ARISE Agenda, trusting the person and the persons who marketed this great product. And so we are in a position today to review to give a scorecard of what the two years have meant. We can only score him from the content of ARISE Agenda.
ARISE Agenda was principally centred around rural transformation, meeting the real people one-on-one, identifying with the people as to their peculiar needs, moving government from bottom to the top, starting from the minute ideas and needs of the people. Today, we can say that ARISE Agenda is meeting expectations in the rural areas and urban centres. Remember the governor started from making every ward a government centre. The very first unprecedented transformative development which came out of his governance was the appointment of personal assistant in every ward in Akwa Ibom State – a personal assistant to the governor, someone representing the governor, meaning a government and the governor in every ward.
Everything that happens, every need, every complaint, was to go to that person. He is the “governor’ in the ward. And the governor established a portal, a platform where all of them interact. You do not even need to move or travel from the ward to the governor’s office. The mode of communication makes it easy to carry out representation for the governor to meet the needs of the wards.
After that, he moved to another content of the ARISE Agenda which was rural health and educational transformation. The kinds of educational environment, cottage hospitals and health centres that we had in our areas did not measure up to standard. He was therefore poised to reverse the trend as contained in the ARISE Agenda. That necessitated the establishment of a hospital in every local government area, with health centres being upgraded and well furnished in communities. In short today, we have witnessed all that His Excellency meant in the ARISE Agenda.
We now have two projects in each local government area. And these two projects are a school and health centre with unique designs. The designs include a laboratory, staff quarters for nurses and doctors. Also, there are well-equipped ambulance services. The health centres also have ambience that is enough to encourage patients to visit the hospital and the doctors and nurses to want to stay there, because electricity is provided, with the complement of solar energy generator and all other wonderful facilities.
Then the school, the environment is second to none in Nigeria with unique designs – good football field, track and field facilities, in short, a total rebuild of the classroom settings such that every classroom has computers for the students and pupils to start from primary school to know and adapt to computer. And then the teachers, beginning from the head teacher to the compound master and other teachers, have their quarters in the school. They have every facility, the environment is over-inviting. The pupils are given free uniforms, books and shoes. The teachers are given additional incentives to operate maximally. Doctors too have all what they wished and what they never even wished, they will have. These are done so as to encourage them to stay in the hospital and the school. We now have a functional system better than what it used to be.
In the civil service, he pays full attention to the needs of civil servants and retirees. There was a backlog of about N90billion on gratuities. He made it a serious programme of his government that every month a good chunk of that debt must be cleared. Today, over N60 billion of that outstanding backlog has been paid. Again, on the welfare of the civil servants, he ensures their promotion and other issues are cleared. So civil servants and retirees have breathed air of relief since the coming of Governor Umo Eno. He has even engaged in housing development for civil servants in which 150 of such houses were given to civil servants free. This is unprecedented, of course, and so for civil servants who never thought they would own a house, especially those between salary Grade Levels 01 to 08, now own free well-built houses; salaries are now regularly paid and promotions given as and when due.
As you know, the governor has a compassionate heart, and that compassion also leads him to offer a lease of life to vulnerable persons who were living in ramshackle houses and were battling with rain when it falls. Today, 206 out of 400 of such compassionate homes of two- and three-bedroom flats have been built and donated to indigent persons through a very transparent process. These houses are well furnished with two kitchens (one with gas, the other a traditional kitchen), solar energy and water borehole. Therefore, his midterm report is such a wonderful scorecard in terms of compassion to people. Even after donating these compassionate houses, he still backs it up with cash so that they are mobilized to start business, for self sustenance.
Another content of the ARISE Agenda is his emphasis on agriculture. The policy encourages massive participation in farming because farming is a very important programme in Pastor Umo Eno’s era. Commissioners, permanent secretaries, stakeholders, civil servants, students and all and sundry are encouraged to engage in farming. Government offers seedlings, cassava stems, counselling, extension workers and agriculture grants up to N5 million to all who are in need to go into full- fledge agriculture so as to enhance food sufficiency in Akwa Ibom State.
Again, the governor had to establish an inspiring model for business support. There is the enterprise grant beginning from N500,000 to N1 million, N2 million to N5 million, to encourage growth of business enterprise and encourage businesses in the rural area. The government then uses Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre (Ibom-Led) to help would-be businessmen and those who are already into business to advance to the next level. Same is applicable to Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DASAC) for skills acquisition. His Excellency has opened these two centres to train even the female youths who have been standing in the rain, standing in the sun, giving an aura of ambience during government events. The governor decided that they cannot be doing these and go home empty handed as it used to be. He sends some of them to Ibom-Led to be trained, and some to DASAC to be also trained. The governor also lobbied and brought Bank of Industries to Akwa Ibom, gave them free rent and put in an initial N2 billion to be able to offer loans to our people. These loans are backed up with supervision in case we have challenges from the bank, and so this loan carries a single digit interest. All of these are to increase the tempo of business participation by our people who are involved in farming, fishery, animal husbandry and poultry.
On Gov. Umo Eno’s Political Inclusion and Style of Governance:
Pastor Umo Eno is not interested in partisan politics but good governance; he is running a unity government and celebrates all Akwa Ibom people who are breaking barriers, notwithstanding the party they belong. He deals with everybody as a brother and this has removed the fears of the past when people avoided open relationship with politicians from other parties in Akwa Ibom State for fear of unknown. Today we are together as brothers and sisters, there is no segregation. Love and friendship have taken over the political clime of the state.
This brought about the equitable distribution of dividends of democracy across board. People across party lines have received grants, loans, favours, dividends, empowerment all across board.
There is no enmity but love in the state and the unity government is working. The unity government involves everybody and welcomes positive contributions.
When people are galvanized to contribute for the growth and progress of the state across party lines, it is a unity government and that is what Pastor Umo Eno has given Akwa Ibom people. One of the advantages is almost total absence of friction, bitterness and rancour. We live in peace and love and there is not much for security agents to do. Eno tackles challenges and problem as demanded by the people. The people choose most of the projects and programmes needed by themselves and when executed, they protect them with their hearts. This has made the state united, very peaceful and safe.
On Governor Eno as Champion Development:
Governor Umo Eno has taken us to the frontiers of development. Today we have what is called Neighbourhood Watch. It is our own community police. They walk around, watching over our society. They are proactive and help nib crime in the bud. They are also working in collaboration with the security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property.
On Tourism:
Governor Umo Eno, within the lifespan of his administration, has bought two brand new planes for Ibom Air, fully paid for by the state government. Before today some of their aircraft were on lease or got with bank loans which gives most of their profit to the banks. But the governor, through the purchase of two brand new aircraft, gave them leverage to move higher and also help boost development and tourism in the state.
The airline too is doing very well and its services and delivery are top-notch. Nigerians and foreigners have chosen the airline and people are trooping into the state, which is boost in tourism. The governor has also put finishing touches to the MRO at the Ibom International Airport which had dragged for years. Finishing touches are also ongoing at the international terminal of the airport and the second runway of the airport is almost set to host more flights.
He constructed new amphitheatre, which is now a permanent site for our carol night every December and serves other purposes. That alone has saved the state so much money. The amphitheatre gives us wonderful ambience and lots of programmes have been hosted there. The happy-hour, which the governor introduced and was misconstrued by many people, was hosted there to show our people what he meant by happy-hour. People from every sector were assembled and given special treatment with music from the oldies.
Every sector of the state civil service (ministries, departments and agencies), produced their best staff and the governor gave out one million naira to the winners. He gave the money to encourage them for higher productivity. He also encouraged our professionals with gifts while students were given scholarship. People went home with packages and there was joy in the air. All these happened in our amphitheatre, a place meant for joy and celebration.
He has massively developed tourism sites and revived all moribund sites. Oron Beach is back, beyond promoting blue economy and maritime business, the governor has effectively taken the Oron Beach to another level. He has commissioned the Nigerian Navy to produce and supply two new vessels that will ferry persons and vehicles to Calabar, Cross River State, and other West African countries. The entire Oron Beach is undergoing serious reconstruction and transformation. People need to go there, relax and enjoy the ambience. Things are really happening there and very soon it will be officially commissioned. The ravine at Dominic Utuk Way is now a tourist attraction, from once a feared area to a tourist paradise. People now troop down there for enjoyment. It is one of Nigeria’s best tourism centres. The once dangerous ravine is now an oasis of wealth and enjoyment. There is a golf course and conference centre there. There are also events centre, relaxation centre, restaurants, bars, block of well-furnished flats and all you need to enjoy with your loved ones.
The place is well organized such that you are strictly restricted to the areas you seek for. We have artificial lakes that you can float on and enjoy any cuisine of your choice. The artificial lake itself is a lovely site to behold, with gold fishes swimming underneath the water.
The governor is such a very creative person. In Lagos and Abuja, our property lying fallow and almost taken away from us have been recovered. In Lagos, we have Ibom Plaza, a high-rise building with Akwa Ibom signature which will be sold to the people. People will buy up the 2/3-bedroom apartments but will not own certificates of occupancy. The business premises belong to Akwa Ibom for life but you have a right to buy the house, not the title or certificate of occupancy which remains in Akwa Ibom’s name for life. You will have to pay tenement rent to the state yearly. People are already buying into it.
On Flag-off of Ultra Modern 200-Bed Hospital:
Governor Umo Eno has concluded plans to flag off a 200-bed specialist hospital in partnership with a team from Singapore. The hospital has no second in Nigeria and will complement what we have here as Ibom referral hospital. It will come with a seven-star hotel which will accommodate comfortably all the relations of patients being treated in the hospital. The idea is that the relations of patients will have maximum comfort rather than sleeping on the floor of the hospital rooms.
The seven-star hotel will stand adjacent to the world-class hospital within the same environment. Those discharged from the hospital who have appointments in a week, two weeks or a month’s time can stay over in the hotel rather than travelling back to their country and keep the appointment on the D-day. This is the new Akwa Ibom under Pastor Umo Eno.
On Empowerment of Our People:
Pastor Umo Eno has done and is still doing massive empowerment of people across the state. He purchased over 20,000 industrial and life-enhancing equipment, such as buses, cars, equipment for carpentry, welding, fashion designing and tailoring, vulcanizing and all manner of skills. Recently at the stadium, over 20,000 people benefitted from the empowerment to remain self-sufficient. These are the small and medium scale entrepreneurs who are the sustaining power of any economy. The artisans, small and medium scale entrepreneurs are the ones basically paying taxes, not the very rich people who hardly pay taxes. Pastor Umo Eno is very keen in rejuvenating the middle class using various means to support, encourage and empower them.
Outside the massive empowerment in the stadium recently, what we see today as he visits federal constituencies to present his scorecard is also another massive empowerment to the people.
From going to present his scorecard in two years, he seeks more inputs from people and gives people more grants for business and demand any project of their choice all in a bid to keep empowering the people. One good thing about his federal constituencies visit is that people are the ones suggesting the projects they need in their various communities and the governor is taking note and what they suggested would form the bulk of the 2026 budget.
There is no government that could be this better. This is a very responsible, accountable and transparent government. This is government of the people, for the people and by the people. The government is also loved by the people.
On Security/Command Centres:
To ensure proper security of lives and property, the governor has begun the construction of a command centre. It will be well-equipped with the latest security gadgets such that everywhere will be under surveillance for security purpose. It is to ensure proper security of lives and property. It will be manned by security agencies in collaboration with members of Ibom Community Watch.
There is also the distribution of ambulances and medical personnel to strategic areas of the state to ensure quick services in times of emergency and guard against untimely death.
The governor has done very well in the implementation of the ARISE Agenda. As at today, over 85 per cent to 90 per cent of the content of the ARISE Agenda has been implemented, and that is why accolades, encomiums and awards are chasing the governor from different reputable organizations including outstanding media houses.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) said Pastor Umo Eno is the first politician they are honouring. The governor is the face of democracy and the beautiful bride in Nigeria. Some of the awards came from outside Nigeria, including Morocco and Ghana because they are very much impressed with the story of his stewardship and his template on leadership. These awards are never lobbied for as they all came on merit.
On Governor Eno’s Political Inclusion/ Rumoured Plan to Defect to the APC:
This is one question in people’s minds right now in Akwa Ibom State. In the pre-colonial Akwa Ibom State, our fathers practised family government same as Governor Eno is practising today. Then people lived in a circular-walled compounds made of one and two rooms. When sons grew to adulthood, they married and brought in their wives and upgraded to two rooms, everybody lived and co-existed there. In the night they all gathered under the moon and enjoyed their tales. They gathered, played all sorts of games and interacted within themselves. The bonds and family ties were very strong. Pastor Umo Eno has revived the family government and life in Akwa Ibom State. He is bringing us back to that circular compound of those days where people stayed together so that we can relate as one family and bond together as relations and minimize hatred, rancour and the pull-him-down syndrome.
That is why we had communal peace, communal generosity and communal growth in those days. We had zero crime because you could not steal from your own brother. Anybody with a negative behaviour was reprimanded during the tales by moonlight gathering.
That is the government the incumbent administration of Pastor Umo Eno has brought. Today we do not know party. What we know is a person and a leader and we are following our leader who has principles, policies and programmes that are satisfactorily acceptable to us. If our governor who has brought back family governance chooses now to move from party A to B, it is very okay because he has brought everybody together in a circular family home. He can enjoy the benefits of the first fruits. He can taste and enjoy its workability.
That is what he is doing and again, if he chooses to move from Party A to B, there is no problem or acrimony anywhere. We are united and already a very big one family.
There is no stranger in a family house. If Pastor Eno chooses to stay in room A, B or C, he is not a stranger but our leader whom we trust and will follow him to wherever he goes.
As a political adviser to the governor, I have given you this aspect but as a political scientist with a PhD in political science, well merited, I will tell you that our party, the PDP, must pray hard. They must protect the gold, they have to avoid invasion by the enemies, who will steal it. Right now there is a virus in the PDP which is destroying the party. The virus’ mission is still unknown but I know that his survival where he operates from is tied to the destruction of the PDP.
Today PDP operates a party of no defined direction in leadership. We have persons contesting sensitive positions meant for one person and the courts have not either helped in finding solution. Now do you expect a very innocent and neutral person to stay and watch the drama until he is consumed? A situation where congresses are properly done and dusted and next day people bring issues and controversies with parallel EXCO in the zone is not proper. A situation where somebody resigns from an elected office and goes to contest election for another elected office, fails and returns to PDP and grabs again with force an office he had resigned earlier is not going to augur well for the party.
You cannot come to the office without due process. Funny enough, the courts are not helping matters, they are singing different tunes, creating more confusion. A serious calamity has befallen our party. Do you expect our governor whom the people are rooting for his continuity in government beyond 2027 to remain in a house which is about to collapse on innocent people?
Do you expect him to lead the mammoth crowd following him into a pit? The people are with him and he has to open his eyes to see what is coming and avert it in time.
This virus is working round the clock to destroy the party and it breaks into all meetings whether invited or not, leaving people confused; it has its eyes and ears everywhere.
Again, once good decision is taken by the party, the virus factors how to destabilize it. What is the assurance that the coming national congress of the party even if it succeeds will not be destroyed by the virus at a time? It will be too late to go anywhere. Pastor Umo Eno, who has the destiny of our people in his hands, has to act fast to avoid any calamity which the virus may inflict on the party.
