His social life fires from all cylinders. It comes from his experience as a barracks boy, a pastor, a businessman with emphasis on hospitality, a public officer and a latter day politician
By Aniekan Umanah
Can any good thing come out from the barracks? That is the story of the boy who was raised in the barracks, and like the Biblical David moved from the backside of life to a larger vineyard tending his flocks and fittingly passed as the Good Shepherd Governor of Akwa Ibom State. where he is the Pastor -in-Chief. That good shepherd Governor is Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, Do you know him?
When he presented himself to be voted for as Governor of the State, he made headlines that he never prepared to become a Governor. He is right. He was not amongst the ones who postured for the office. But God did his. He became the preferred and the chosen one.
Everything he passed through in his life would have passed courses if governorship were to be studied in the university. And he passed them with flying colours.
A child of destiny, he began with his growing up in the barracks as he often says . It was God’s way of preparing the man who was not prepared. This gave him an opportunity to mix with people, across tribes, tongues, faith and social background. Today, as a governor, he has defied divisions, leading as a father to all Akwa Ibom people irrespective of whatever difference and colouration.
By birth, he is from Ikot Ekpene Udo, a community in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State in South South Nigeria. But if you listen to his flawless Yoruba, you can go betting that Eno is from one of the States in South West Nigeria. He is not, he is just a Nigerian.
It is to the credit of his parents and the barracks that raised the barracks boy that his dress sense qualifies him for a fashion consultant. Every outing tells its story from the symbolic combination that define the event or programme. His tie speaks to his belt, and his shirts communicates with the shoe. Cufflinks whisper to tie clips, and they are always in symphony for a governor who can brighten cover of Cosmopolitan fashion magazine.
But anyone can wear good clothes but not everyone can wear humility. Governor Umo Eno is blessed to wear the two. He wears humility like a second skin, always unassuming, and down to earth despite the abiding grace of God in his glittering life.
His social life fires from all cylinders. It comes from his experience as a barracks boy, a pastor, a businessman with emphasis on hospitality, a public officer and a latter day politician. A religious amalgamation of all of these platforms give Pastor out as a gregarious good shepherd.
He knows the meaning of loyalty. From Royalty, a business group he nurtured loyally to Hilltop Mansion, he is loyal to hardwork, excellence, innovation and compassion.
His passion for hardwork is commensurate with his compassion for humanity. From his life as a private entrepreneur to public office holder, he has first class is the subject of bathing the people with the sunshine of smiles through touching their lives and encouraging creativity.
Governor Eno rewards work without words. He detests blowing his trumpet but hardly a day passes without giving people the air with which his trumpet can be blown, through impacting on their lives. Sometimes, he stops on the streets to support struggling traders, a virtue some mis understood for political showmanship. But he was quick to correct them noting that his actions were deliberate having worn such shoes as a child to help his late mother”s trade.
He is a good example of an accommodating leader; the kind of leader who makes everyone feel like someone around him. Even as a governor, he believes every opinion counts. He hears from everyone, does not impose his thoughts on people but submits himself to superior argument not minding he is superior.
Governor Umo Eno is accessible. Those who look for him in the corridors of power are looking for him in a wrong location. He had since moved power from the corridor or even the parlour to the streets. He values the people and exchanges pleasantries with candor because of his philosophy that power belongs to the people, and not only to the few privileged ones in the corridors. Kitchen cabinet is not in his dictionary even when he drove his hospitality business from the kitchen.
The kitchen has been kind to him. His was was a sumptuous grace and an aroma of elevation where the kitchen raised him up to the pinnacle of global catering business where multinationals munched his meals with gladness.
He speaks slowly but firmly and wittingly too. He is a repository of Akwa Ibom proverbs, and always garnishes his biblical allusion and anecdotes with such proverbs and idioms that show a strong connect with his roots.
A friend of gadgets, Governor Umo Eno is ICT savvy who believes strongly in the power of modern technology in the transformation of the society across sectors. He sleeps and dreams technology and is deploying same for the betterment of the State.
He has a radiant if not even infectious smile. It looks like smile is the fuel and propeller of his engine of hardwork. That is how he makes work as enjoyable as sports. Remember, sports stands on the two pillars of discipline and creativity. Governor Eno stands behind the pillars.
But with him, it is not just work. He believes when the work is done, then let the happy hour begin. It’s already here with us in Akwa Ibom.
But working with him gives him out as a very organized ,meticulous and dexterous leader who strives for perfection in all his hands findeth to do. He has the will power, and is always focused and determined to meet his goals. This is where he draws strength from to govern the state with a method .
Although he is slow to anger, gentle and jovial, take him for granted at your peril. His answer to such people is that the hand that appoints can also disappoint. It is safe not to take him there.
He is a realist, and to be fair to him, he does not compromise the doctrine of fairness to all, irrespective of who is involved, and whatever sentiment is fanned.
He is the progenitor of the “ministry of reconciliation” in Akwa Ibom State, and from all indications, the ministry is moving to the permanent site. That is the dividend of having a peace maker as the Governor who is reaching out to all across political party lines but without losing focus.
It is also worthy of note that Governor Eno did become governor from the blues. He is not a stranger to wealth or fame. An great achiever, he built an empire from a kiosk. He was already churning out jobs for Akwa Ibom youths and Nigerians as a private entrepreneur where he employed hundreds in his firm, with a huge monthly wage bill. As a private citizen, he was working for Akwa Ibom, as a governor, he is working with Akwa Ibom. The office may have changed but the man never changes. He has kept his head above board.
In all of these, the family man in him never dims, but remains aglow for the living husband and caring father and grandfather.
The man who has patience as a virtue also has Patience as a wife. He is married to Her Excellency,Pastor Mrs Patience Umo Eno, the progenitor of Golden Initiative for All, GIFA which was recently launched as the vehicle to spray fragrance on humanity across families.
Pastor Mrs Eno was the first christen her husband and Governor; the Golden boy. No wonder her pet project is also a Golden Initiative for All. Together, anything they touch turns to gold, and bear fruits for the good of Akwa Ibom State.
His love for children id uncommon. Little wonder he is neck deep building a future for Akwa Ibom children through policies and programmes in education and across other sectors as are enshrined in his governance Bible, the ARISE Agenda, an acronym for Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance, Security Management and Educational Advancement, which are the five expandable pillars of the agenda.
He is following the ARISE Agenda methodologically, living his dreams and pursuing his promises to the people when he traversed the 31 local government areas to campaign. We shall return to this in our subsequent elucidation.
The beautiful thing about the handsome governor is that like David, the good shepherd is tending the flock or leading the people with good heart. That is the happy ending of the story that began from the barracks. The barracks boy has become a good shepherd in government.
It is a story of a man who has no fear on earth. According to him, Jesus is the lion of the tribe of Judah. Hence, you cannot have a lion escort you are afraid of antelopes. Pastor Umo Eno has absolute confidence and trust in God who took him from the barracks through the stations and divisions of life to the Hilltop Mansion as Governor of Akwa Ibom State. No doubt, his journey to the Hilltop Mansion was tortious. He was slammed with 26 litigations and court cases most of which many reached the Apex Court of Nigeria. But in all of these, he emerged victorious and came out clean. He is severally, a Supreme Court confirmed governor across different cases. He was called unprintable names but he forgave all his accusers, and opened wide his arms to embrace them while extending the olive branch to all. That is the man of the people!
Finally, the staying power for Governor Eno is his trust in God and his belief in the people entrusted in his care.