This article is based on the third book written by Anietie Usen titled And It Came To Pass and published by Parresia Publishers, Lagos, in 2024.
•Governor Umo Eno and the author, Anietie Usen (standing)
Looking at it from the perspective of a journalism teacher, this book seems to be the longest feature story ever written by a Nigerian journalist.
•Artistic impression of the author, Anietie Usen
And It Came To Pass could be described as an experiential political memoir, because the author, Anietie Usen, was an eyewitness to a momentous political event in the history of Akwa Ibom State. The author, at a point, became an active participant and chronicler of events who was embedded in some of the notable dramatic scenery, where he happened to be gifted enough to bring the dramatis personae to life.
Autobiographies, biographies and memoirs generally have the power to reveal someone’s life in raw form. From the struggles and challenges that key actors encountered to the hurdles they scaled, this genre of books covers it all.
In particular, And It Came To Pass reminds me of another great journalistic tour de force written by two outstanding American journalists – Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward titled ‘All The President’s Men’. Maybe, Anietie Usen’s book is All The Governor’s Men.
The book is delivered in simple, down to earth, clear, concise, captivating prose. It is detailed, well-researched, racy, gripping. Anietie Usen has , through this book, defended his best-in-class status among journalists of his generation in West Africa.
And It Came To Pass is the first ever blow-by-blow account of an electoral contest from the search, selection, ‘anointing’ , presentation, endorsement, nomination, litigations, campaigns, victory, assumption of office and strides of an elected governor in the first year in office. What is more, this book is written and published in record time of about three months of March to May, 2024.
LESSONS:
Without doubt therefore, there are real lessons to be learnt from this book. A curious reader gets to know that the former governor, Udom Emmanuel is a man of courage and strong convictions; a man , who, once he sets his sights on a goal, goes all out to pursue and achieve that goal. There’s a lesson in focus, determination, self confidence, self belief, strategic planning and a display of unapologetic mastery and control of his environment.
On page 270 of the book, Emmanuel Enoidem, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and a former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, is quoted as describing Udom Emmanuel in the following words: ‘He may not look intimidating and threatening, but he is not only courageous but a great strategist. If you underrate Udom Emmanuel’s strength in strategic planning, it is at your own peril’.
As submitted by Assam Assam, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Russia: “Even for daring to bring a pastor as a successor, a man without political sophistication… and declare that this Eket Pastor will perform 100 times better than him, an international banker… that is a mark of uncommon courage…”
The second lesson shows former Governor Udom Emmanuel as one with a ‘God complex’. Someone possessing a God complex is a “God centred” person who has 100% belief and trust in God and also in the infallibility of His plans.
On page 272 of this book, the Dean of Commissioners, Sir Monday Uko alluded to this fact. “I think he got that strength from his strong belief in God. Udom Emmanuel is very deep spiritually… That man does not miss his daily prayer hours, no matter what happens. He does not play with anything that has to do with God. You can say every other thing you want to say against him but he believes so much in God”.
Monday Uko, himself a Knight of John Wesley concluded his testimonial in these words: “…Udom Emmanuel is one man who is very deep when it comes to the things of God…he is very solid when it comes to God”. (Page 274).
The third lesson is from the life of the principal subject of the book as a contented person. On page xxxi, Governor Umo Eno says: “My father also had this belief that what he does not have cannot bother him. He was very content with what he had, and I think that is one of the graces God has given to me. I don’t disturb myself over what people have, and at every point in my life, I have been contented with what God has done for me”.
The fourth lesson speaks to industry, being self-driven, seeing opportunities and seizing them (see page xxxii lines 18-32).
The next lesson is that there is a sense of joy and fulfilment in self-help. “We were six of us…so my mother had to help. She would buy soft drinks, and we had to go round the streets of Ikeja and hawk them. We helped joyfully. It wasn’t embarrassing at all. In the barracks, it was like a competition amongst us children. My friends would call on me when they were leaving for the streets. It was fun”( Page xxxiv) .
There is a lesson on being a church-centred ethical person, on following a path that doesn’t conflict with one’s internal reactions. Pastor Umo Eno shut down his nightclub even after borrowing money to set it up on the day he was “called into the Ministry”. In his own words, “When I left the church that day, the nightclub came to an end. People couldn’t believe it. Yeah, it was painful, a great pain, but had to go”.
The book showcases a man with depth and insight on developmental issues, public speaking skills, breadth of knowledge, eloquence and power of articulation. It presents Pastor Umo Eno as someone who was prepared for his present status and station in life.
There is a lesson to learn about courts and court cases, namely that documents filed in the Court of Justice must be defended verbally as such documents cannot speak for themselves, especially in criminal cases.
There are two lessons on page 99. One teaches that anyone can make his or her way from the lowest estate in life to the highest rung in the society.
Said Umo Eno: “If I could crawl my way up from the abyss of hopelessness, and a few years later, became the second largest employer of labour in the state after the government, with a monthly wage bill of over N25 million, then you, too, can.”
That courage of conviction is again repeated on page 238. “People who heard my voice reading my Inaugural Speech knew this was not completely me. That God can bring me this far… from the basest of backgrounds, and all of a sudden, I just found out that tomorrow morning, by noon, I will be the governor. Ah! It was unbelievable. Unbelievable! I think God specialises in things that seem impossible”.
The other lesson still found on that page is Umo Eno’s heart of gratitude and humility.
Furthermore, there is a lesson on how a seemingly negative framing can turn into hilarious positivity. On page 207, the wife of Umo Eno declared: “They say my husband is albino, and some call him yellow fever, but I call him my Golden Boy”. It is not what others say you are, but on what you and those in your inner circle, your loved ones say you are!
On the whole, one sees this book as a new genre in book writing…In one word, one of the greatest strengths of And It Came To Pass is it’s recency. The account isn’t about yesteryears but very topical events that are still unfolding before our eyes. Most readers would have witnessed the events and can relate with the contents of the book.
•Book Reviewer, Dr. Udeme Nana
*Dr. Udeme Nana writes in from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Nana is a Mass Communication Scholar and the Founder of Uyo Book Club.
