‘Some days ago, at Atiku Abubakar, after an unusual heavy downpour, hundreds of residents were seen and heard praying for, and blessing, Pastor Umo Eno. Motorists were not left out in praising the Governor’
Thomas Thomas
Governor Umo Eno is a few days away from celebrating a year in office, yet the celebration so far in the State — the happiness on the faces of the people is unprecedented! Why? Unlike governors in other climes and time, the Akwa Ibom State Governor is working round the clock to ensure that “the people who walked in darkness have a great light; those who lived in the land of deep darkness and sorrows have a light and comfort. He has enlarged the people and increased their joy, hence, they rejoice before him as people rejoice at the harvest.”
Some days ago, at Atiku Abubakar, after an unusual heavy downpour, hundreds of residents were seen and heard praying for, and blessing, Pastor Umo Eno. Motorists were not left out in praising the Governor. Why? Because some months back, no son of Adam would have dared walk that road, even five hours after rain because of flood. The Road (Atiku Abubakar Avenue), before now was euphemistically called after the governor in power (River Governor Ntiang). In fact, the attitudes of past governors towards flood/flooding on that road had caused the people to think that “nothing could be done about it because of a certain ndem that lived behind former JAMB office.” But Umo Eno has demystified that belief imposed on the innocent people of the State.
It is therefore pertinent, however, to state here that, the people — the governed — naturally would not have issues with their government once the basic social amenities and assistance are provided for them. If a person, or a group of persons, is seen or heard calling out a governor, and wants his or her head chopped off, certainly, there is a reason for that. It is either the governor has failed in his responsibilities to the people, or those that are calling for his or her head are blinded by hatred. Thus, one is not ignorance of the fact that few haters are attempting to discredit the lofty achievements of the Governor. But they’ve, failed because the people have known the truth.
Governor Umo Eno has done, and is doing even more than he promised the people during campaign. The people in the rural areas, for the first time, have felt the positive impacts of governance directly. It is truism that the Governor is committed to making millions of Akwa Ibom people happy than receiving the endorsements of a few politicians who think that it is their rights, and a tradition, for the governor to fund their extravagant lifestyles with the State’s money.
In less than a year, so many projects have been commissioned, and so many life changing initiatives executed for the masses. In just less than a year, the people who lived in fear have grown in faith, because for the first time in their lives, they’ve seen a humanist on the echelon of their state. In less than twelve months, those who lived in flooded environments have seen dried land; and those who almost give up because of hunger have been filled because of food security and supports from the Governor.
That’s not all. In months to come, those sitting on the fence will be seen thanking Umo Eno in public because hunger and lack will no longer be their portion. All these and more shall come to fruition because Pastor Umo Eno is living true to his calling, with the qualities of the man described in Psalm 15, from verse 2 to 5.
Thomas Thomas writes from The Green River, Ikot Akpa.