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Umo Eno: Akwa Ibom’s Omoluwabi Set For the Golden Era

Published

3 years ago

May 26, 2023

Editor

Michael Effiong

If she was alive today, Prof. Sophie Oluwole would have been brimming with smile, she would have been grinning from ear to ear because I had inserted the Yoruba word “Omoluwabi” to the tittle of this article.

Prof. Oluwole of blessed memory, who was a consistent figure in the Department of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos. Everybody in the Faculty knew her and her ways.

She usually frowned at people for quoting European or American philosophers, sayings or idioms in articles. For her, Africans, especially Yorubas, have more than enough philosophers, philosophies and wise sayings to use in garnishing any piece of writing.

Now to my topic: Pastor Umo Eno is many things to many people, but there is no doubt that he is the kind of man that the Yorubas will call “Omoluwabi”.

An Omoluwabi is a person of honour who believes in hard work, respects the rights of others and gives to the community in deeds and action. In addition, an Omoluwabi is a person of integrity. Omoluwabi translates to that person who is a paragon of excellence in character.

Some of the principles usually exhibited by an Omoluwabi include: wisdom in the use of words, respect, compassion, truth, bravery and intelligence.

If we consider all these traits of an Omoluwabi, no one can argue that Pastor Umo Eno fits the bill perfectly, and Akwa Ibom is lucky to have such a man as Governor-elect.

From a very humble background, Pastor Eno began life in the barracks. His father, a police officer, died when he was finding his way in the world and thus, he had to grow up quickly.

When his mates left secondary and went on to higher institutions, he had to work to eke a living and augment the income of his parents.

So a lot of people, in today’s political arena, who have enjoyed what is now known as the “soft life” cannot relate to his kind of situation. They think it is odd for one to leave secondary school and bag a university degree 20 years later!

Pastor Eno had no hesitation putting his personal wants, aspirations and goals in abeyance and that was the Omoluwabi ethos at play.

For those who don’t know, after working for years, rising to the position of Group General Manager, he started his own business, Royalty Hotel, from scratch and has built it into a conglomerate of businesses, called Royalty Group.

His trajectory can be traced. He did not come into sudden wealth through government contracts or inherit wealth, he worked his way to the top through painstaking hard work, focus and the grace of God.

He was at a time the second highest employer of labour after the state government and very few people knew him.

He was savouring his busy but private life and enjoying his time as a seasoned entrepreneur, committed Church shepherd, dedicated father and grandfather.

When he was invited to become Executive Director, Directorate of Agricultural Investment, Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation by Governor Udom Emmanuel, he gave it his very best. One of his major achievements in the course of that assignment was the enumeration of all farmers in the state.

He thought that he would quickly conclude that duty like he did under Governor Victor Attah, when he was appointed Chairman, Akwa Ibom Hotels & Tourism Board and return to his normal life without drama.

That was not to be because not too long after, he was made Commissioner of Lands and Water Resources and even given the mandate to set up Ibom FADAMA Microfinance Bank. As Board Chairman, he helped midwife the bank.

It was barely one year in that office, that everything changed. While some were busy telling everyone that the position of governor was Ogun mi (It is my inheritance) and others were shouting emi lo kan (It is my turn) . Pastor Eno was probably humming some part of the refrain in Evangelist Ebenezer Obey’s popular song, Aimasiko, where the legendary musician sang, O ro mi lowo Oluwa lo wa (My destiny is in God’s hands)

Indeed, God changed the whole course of Pastor Eno’s life on January 30, 2022, when as he had promised, Governor Udom Emmanuel declared to a hall filled with Akwa Ibom’s crème de la crème that God has revealed that his successor will be Pastor Umo Eno.

Immediately the announcement was made that Sunday evening, the naysayers went to work. First, they queried the reason he had to kneel down to greet his political father, the governor. They made so much hullabaloo over the picture.

Pastor Umo did not say a word. Like an Omoluwabi, he knows full well what it is to be respectful and give respect to whom it is due.

The next line of attack was body shaming. He was said to be too fair-skinned. Imagine?

Anyway, at her birthday thanksgiving service, his dear wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Patience Umo Eno openly declared that his traducers can call him whatever, but he is her ‘Golden Boy”! The narrative changed immediately. What they thought would be used derisively, became a positive and popular sing song. The moniker has stuck till today.

That was not all, they claimed that a man who was Senior Prefect in his Victory High School, did not attend the school or possess a WAEC certificate. How preposterous!

The certificate lie, as laughable as it seemed, was taken all the way to the Supreme Court by a PDP aspirant and I am told that in the history of the state, no candidate has faced the avalanche of court cases that Pastor Umo Eno has faced.

Just imagine a man which such a sterling reputation and pedigree being riddled with all manner of nasty and hurtful lies.

Despite all the attacks, as an Omoluwabi, he was the one urging his supporters and campaign team to sheath the sword. He consistently told them to steer clear of any negative narrative and he too stayed on message.

He must have told himself that this assignment is bigger than himself, it is for the good of all and meant to connect the dots, while furthering peace and prosperity in the state.

Truth be told, Pastor Umo Eno was the hardest working candidate. Despite being from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), which is the dominant party in the state, he took nothing to chance.

He began by paying consultation visits to prominent indigenes, political leaders, religious fathers and traditional rulers. He visited all three Senatorial Districts more than once in the course of the campaign.

Early enough as a man of vision, he gathered a team of experts and shared his thoughts about his aspirations for the state. Those forward-looking ideas were encapsulated in an economic blue print document called the ARISE Agenda.

ARISE stands for Agricultural revolution, Rural development, Infrastructural maintenance/advancement, Security management & Educational advancement.

According to the document, he wants to expand and encourage Agri-business, create food security and sufficiency. Invest in crop, fishery and animal husbandry from raw material production, processing, off-taking, complete with storage and delivery facilities. While also exploring the huge job and wealth creation benefits of the blue economy.

Being a tourism investor, he wants to develop the shoreline for tourism purpose and make the state a tourists’ haven and hub. His target is to ensure people come and spend their money in the state.

He is very keen on rural development, women and youth empowerment and intends to stem the tide of rural-urban drift by providing facilities and incentives in the rural areas..

He believes that a secure environment is a fertile ground for growth and investments. It is also a fertile ground for sound ideas. Therefore, security will be a major priority.

His plans also include skills development and support for SMEs, while creating a conducive environment for investors to thrive.

His agenda also involves a deliberate policy of training people to fit into strategic sectors to ensure that available jobs are taken up by Akwa Ibomites. A more efficient and purpose-driven public service is also part of his plan. For Pastor Umo Eno, all he wants to see is a big leap in the economic wellbeing of the people.

He was the first candidate to make his people-centered vision public, a sign that he is a man of more action, less talk.

Little wonder that when he was asked why he settled for Pastor Eno, in a February 2022 interview, Governor Udom stated confidently: “ We were looking for my successor not a surrogate and he fits the bill. Umo Eno is a highly respected person; he has enormous capacity, is an epitome of humility, and is blessed with the common touch, a compelling story and is God-fearing.

“He is a successful entrepreneur who has employed our people, lifted thousands from poverty to prosperity. He has an economic blueprint that will further guarantee employment. His life story resonates with the story of most ordinary Akwa Ibom people”.

Governor Udom was spot on about his assessment because this serial investor is a man with competence, capacity, character and above all, compassion.

He is a serious-minded achiever and that is why immediately after filling out and submitting his nomination forms, he again set up a body of experts who went round the LGAs on a needs assessment expedition.

Perhaps drawing from his experience as a Rotarian and member of Rotary International, he knows full well that by delivering projects that communities desire, he will be impacting their lives significantly and also ensuring sustainability of such a project.

He was therefore well informed when he began his campaign. He went to all 31 LGAs and each time, hit the mark with his message. He also visited critical organisations and groups, rounding it off with a bus tour. No other candidate achieved that feat. It was no surprise therefore, that his victory was overwhelming.

Despite the fact that the people spoke loudly and clearly on March 18, 2023, he immediately extended a hand of friendship to all, as an Omoluwabi.

His effort at rapprochement has been accepted by some, while others have gone to the tribunal to regurgitate worn out pre-election issues.

Despite the fact that his olive branch is being rebuffed, he has remained cool and calm.

The reason for his cool mien could have been explained by Prof. Oluwole as Pastor Eno showing his traducers that Bi bi re o se fo wo ra , meaning, good upbringing or breeding is priceless. It cannot be bought with money.

Thus, because of his upbringing and parental training, as they go low, he, as Michelle Obama stated, has decided to go high.

As he prepares for his inauguration and swearing in on May 29, 2023, Pastor Eno, his Deputy Governor-elect, Senator Akon Eyakenyi and team are firmly focused on the task of ushering in the golden years and creating the enabling environment for the people to enjoy happy hours of achievements in different spheres of their lives. For him as a true Omoluwabi, it is forward ever, backward never.

Effiong, a journalist is the Editor, Ovation International Magazine

Featured

Why I Visited Nnamdi Kanu in Prison – Alex Otti

Published

14 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has explained the reasons behind his much talked about visit to the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in Sokoto Correctional Centre.

Nnamdi Kanu was found guilty of all the seven count charges of terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government, and sentenced to life imprisonment, by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on November 20.

The governor also declared his intention to retire from partisan politics after serving as governor of the state.

Governor made these remarks in Umuahia while reacting to a viral video in which an individual berated him for visiting the IPOB leader in Sokoto Correctional Centre recently and alleged that the visit was aimed at positioning him (Otti) for either the presidential or vice presidential ticket. Otti however, denied having any presidential or vice presidential ambition after his governorship role.

According to him, he would not even contest for the senatorial position after serving as governor of Abia State.

Criticisms, he said, are part of democracy, adding that everyone is free to hold an opinion, even as he acknowledged that some criticisms, especially undue ones, are far from being the truth.

His words, “In the first place, that is the beauty of democracy. So, people should hold their opinions, and we respect people’s opinions. And that you hold a different opinion doesn’t mean you are right.

“One of the things he talked about was my ambition after being governor. And I had said it before, and I want to say it again, that by the time I’m done with governorship, I will retire.

“So, I don’t have presidential ambition, nor vice-presidential ambition. I also don’t have senatorial ambition. So, when I finish with the governorship, I’ll retire.

“I came for a mission. And when I deliver that mission, I will give way to younger people. So, he was talking of Igbo presidency. I don’t even understand what that means.

“So, I think if his thesis is based on that assumption, the assumption has collapsed, because he won’t see me on the ballot.

The Abia governor argued that it is important for a political office holder to know when to quit, especially when the politician has done what he is asked to do.

“When you have done what you have been asked to do, you clear, give way for other people. We’ve seen people here, after being governor who went to serve as Local Government Chairman. That’s not what we are. We are not cut out for those kinds of things.

Otti used the forum to explain why he visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto prison.

He said, “The second point is about Nnamdi Kanu. And I don’t want to put this matter in the public space so that it doesn’t jeopardise the discussions that I’m having.

“The truth about it is that exactly 24 months ago, I opened up discussions at the highest level on Nnamdi Kanu.

“And going to see him is the right thing to do, because he comes from my state. In fact, he comes from this local government (Umuahia North – the state capital).

“And there are always ways to solve a problem. I don’t believe that the way to solve a problem is to ignore it. And I had written extensively, even about Nnamdi Kanu and Operation Python Dance, I think in 2017 or 2018. And I condemned it.

“And I still condemn it. And some of the recordings that the gentleman put in his video, I cannot vouch for the veracity of that recording.”

Governor Otti maintained that he knows that when an issue has been approached from the legal point of view, there is also another window called the administrative point of view, stressing that, that is where he (the governor) is coming from.

“I’m not a lawyer. And if the judiciary says the man has been condemned to life imprisonment, that is the judiciary. Even that is not the end, because that’s the court of first instance. There is still an opportunity to appeal and then an opportunity to even go to the Supreme Court.

“But what we are trying to do is to intervene. I’m not a supporter of the disintegration of Nigeria.

“So, my position is that it would be insensitive of me to sit here and say one of our own who has been convicted should die when we have an opportunity to discuss, negotiate, and sue for peace. So, that is my position,” he said.

Featured

How Glo Network Became the Lifeline That Saved Two Lives: A True Story from Sallari

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Eric

By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

It was one of those calm, bright mornings in Sallari, a town in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State. I had gone to visit my longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Muhammad Umar Abdullahi, at his private facility, Rauda Clinic and Maternity. We were in his office discussing research, the usual challenges of medical practice, and other issues when the sound of hurried footsteps and anxious voices broke the calm. A young man rushed in, calling for the doctor.

Without hesitation, Dr. Muhammad sprang into action. I followed him instinctively. Within moments, two people burst through the gate, one man carrying a weak, heavily pregnant woman in his arms. Her breathing was shallow and wheezy, her face pale, and her body trembling between labor contractions and an asthma crisis. The scene was intense, we both knew that every second counted.

The team quickly moved her to the emergency bed. The Chief Medical Director Dr. Muhammad and his nurses worked swiftly to stabilize her breathing and monitor the baby. Oxygen was connected, IV lines were set, and within minutes, her breathing began to steady. The baby’s heartbeat was strong. After a short but tense period, she delivered a healthy baby girl. Relief filled the room like a gentle wind.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but admire the efficiency and dedication of Rauda Clinic and Maternity. The facility operated with the precision and compassion of a modern hospital. Every member of the team knew their role, every piece of equipment was in place, and the environment radiated calm professionalism. It reminded me that quality healthcare is not only about infrastructure, but about commitment and readiness when it truly matters. Rauda Clinic stood out that day as a quiet pillar of excellence and hope for patients and families alike.

The following day, I placed a call to Dr. Muhammad to ask about the condition of the woman who had been brought in the previous morning. He sounded cheerful and relieved. “Both mother and baby are fine now,” he said. Then, with deep reflection in his voice, he narrated the extraordinary story behind their survival, a story that showed how a single phone call, made at the right moment, became the bridge between life and death. As I listened to him recount the events, I couldn’t help but marvel at how sometimes, survival depends not only on medicine but also on connection.

Her name was Amina, a mother of three. That morning, she was alone at home, her husband was in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa state where he works, and her children had already gone to school. The first wave of pain came suddenly, followed by a tightening in her chest. Within minutes, she was gasping for air, her asthma worsening with every breath. She reached for her phone to call her husband, but the call wouldn’t go through. She tried again and again, each time, “Network error.”

Her strength was fading fast. She tried to reach her neighbors, but again, no connection. Alone, frightened, and struggling to breathe, she said she felt her end was near. Then, a thought crossed her mind, her maid had left her phone in the sitting room that morning. Gathering the last of her strength, Amina crawled toward the television stand where the phone lay.

When she reached it, she noticed the green SIM icon, it was a Glo line. Hope flickered. But when she tried to make a call, she saw there was no airtime. That could have been the end until she remembered Glo’s Borrow Me Credit service. With trembling fingers, she dialed the Glo borrow me code and she got the credit instantly, and that small credit became her lifeline.

Her first attempt to reach her husband failed. Then she dialed her younger brother, Umar. This time, the call went through immediately. Interestingly, Umar is a Glo user too. Without delay, Umar and his wife rushed to her house, found her collapsed on the floor, and carried her into their car.

On their way, Umar called ahead to alert the doctor, and again, the call went through clearly. By a remarkable coincidence, Dr. Muhammad was also using a Glo line. That seamless connection meant the hospital team was fully prepared by the time they arrived. Within minutes, Amina was stabilized, and both she and her baby were safe.

The next morning, Dr. Muhammad told me that Amina had smiled faintly and said to him, “Doctor, when every other network failed me, Glo answered. If that call hadn’t gone through, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Her words carried a truth that stayed with me. It wasn’t just a patient’s gratitude, it was a testimony about the power of reliable connection. At that moment, Glo wasn’t just a telecommunications network, it was the bridge between life and death, between despair and hope.

In today’s world, a simple phone call can determine whether someone lives or dies. That day reminded me that technology, when dependable, is not just about data speed, it’s about human connection at its most critical. Glo proved to be that connection: steady, available, and trustworthy when it mattered most.

Before she was discharged, she laughed and told the doctor she had already chosen a nickname for her baby “Amira Glo.” They both laughed, but deep down, Dr. Muhammad understood the meaning behind that name. It symbolized gratitude, faith, and survival.

As I ended the call with Dr. Muhammad that day, I felt a quiet pride. I had witnessed not just the miracle of life, but the harmony of medicine, compassion, and reliable technology. Through Rauda Clinic and Maternity, I saw what true service means, dedication without boundaries, and connection that saves.

Amina’s story isn’t an advert, but living proof that sometimes, when every other signal fades, Glo stands firm, and when every other facility seems far away, Rauda Clinic and Maternity remains a beacon of care and excellence.

For patients, families, and health workers alike, Glo is proven to be a network of necessity. It connects life to hope, when every second truly counts…

Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba writes from Kano, and can be reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com

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Delta Govt Confirms Death of Senator Nwaoboshi at 68

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2025

Eric

Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi, the former lawmaker who represented Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has passed away. He was 68.

Reports said that Nwaoboshi died on Friday in Abuja following a brief illness.

His demise was confirmed in a condolence statement issued by the Delta State governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

Expressing sorrow, the governor described Nwaoboshi’s passing as a monumental loss to Delta State, the Anioma nation, and the Nigerian federation.

In the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, Governor Oborevwori hailed the late Senator as a “fearless advocate” of the Anioma cause whose contributions to nation-building remain indelible.

The governor recalled Nwaoboshi’s impactful tenure in the Red Chamber, particularly his role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.

He noted that Nwaoboshi’s consistent advocacy for the development of the oil-rich region distinguished him as a passionate and committed leader.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I mourn the passing of my dear friend, Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi,” the governor said.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, the people of Anioma nation, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and all those whose lives he touched. I pray that Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest.”

Before his elevation to the Senate in 2015, he served meritoriously as a two-term Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, where he was instrumental in consolidating the party’s grip on the State.