Father and son orchestra, By Anietie Usen

•Udom and Eno

Governor Umo Eno and his predecessor Mr. Udom Emmanuel, exchange mutual respect at Christmas, showcasing a model that makes for peace and good governance

It was not the usual Father’s Day, a day of the year when fathers are particularly honoured by their children. But for Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, every day, especially Christmas Day is Father’s Day.

To be sure, Governor Eno’s biological father, Bassey Eno, died many years ago in active service as an Assistant Superintendent of Police. But as the governor has told everyone at every turn, his political father, historic mentor cum benefactor is Udom Emmanuel, the godly former Akwa Ibom governor, who fished him out of the backwaters and raised him to the pinnacle of political power in the serene subnational called Akwa Ibom State.

As good sons would normally do at Christmas, Governor Eno, gathered everyone under him in government and headed to Awa Iman, the countryside of his political father, to celebrate Christmas all day with his father, and gave him the respect, love and warmth that fathers savour in seasons like this.

The first port of call was the traditional old time Christmas morning church service, inside the old Awa Iman Qua Iboe Church building that dates back to perhaps 1906. It was jam packed, with tents outside to accommodate late comers.

The church service itself was conducted the old time religion way. Classical Christmas carols were rendered, not just by the choir but also by men and women fellowships. Awa Iman children, resplendent in their colourful Christmas dresses, were not left out of the celebration as they sang with heaven-like voices to honour the birth of Jesus Christ.

Some Qua Iboe churches like this one may have changed their names to United Evangelical Church, but there is no change or disunity in their doctrine. Even the style of worship and order of service have not changed much since the days of Samuel Alexander Bill, the Irish missionary, who founded the church in the present day Akwa Ibom State in 1887.

Perhaps one of the highpoints of this father’s day was the father’s love and joy, demonstrated in all that former Governor Udom Emmanuel said and did.

In spite of the tragic incident that visited the State PDP family the previous night, this father was graceful and obviously fulfilled to see his array of successful children and grandchildren surrounding his table, so to speak.

“I want to thank God we are here today. The devil almost made today impossible. But the Bible says, in all things, give thanks. It is a command and we give thanks to God. I also want to use this opportunity to thank the governor, my nuclear family, my siblings, cousins, nephews and nieces. I am grateful we are alive and complete in the village. Even though they tried to dampen our joy, I give God the glory. I sincerely want to thank the governor again for coming over…He didn’t come alone. He came with the entire Executive Council and even the DG of his governorship campaign Committee. I am grateful”, the father of the day, said in the intro of his extempore remarks.

It was his first Christmas since the end of his very accomplished 8-year tenure as governor. He told the gathering that it has been his tradition since he became the General Manager of Zenith Bank many years ago, to return to his village every year to celebrate Christmas. He inspired his audience with the story of his closeness and bond with his village church.

“It would have been incomplete if, despite my busy schedule, I didn’t come to worship in the village today… I never missed this day in my village. The reason is that when God promoted me many years ago to become general manager in Zenith Bank, my allowances increased, and I felt a call in my spirit to come home and help my home church. In the bank, there’s a tradition of receiving a fifteenth-month salary. I ensured that I used none of it for myself or my family. I split it: half for the Lagos church and half for my village church. Similarly, when I joined the government, I continued with the tradition…”.

Veering into politics, the respected former governor said it is a unique situation when a man of peace like him precedes a pastor as governor. During his tenure, he said he restored peace in the state and believes the covenant of peace he entered into with God will persist, especially with a pastor in the saddle as governor.

“People wonder about our camaraderie, my relationship with the governor. We will continue to collaborate even after his eight years as governor. The governor and I understand the challenges and know how to navigate them…Let me make it clear, the governor and I are united. Any support I can offer him, I will. This unique situation with a pastor as governor means that he must be a political model for Nigeria and Africa. So we all have a duty to pray for him…not gossip or backbiting… Let the church pray for him. Leading isn’t easy, especially with all eyes on the Government House. We must pray and exercise patience. Achievements take time…and I am here to support, not to disrupt…I hope that you’ll be here to worship with us in the village next Christmas…”

Soon, it was the turn of the visiting son to speak. The harmony and symphony showed up when the governor took over the microphone, standing tall in the pulpit with pastoral dignity. As a good son, he played it by the book and stuck to the rules of father-son relationship. He began with “as my father has said” and ended with “it’s a promise, sir, and one I intend to keep”.

The promise of worshipping with his father on Chrismas days predated his election as governor and he reiterated it in the church, direct from the pulpit.

“As long as God grants me life, we will continue to join you for Christmas celebrations, Sir. This gesture is the least we can offer, to show our love and respect for you as a father. I must thank you once again for seeing the potential in me that others did not; even the potentials that I myself wasn’t aware of. This visit therefore is a humble way of acknowledging that you are our leader, our father and we still have much to learn and receive from you”, the governor said in his off the cuff remark.

The son went ahead to affirm his government’s determination to rely on the former governor’s wisdom and wealth of experience. “Many people, after leaving office, feel isolated. But you are not one who will ever be lonely because you are surrounded by those you’ve nurtured. A father, whose children recognize and appreciate his wisdom and capacity, will never be lonely. We will always come for you, stand by you, and bank on your experience. We are your children”

Governor Eno also thanked his former boss for the quality mentorship and leadership skills imparted on him and his cabinet.

“In eight years, you shaped us all. You imparted leadership skills and embraced everyone. One thing I admire most about you, which I find challenging to do, is how you handled all types of individuals. Maybe you can lay hands on me here; perhaps it will help. “We had observed in the past moments when someone wronged you, yet upon meeting him, you’d exchange warm greetings, defying our expectations. That’s an attribute I lack but recognize the need to cultivate. I’ll be grateful for your guidance”.

He disclosed that though the former governor is out of office, his services to the people of the state and indeed Niger Delta are continuing and enormous. “On some occasions when I turned to my senior governor colleagues for guidance on some issues, they’d direct me back to you, saying ‘you have Abraham as a father. He was the one who used to help us out in such issues’ and I would run to you… and you would take up the matter and solve it successfully for us…I will always keep running back and forth to you for counsel, Sir”, the governor said.

Unlike the bad examples elsewhere in the country, Governor Eno said his predecessor has never put pressure on him to do anything since he took over from him on May 29, 2923. “I will say here standing on this altar that you have never brought any pressure on me since I took over from you. Not once. If anything, we’re the ones running after you asking for help. So I want to thank you for who you are, your principles, your lifestyle, that is a model for us all…You will always be my leader and I will always be your student”, the governor added.

This exchange of mutual respect was to follow soon after the church service with the Christmas ‘rice and stew, very plenty’, in the residence of the proud father, courtesy of Martha, the revered wife of the former governor. The father was completely enveloped in the warmth of his children and later led them out from the sumptuous meals to the village primary school, where cultural displays took over the festivities, in the traditional village dimensions of entertainment.

The next day, the father, in a show of reciprocity, arrived the country home of the son in Ikot Ekpene Udo, Ndit Ubium LGA, with his wife, Martha, and walked the street of the community with him to the venue of Boxing Day celebration. Here the governor responded in kind with all the courtesies and due honour to the former governor, in speeches, entertainment and celebration as the mammoth crowd of supporters from every part of the state, went wild with jubilation for the two servant leaders.

Said the governor: “This is a unity event to bring all of us together, in this small village of Ikot Ekpene Udo… As you all know, we have dedicated every December 25, to Awa Iman, Onna LGA, to go and celebrate with our father there. But on every December 26, as we see it happening now, we will prepare to make it happen next year even better”.

To many observers, the relationship between former governor Udom Emmanuel and Governor Umo Eno is fast taking the shape and colour of a model that should exist between godfathers and godsons and between predecessors and incumbent governors.