Saturday February 1, 2025 | TheNewsDESK

By Imoh ETIMUDO

Many are desperately waiting for it. In fact, at the risk of blasphemy, if people prepared for the coming of Christ the way they tarry for it, then a multitude of souls would have been saved.

Perhaps, the unlikelihood of that ministry is a great disappointment to many who desperately wanted to work there and profit from there. But why is it only that ministry that the governor has turned down considering that in addition to the ministries he inherited upon assumption of office, he created the Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways, created two full-fledged ministries from the hitherto Ministry of Youth and Sports, hence there are now separate Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Youth Development?

He also changed the Ministry of Agriculture to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and very recently, based on the bill passed into law by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, there is a nascent Bureau of ICT. Evidently, those who may have been waiting for that ministry of their interest are waiting for “Godot”.

As his administration cruises on, the chances of the ministry diminishes the more, and there is no possibility nor hope in sight for the expectants, and Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State is admired for his disposition in that direction, and it is winning him awards from all flanks.

There is no way a governor will have such a ministry in mind and clear backlog of pensions, gratuities and other entitlements owed workers in the State, both serving and retired. He has already cleared 47 billion Naira out of the 97 billion Naira owed them, in less than 19 months in office so far. He would have hid behind the ministry and give excuses, and said he did not owe them in the first place. After all, such ministry is viable elsewhere for those who welcome it.

For a governor who has built compassionate homes for the vulnerable and facilitated free food distribution to the needy across the State, it is impossible that such ministry could be mentioned 200 miles close to him. A good number of these people have no electoral value, which is the “letter headed paper” of the ministry but the governor does not care. His love for his people is not predicted on what he may stand to gain but on what his people stand to benefit and stand tall.

How will a man who wants to create such ministry show such love for the senior citizens of the State? He has laid the foundation for a centre for them in addition to the monthly financial support he gives to these his “fathers and mothers.”

The rejection of the monster ministry is responsible for the aggressive rural development of ubiquitous roads, and sprouting of other critical infrastructure within and outside the State.

Whether one is talking about the model primary schools or the primary health centres which are all over the State, they are there because the ministry is not there.

So also is the unprecedented empowerment programmes for the youths of Akwa Ibom State, running into 100 thousands with different packages and formats. Through the Ibom-LED, Governor Eno is making Akwa Ibom young entrepreneurs to feel good governance.

How about his investment in aviation sector development? It is not possible to juxtapose such investment with the rejected ministry.

That is also why the governor is set to flag off 31 new projects before May this year. He is beginning on the first day of February with the Command and Control Centre at Brook’s Street Uyo. Others will be the Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation House, General Hospital Ibiono Ibom, Uyo Convention Centre, International Market, Ikot Ekpene, ARISE Renal Medical/Dialysis Centre, Ibom Hotel, Abuja and the Medical Village. It is a long list of 31 projects that will make the 31 local government areas of the State proud because like Nigerians will say, “ego reach everybody.”

What Governor Eno has achieved because of the absence of the ministry is endless. In fact, it is even more pronounced in his inclusive leadership, having a fantastic relationship with every Akwa Ibom person irrespective of political persuasions, dialectal differences, gender or age. To him, everyone is a major stakeholder and partner in the Akwa Ibom project.

Meanwhile, a Town Hall Meeting across the State is in the offing. This is because the governor recognizes the importance of the people in a democratic setting, and allows them take ownership of government through consultations and inputs to form the part of the policies and programmes of his administration. There is no way that ministry would have allowed the governor embark on this.

Governor Umo Eno is answering the leadership question with excellence. He is attempting all questions with mastery, the way a bright student will do and collect extra sheets to write. This is an ‘A1’ performance!

He is to a very great extent, a populist leader who means well for all. His guiding principle is that one cannot reject the ingredients of development and expect development by wishful thinking. That is why it is now a harvest of projects in Akwa Ibom State.

More endearing still is his capacity to take decisive actions and the rare courage for quick implementation of decisions. He has injected efficiency into the public service through his welfarism disposition and has made far-reaching efforts at inculcating official responsibility and other values in the people.

Very importantly, he is taking charge and taking responsibility for his administration. That is why he says it is his exclusive right to assemble his team. According to him, they are his first eleven. That allusion to football underscores the value the governor places on Akwa Ibom people, and is poised to give them the best by assembling the best and the brightest to drive the ARISE Agenda. That is the portrait of the multiple award-winning governor!

And all of these are possible because the least on the governor’s list for Akwa Ibom people is that “ministry.” He has disappointed many who expected him to play politics in governance. Governor Umo Eno has no space for Ministry of Politics in Akwa Ibom State. He does not want it, he has no need for it, and will not create it.

*Imoh Etimudo, PhD writes from the cocoa and rice farms of Itu Mbonuso in Ini Local Government Area.