•Governor Umo Eno
For me, this matter touches my heart. It speaks volumes about the calibre of leader and governor we have in Akwa Ibom State.
Never in the history of this state has any governor gone out of his way to pursue passionately and seek to complete the uncompleted projects of the previous Administrations, as Governor Umo Eno has done.
I am a truth teller. When it comes to truth, I am virtually apolitical. And like most professionals in this business of journalism, I bow my head only before the temple of truth, justice and fair play.
Never in my career that spans more than three decades of crisscrossing Nigeria and other nations of the world, have I encountered a leader that is entirely sold out to the people he leads as this Pastor who now governs Akwa Ibom.
It is precisely because of his people, and his people alone, that Governor Eno has broken with the Nigerian tradition of new governors seeking to start new projects of their own rather than completing the economically viable projects of their predecessors. This is very unNigerian. In fact, some say it is impolitic. He should start new ‘legacy’ projects of his own, they say, and forget about what others left behind.
But Governor Eno is remarkably and refreshingly different, or if you like, idiosyncratic, in his leadership style and approach to governance. For him, it is truly the end, or should I say the punctuation, of politics and governance as usual.
To be sure, the man is not afraid of the so-called legacy projects or oblivious of the importance of landmark projects of his own. The mind blowing, audacious and internationally acclaimed ARISE Palm Resort is a case study.
So is the ambitious Medical Corridor in the making right now as well as the sprawling Ibom Shopping City. On their own, the three landmark projects above are cited within Uyo City and projects that would intimidate ordinary mortals. But this man is not ordinary. He is extraordinary.
What has set Governor Eno apart is the incredible courage and zeal he has taken on and tackled many gigantic projects left behind by other governors dating back to 12 years, when he himself was minding his personal business quietly as a suburban pastor and hospitality entrepreneur.
Make no mistakes, Akwa Ibom State is blessed and nationally recognised and sometimes envied for consistently putting their best leg forward when it comes to their choice of governors. I have severally written and spoken about this in the national print and electronic media.
Right from the revered Governor Victor Attah [May 29,1999, to May 29, 2007] who is now regarded as the Father of Modern Akwa Ibom, through to Governor Godswill Akpabio [May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2015], the Uncommon Governor, down to Governor Udom Emmanuel [May 28, 2015, to May 29, 2023], the man who sees tomorrow, Akwa Ibom governance has recorded a winning streak, an uninterrupted series of consecutive victories for the people.
However, Governor Eno has not only been outstanding. He stands out. Not just in inclusivity and equity but in the unity of purpose in spite of latent diversity.
This unity of purpose is best demonstrated, not just by the way he has ensured that every LGA has something to boast of as a dividend of democracy but more so by the major uncompleted projects of his predecessors that he is following up to the logical conclusion.
For Governor Eno, government is a continuum and abandoning major projects started by his predecessors for the people translates to a huge wastage of Akwa Ibom resources. To him, the people’s money cannot go down the drain under his watch.
In the case of Ibom Aviation Hub, initiated by Governor Attah, the landing of the first aircraft in the airport accomplished by Governor Akpabio and the initiation of multiple award winning Ibom Air, the fully automated international wing of the Victor Attah International Airport, VAIA, as well as the construction of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO, workshop started by Governor Emmanuel, Governor Eno has sunk in such huge investments that the federal government November 27, 2026, took knowledge of the airport and upgraded it to an International status.
In the case of the Ibom International Hotel and Convention Centre, started by Governor Akpabio and abandoned for more than 10 years, Governor Eno has stripped down the entire carcass of the 14-floor, 200-room hotel and assigned a reputable international construction company to rebuild it.
“This hotel will redefine the hospitality business in this entire region of Nigeria. When visitors arrive here, they will marvel at the luxury that awaits them… “, Ellie Najem said. Najem should know because he is the project manager of Ratcon Construction Company, the company reconstructing and making-over the hotel complex.
For the Ibom International Convention Centre which was just above the DPC (Damp Proof Course), Governor Eno has redesigned the 5000-capacity seat (main hall alone) and is turning it into what Africa should be proud of, if the 3D images displayed at the site are anything to go by.
The clamour now is for Governor Eno to switch his attention also to Science & Technology Park, conceived and designed by Governor Attah as a 35-hectare technological innovation, software development, and vocational training centre, to drive economic growth and youth employment.
Promoted in the beginning as Akwa Ibom Silicon Valley, the project now abandoned for more than two decades, has in the words of the respected Guardian Newspaper gone from “promise to paralysis”.
Said Governor Eno on his mission to complete viable abandoned projects: “I have been asked why we are spending money to complete the 200-bedroom Ibom Hotels which has been abandoned for years and my answer is simple: I came not just to deepen peace and unity in my state but to deploy my finishers’ anointing especially on projects that may have gulped billions of state’s resources already.”
