It was Monday, May 29, 2023. The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo was filled to its 30,000-seat capacity. Akwa Ibomites from every corner of the state, including those in the Diaspora, had gathered to witness the beginning of a Golden era.
On that day, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, adorned in his clerical attire with a white collar, took the oath of office as the fifth democratically elected Governor of Akwa Ibom State. I can recall vividly that there were no flamboyant displays or inflated promises; instead, he delivered a 34-paragraph speech that struck a chord.
I will never forget this line, “elections are over,” he said. “We are all Akwa Ibomites first before politics. Politics must not separate or sever the ties of our brotherhood and common heritage and aspirations. I pledge to govern all Akwa Ibomites, irrespective of political persuasions or affiliations.”
Indeed, that was a message that calmed nerves and signalled a clear break from the tension that followed his election. From that moment, the tone of the Umo Eno administration was set; quiet performance in the atmosphere of absolute peace and unity.
Truth be told, two years may seem short, but it is also long enough to weigh a leader’s words against his actions. So, how has Akwa Ibom fared under the cleric-turned-state chief executive? Were his promises just another round of political sweet talk? This writer, within the past 24 months, has toured all 31 local government areas, the 10 federal constituencies and the three senatorial districts of the state, and the signs are hard to miss. The governor has stayed true to his quiet but firm approach. No loud politics, just steady execution. His development blueprint – the ARISE Agenda – has not been reduced to mere paper talk. So far, over 163 roads, covering more than 700 kilometres, are under construction while many have already been inaugurated across the state; civil servants, entrepreneurs and farmers are smiling again; security has improved, and health care, education, and rural development are reaching corners that used to be ignored. Pastor Eno has turned once dangerous ravine and erosion-prone area in Ewet Offot, Uyo, and converted it into a premier tourist destination. The results are on the ground, and they speak for themselves.
To mark the two-year milestone, the Akwa Ibom Government, through the secretary to the state government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, kicked off a 32-day celebration, not for show but to reflect and account for progress made under Pastor Umo Eno’s watch. The theme says it all: “Celebrating Two Years of Spectacular Performance.”
As expected, the events did not start with noise or razzmatazz. Just like the governor himself, the celebrations began on a calm note with the usual Government House prayer session on May 17. But by May 19, things picked up. The first major highlight came with the inauguration of the Hospital/Ukpom-Abak–Idoro/Pepsi Junction Road—a key link between Abak and Uyo Local government areas, and a gateway to northern parts of the state. For years, that stretch of road had been abandoned, despite its economic importance. But it took a governor known for his hands-on approach to finally get it fixed. And that was just the beginning.
The governor then moved to Urue Offong/Oruko, where a model primary health centre was inaugurated in Eyulor. From there, he turned to Okobo; and went to Oruk Anam and Ukanafun the following day, where world-class primary schools with state-of-the-art facilities were opened. Of course, yours truly witnessed the inauguration ceremonies and I can emphatically inform you that those schools are not the usual four-block classrooms; these are standard facilities, with sophisticated furniture, toilets, staff rooms, standard football fields, solar-powered lights and fencing. Real work!
As the days rolled by, more projects took centre stage. On Saturday, May 24, Governor Eno flagged off the construction of the 5,000-capacity Ibom Convention Centre and the long-overdue renovation of Ibom Icon Hotels. Both projects were not just for aesthetics, they are part of a clear tourism-driven blueprint of the ARISE Agenda aimed at attracting international events, boosting hospitality and injecting revenue into the state’s economy. And for a man who made his mark in the hospitality industry, it did not take him long to see that the over 15-year-old abandoned convention centre was an untapped goldmine. With peace and security already in place, he is opening up Akwa Ibom to the world, on our terms.
On Sunday, May 25, the focus shifted to thanksgiving as the state converged on the International Christian Worship Centre. True to his character, Governor Umo Eno gave all the glory to God. He did not come with a long list of achievements, he came with one message: that peace, unity and respect for elders and past leaders remain some of the greatest milestones under his watch. These, he said, are even more fulfilling than the many infrastructure projects and other gargantuan programmes in the ARISE Agenda. He also used the occasion to openly commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support to Akwa Ibom, especially in the area of federal releases that have helped drive development. In a rare moment of honesty, the governor said it would be hypocrisy to pray for a second term without also praying for leaders like President Tinubu and Senator Godswill Akpabio, whom he acknowledged for contributing immensely to the steady growth of his administration so far.
Children’s Day, May 27, was not left out. The Uyo Township Stadium, in the morning hours, came alive as children from across the state marched with pride, knowing that their governor cared for their future.
The celebration train did not slow down; in the afternoon, the ‘Unity Governor’ stormed Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, where he inaugurated the 14.8km Ikot Ubo-Odot Road, a major artery that now links several communities in the area. Not done, the governor proceeded to unveil a world-class, fully equipped primary health centre at Ikot Ekwere, also in Nsit Ubium, a facility residents had only dreamt of until now.
By Wednesday, May 28, the governor was in Eket to inaugurate the symbolic Local Government Chairmen’s Lodge and flag off the construction of similar lodges in all 31 LGAs of the state. On the same day, a new model primary school was also opened in Eket, further than his vision of accessible and quality education across the state.
Now, as the state marks May 29, exactly two years since he first took the oath of office, the governor is scheduled to present his midterm scorecard to members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, many of whom have benefitted from his media-friendly disposition through appointments and support initiatives. He will also engage with political and support groups in a thank-you session for their steadfast loyalty and service. Knowing Pastor Umo Eno, no such meeting ends empty; there is always a reward for hard work and consistency. The day will climax with a grand State Banquet where all will dine with the man whose leadership style has rewritten governance in Akwa Ibom.
Even as the spectacular performance ceremonies go on, the work does not stop. More projects are lined up for flag-off and inauguration including the 13.5km Ibekwe Akpanya-Ikot Unya-Iffe Town-Ekpuk Road in Mkpat Enin, the dualisation of the Nung Udoe-Afaha Offiong-Afaha Nsit Road, the new AKBC Broadcasting House, and the Administrative Building for AKICORP. For Governor Umo Eno, the mission is simple: fix what needs to be fixed and start what must be started.
But the biggest story is not just the roads or buildings. The biggest story is the peace, the unity of the atmosphere of calm governance. No fights, no tension, no division. Even his critics have gone quiet, not because they have been silenced, but because there is nothing meaningful to attack.
The same state where “anti-party” used to cause political tension is now united. People now see beyond party lines. The governor is governing with a pastor’s heart, a businessman’s mind and a people’s touch.
Indeed, all over Akwa Ibom, our people at home and in the Diaspora are saying one thing: Governor Umo Eno deserves a second term. Not because he feels entitled but because he has truly earned it.
At the 2nd Anniversary Thanksgiving Service at the International Christian Worship Centre in Uyo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, spoke highly of the governor’s leadership by example. He said Pastor Umo Eno has shown Akwa Ibomites the importance of peace, unity and respecting our elders, not just with words but with actions.
The minister also pointed out that the last two years proved that peace and unity are the only ways for Akwa Ibom to move forward and get more from the Federal Government. He did not hold back when he said, “Any finger that rises against the second term bid of Governor Umo Eno will be humbled and will never be relevant in the politics of Akwa Ibom State again.”
But honestly, who would want to stand against a man who, in just two years, has brought Akwa Ibom together, delivered real results, performed spectacularly and united the people like never before? I do not think such a person exists. Do you?
Well, it would be better for him if he had never been born!
