Gov. Umo Eno
OPINION
By Clement Warrie
It’s exactly 33 days since Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State dissolved the State Executive Council. Earlier yesterday, February 11, 2025, the new commissioner’s nominees list was made public, effectively closing off the last page on a year-long maelstrom of speculations, anxiety and intrigue, all swept overboard.
Like Diogenes, the Creek philosopher, who did the unthinkable, carrying his “lamp in the day looking for a honest man” in the market square, Governor Umo too, had held out his lamp these past weeks, looking for his “First Eleven”. But while it remains unknown, if Diogenes ever found the honest man he searched rigorously for by day, Pastor Umo, it appears has found his men.
For the commissioner hopefuls, the contenders and near-favorites, whose ship narrowly missed the harbor, they must now confront inevitable closure from months of sitting on needles and pins. For the supporters and all, it’s a heartbreaking waking up moment from a blissful dream.
Yesterday, February 11, the State Assembly acknowledged receipt of the 27-man commissioner’s nominees list. It is expected that, a once-over security screening of the nominees will follow without delay. While this may appear a crucial hurdle, insiders consider it a mere formality. Those who are familiar with the process say, the nominees may have passed rigorous background evaluation to spare the government any blushes.
To arrive here, the Governor had defied enormous pressure from stakeholders and political stalwarts to sack members of his State Executive Council but he did not bulge. He insisted his honorable EXCO, had earned the right to serve, having fought grueling battles with him in the political trenches.
He had his plans. One of which was to organize a valedictory EXCO for his men to round off their service of merit to the State. But when he hinted at it, doubters laughed and slapped their knees in amusement, thinking he was making jest. No one would fool these doubters. The State Executive Council they know were typically sacked in the evening news, and no amount of talking will sway them.
But on January 10, 2025, Governor Umo Eno hosted a valedictory EXCO, just as he promised. The event was watermarked by camaraderie and warmth. Many called it “a watershed moment”, one that effectively entombed the Governor’s name in the history books. The emotional goodbye would continue in the evening with a sumptuous dinner.
Osondu Ahirika, a versatile penman and gifted literary artist, wrote. “On January 10, 2025, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, put together what is perhaps another Nigeria’s First….celebrating outgoing Commissioners of the State Executive Council, a few hours after he dissolved the cabinet”.
As much as Ahirika’s claims held a poignant truth, it took the viral report by Anietie Usen, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Eno on Media, entitled “Dignified Exit for Commissioners,” published on Social Media platforms and major national newspapers to add momentum to his assertion. In it, Usen, a multiple award winning journalist and author, admired for his descriptive mastery and lyrical storytelling, captured vividly, the convivial mood inside the EXCO Chambers of the Governor’s office earlier that fateful day.
He wrote “The atmosphere in the Exco Chamber was festive. If there was any feeling of trepidation, it was not visible. What was glaring was a team of commissioners and other cabinet members pumping hands, backslapping, hugging, laughing out loud, and posing for photographs in groups of five, 10, 25, and more or less.”
As early as 9 am, that fateful morning, the EXCO Chambers was heaving at the seams with soon to be former commissioners. But in what appeared a strange paradox, they had arrived the Chambers glamorously attired and full of pep. Almost as though they had no premonition of the quicksand that lay ahead.
Said one of the government house pressmen. “…It was as if they were attending an inauguration ceremony rather than a farewell gathering. This is indeed Governor Umo Eno’s leadership legacy.”
One of the former commissioners who does not want to be named, gave an insight into what transpired. “There was absolutely no reason for misgivings.” he said. “The Governor had been magnanimous to us. Let’s be frank, our tenure had long run its course. And like the Commissioner for Information had said, the Governor honored us in a way that shocked us. Usually, Commissioners are unceremoniously axed in a 4 O’clock news, as if they had been involved in a coup,” he said.
Said the Governor as reported by Usen. “Government is a continuum…One of the things we have decided to do differently is to be more decent. Usually, people hear it on the radio that the Executive Council has been sacked or dissolved, but I feel that this Exco is my Exco, too. They are my brothers. They are my sisters. They are my friends, and if we have succeeded at all, these Exco members in this Chamber have contributed to that success. So I feel we should honour them” he said.
However, a mild drama had unfolded a few weeks ago, when the State Assembly was ridiculed by the yellow press for “technically” boycotting its sitting, citing a flurry of unconfirmed reports, one of which averred that the Governor had handpicked commissioner nominees without recourse to stakeholders’ input.
The Governor did not flinch. In fact, in what appeared an uncanny intuition, he had correctly anticipated the clapback. Speaking at the valedictory dinner for the outgoing EXCO, he had cautioned, with a dash of humor, that lobbying and “whispering to power” would be counterproductive. In fact, he warned that such maneuvers, could potentially diminish prospects for those involved.
At NUJ’s 2025, Thanksgivings Service, in The Apostolic Church, Ikot Ekpene Udo, Sunday 19, the Governor made a quick double-down on his earlier stance. “I have told people to forget lobbying. Commissioners can come from anywhere, and can be anybody. There are my First Eleven and I will appoint people who will deliver my ARISE agenda. It will not matter if they are blood relatives,” said the Governor.
Amb. Assam Assam, Director General, DG, of the Governor’s Campaign Council, must know Governor Umo Eno too well. In the book, “Umo Eno, And It Came To Pass” the venerated legal mind pulled no punches when he said of Governor Eno. “One notable trait about the Governor is his ability to speak his mind. He has grit and integrity….At every point in time, he lets you know where he stands on issues.”
Meanwhile, Many leaders place a high premium in competence when appointing aide, just like Governor Eno has done in carefully selecting his team. The one he calls, his “first eleven.” Steve Job, the deceased CEO of Apple, once said to his managers: “Hiring the best is your most important task.”
He spoke only once, but It’s possible the Governor might have heard it twice.
One man who should know better is the Chairman of Council, Hon Alfred Charles, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, himself a beneficiary of Governor Umo Eno’s excellent knowledge in human recruitment, said of the published list “This is by far an impressive list. It is reflective of the wait and the time the governor took to cook it. It is peopled by professionals”.
Meanwhile, as the nominees list continues to attract reviews from across the board, the few returnees with the newcomers will soon put hands to the plough.
But there is a problem for the new nominees, a few Gordian Knots to untangle. One of such, is the “work shock” culture of Governor Umo Eno which can be tasking. Are they aware of the governor’s priorities and preferences? Do they know he is a tireless worker with the strength of a bull and the persistence of a hedgehog all put together?
Are they up to speed with the fact that the Big Man is never interested in situations report, but progressive work report?
Said Mr Usen “Governor Eno may be a kind, gentle and humble pastor to many. But this governor is a bulldozer at work, a full time workaholic, very firm and result-oriented at the helm of affairs”.
But Governor Umo Eno is not all work and starchy officialdom. His warm demeanor people say can, on any given day, avert even the darkest of storms. Still, and according to Shakespeare, “The velvet gloves hides an iron fist”.
Kudos to the First Eleven! And like the inimitable Tai Solarin once said in his iconic New Year’s message to Nigerians, 61 years ago in January 1, 1964, I say to all the nominees, “May your road be rough”. I say this with gentle deference, knowing that rough roads, like Solarin himself explained, make good drivers.
May this seemingly counterintuitive blessings in Solarin’s message inspire the team to resilience and success in their new journey.
Warrie is Media Aide to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
