*UMO ENO: THE MAN POLITICS HAS NOT CHANGED*
By Aniekan Umanah
If all politics does is to put people into office and change them, then politics should know that it has met a brick wall in Governor Umo Eno. He has remained the same even in power, choosing to lead like a servant. Rather than politics changing him, he is changing the perception of politics through humility, compassion and visible service.
It was on March 10, 2024, that I first elucidated that Akwa Ibom State had received not just a governor, but a divine gift of leadership. Two years and two months later, events have vindicated that assertion. Indeed, when God decides to bless a people, He gives them a good leader.
God’s love for Akwa Ibom is unfolding through the ARISE Agenda with its five development pillars and 17 focal areas. Across the state, governance is no longer theory written on paper; it is poetry written in projects, compassion and development.
I once asked rhetorically: Can any good thing come out of the barracks? Today, the answer echoes loudly through the laboratory of good governance. It is a story told more in works than in words.
Governor Umo Eno’s journey resembles that of the Biblical David , a shepherd boy raised quietly for greater service. From the barracks to Hilltop Mansion, God expanded his flock from one church to an entire state, and he continues to give a good account of himself as Shepherd -in-Chief of Akwa Ibom State.
When he sought office, he openly admitted he never prepared to become governor. He was not among those desperate for power. But while men were planning, God was preparing. Every stage of his life became a classroom for leadership.
Growing up in the barracks exposed him to people from different tribes, tongues and backgrounds. That early experience shaped the inclusive leader he is today , a governor who governs without division and sees Akwa Ibom people first before politics, ethnicity or religion.
Under Governor Eno, unity has become more than a slogan. Akwa Ibom United is no longer merely the name of a football club; it has become the spirit of the state itself.
Like Noah preparing an ark before the rain, Governor Eno possesses the rare gift of foresight. He sees tomorrow ahead of time and acts with calm conviction. When a man’s ways please the Lord, even uncertainty bows before grace.
Though born in Enugu, he hails from Ikot Ekpene Udo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Yet his flawless Yoruba and pan-Nigerian outlook reveal a man whose identity rises above geography. He is simply Nigerian.
Governor Eno’s dress sense reflects elegance, confidence and refinement. From his banking days through corporate Nigeria and into hospitality, he has always been effortlessly stylish. His tie speaks to his belt, his shirts converse with his shoes, while cufflinks whisper to wrist ornaments in perfect harmony.
But beyond good clothing lies a better heart. Anyone can wear gold on the neck, but the finest gold is worn in the heart. That is where Governor Eno stands tall , in compassion for humanity, especially the vulnerable.
This was evident during his birthday celebration this year. Instead of celebrating himself, he celebrated the poor, the needy and children in motherless homes. He offered employment, scholarships, empowerment and welfare support to the vulnerable across the state.
Like gentle rain falling on thirsty soil, his kindness spread across Akwa Ibom. He turned his birthday into a visitation day of destiny for many families whose stories changed overnight.
His social life reflects the blend of his experiences as a pastor, businessman, public servant and politician. Yet, beneath the warmth and dance steps lies a man deeply committed to work.
Even as political activities intensify in Nigeria, Governor Eno has refused to abandon governance for politicking. He balances both with discipline, tilting more toward service than politics.
The evidence of his work is everywhere. Numerous projects are lined up for commissioning as his administration approaches its third anniversary, while more await completion across the state.
Ibom Air’s international operations from the new smart terminal building at Victor Attah International Airport remain one of the shining symbols of his administration. The orange streaks in the skies still announce Akwa Ibom’s rise into the big league.
Governor Eno understands the values of hard work, excellence and innovation. From building Royalty Group into a respected business empire to leading Akwa Ibom State, distinction has remained part of his identity.
His compassion is as deep as his work ethic. Long before politics, he was already creating jobs and empowering people through private enterprise. As governor, he has simply expanded that compassion to a statewide level.
He rewards work quietly without seeking applause. Hardly a day passes without him touching lives and giving people reasons to speak positively about leadership.
Sometimes he stops to support struggling traders on the streets , not for political theatre, but because he once walked in those same shoes while helping his late mother in business.
Governor Eno believes leadership should make people feel valued. He listens carefully, welcomes ideas and submits to superior arguments irrespective of status.
He is remarkably accessible. Unlike leaders hidden behind walls of protocol, he has moved leadership from the corridors of power to the streets among the people.
His hospitality background also shaped his worldview. The kitchen that once nurtured his dreams eventually elevated him into the global catering business, where multinational companies gladly patronized his services.
He speaks softly but wisely, often decorating his speeches with Akwa Ibom proverbs, biblical references and local idioms that reveal his deep roots in culture and faith.
A lover of technology, Governor Eno, a man of gadgets believes strongly in the transformative power of ICT. He dreams innovation and deploys technology for development across sectors in the state.
His radiant smile appears to power his relentless energy for work. He makes governance look less like a burden and more like purposeful service done with joy.
Though gentle and jovial, he remains firm in matters of discipline and fairness. As he often reminds people, the hand that appoints can also disappoint.
Governor Eno is not new to success. From a humble kiosk, he built an empire that employed hundreds of Akwa Ibom youths in hospitality, oil and gas and manufacturing before politics ever called him into public office.
Even in moments of personal grief following the passing of his wife, Pastor Mrs. Patience Eno, he ensured that her vision lived on. He appointed his daughter, Helen Eno Obareki, Coordinator , Office of the First Lady to see through the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) and other lives touching programmes of the Initiative. Through pain, he continued to serve the people with strength and dignity.
In the gospel according to governance and the ARISE Agenda, there is no room for complacency until Akwa Ibom reaches its promised land of prosperity and development.
Governor Umo Eno was made for this assignment. Like David trained in the wilderness before the throne, life prepared him quietly for leadership.
Most importantly, politics has not changed him. The office may have elevated him, but it has not altered his humanity, humility or compassion.
Just yesterday, Governor Eno was screened by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party’s sole governorship aspirant for Akwa Ibom State. It is only a stone’s throw from victory.
Indeed, Akwa Ibom appears set for the second half of good governance because, as football teaches us, matches are often won in the second half. More crosses will come, more goals of development will be scored, and the people of Akwa Ibom may yet witness even brighter days ahead.
Happy Sunday Folks !
