It is undisputed and uncontested fact with glaring evidence that no one amongst the contestants rivaling Elder Uko Umo in the forthcoming local government election in Etinan has invested or reinvested in promoting the image and popularity of the last and present leadership of the State as he has dutifully done with his resources. In fact, even before being appointed to his first ever political office in the State, it was his visible investment in marketing the government’s image that highlighted him for the position as special assistant on local media to the governor.
As the publisher of the then most popular local newspaper, Pulse newspaper, he was able to passionately polish the image of the administrations to direct public goodwill to the leaderships. He exerted overwhelming influence over other newspaper publishers and could at critical times rally the support of journalists and media practitioners to queue behind his support direction and publish editorial contents in favour of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,PDP. His public relations efforts for the ruling governments have been supportive that in the nooks and crannies of the State his name is visible.
Ever since the grassroot politician stepped into the political scene he has reinvested benefits from each position held in previous and present administrations into government. Besides the branding the leadership’s image and publicity of government’s projects and programmes, he has committed so much in the area of good governance as the transition chairman that even the blind can see his positive footprints all over Etinan. The urge for selfish acquisition of personal wealth to the detriment of advancing leadership vision is absent in him as he is always ready to use his offices to add value in different ways to make the ruling party and it’s leadership popularly embraced.
Besides using his newspaper and billboards campaigns to promote leadership vision, he makes it his duty to proudly and courageously defend the governor,his leadership team and programmes wherever critics of the administration subject the ruling administration to adverse criticism. He does so without caring whose heart bleeds. Uko Umo is a vocal knight who fights for the interest of Pastor Umo Eno whereas most of those contesting against him do reserve their voices in places where such negative criticism thrive and allow opposition to overwhelmed them in order to be safe and not seen as odd commentator. This is even some are holding positions in the party or government through the benevolence of the governor. Therefore, his commitment, loyalty and solidarity should not be taken for granted in deciding who flies the party’s chairmanship flag.
It worthy to note also that as the present transition chairman of Etinan local government council, he has done remarkable things for the people to be proud of him. Indeed irrespective of the yardsticks used to judge performance, Uko Umo is one of the most outstanding in terms of interpretation of the Arise Agenda blueprint of Gov. Umo Eno. Within his short time in office he has recorded impressive impact that even his most biased critics have taken a leave and score him objectively as the best amongst others. To achieve this positive recommendation, he reinvest generously to meet expectations of political leaders, youths, politicians, community leaders and women segment of the population. He has executed programmes and projects of mass appeal, whereas, most in his shoes are scrambling to swell their pockets leaving what should done for the electorates undone. Uko Umo has within the short time in office embarked aggressively and passionately in transformational deeds in Etinan local government area in a matter that has demystified and simplified local government governance. His remarkable scorecard was reflected in the recent assessment of all the chairmen by the committee put place by the State Governor and House of Assembly.
Uko Umo has transformed the rural areas by massive grading of roads, maintenance of environment is not neglected, embarks on rectification of defaults in electricity substations, peace building and security have been enhanced. Students and youth groups as well as his Council staff have been given their dues. Truly no segment is ignored and none is dissatisfied with his people-oriented and grassroot leadership style, while is why Etinan is peaceful and united under his regime.
Given all his highlighted positive contributions and selfless sacrifices to positively promote the interest of the ruling party, there no doubt that he is the most valued aspirant who has what to continue to offer to add value to the State Government. He has his worth more any other contestant, and it is not an error to say that his popularly is earnestly earned by his social,caring and benevolent lifestyle. These leadership dispositions or traits have excellently been deployed to attract more followers, especially the youths to swell the party’s rank. More people and groupd have been mobilized to work with him to advance the Arise Agenda of Pastor Umo Eno. As a testimony, recently, leadership of all the youth groups in Etinan adopted him as the sole candidate
It is the opinion of overwheming majority of indigenes of Etinan that if Uko Umo has done so remarkably well as a transition chairman, there is no doubt that if voted into elected position as the next chairman of Council, he will definitely perform more than all other aspirants to attract goodwill to the present leadership of Gov. Umo Eno. Hence, it apt for electorates to choose the best for their collective interest. On the part of PDP, he is the round peg to put in it’s round hole as he is someone who will represent the party and use his popularity and goodwill to give easy victory to the party in the forthcoming local government election. Elder Uko Umo is the party’s game changer and a nightmare to opposition; hence should not be compromised for lesser choices.