What Umo Eno won’t pay

By Imoh Etimudo Most times, people concentrate so much on what has happened and forget about what will not happen for reasons best known to them. By that, they shy away from questions that beg for answers, and become taciturn with obvious truth. Akwa Ibom people were yet to recover from revelling in the joy […]

By Imoh Etimudo

Most times, people concentrate so much on what has happened and forget about what will not happen for reasons best known to them. By that, they shy away from questions that beg for answers, and become taciturn with obvious truth.

Akwa Ibom people were yet to recover from revelling in the joy of the 5.3 Billion Naira released by the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno for the payment of gratuities to retired workers when the governor increased the volume of the music they were dancing to with the approval of additional 1.5 Billion Naira to be released by for the same purpose, just before they got to bed on a good Wednesday.

This brings to 6.8 Billion Naira the amount of money approved so far by the governor for the continuous payment of gratuities to retired workers. Yes, that is a huge sum, and an excellent action by the governor that gives him out totally as a governor of the people.

But should we be so carried away by what the governor has paid to forget about what he has not paid?

When he criss-crossed the nooks and crannies of Akwa Ibom State soliciting for votes, he made some promises including leading the “ministry of reconciliation” in Akwa Ibom State, revolutionizing agriculture to achieve its value chain, aggressive rural development, education, health care, entrepreneurship and youth development, security management and ensuring general well-being of Akwa Ibom State and its people.

All of these, he was later to put together in one fluid essay, and governance bible-like blueprint, the ARISE Agenda which has become the compass that is navigating good governance in Akwa Ibom State in just six months into the journey.

It is rather disappointing that people seem to talk more about the governor paying the education trust fund he promised the physically challenged students in higher institutions, payment of contractors who are working at the model primary school, Christ the King Primary School, primary health care centre and others working on the rural roads, Akpan Andem Market adjourning streets and others.

People also talk more about the payment for the prompt delivery of the Dakkada Luxury Estate, the smart Airport Terminal Building at the Victor Attah International Airport and the approval for payment of the Thirteenth month salary graciously done by Governor Umo Eno. This makes the people forget about what the governor has not paid.

The way it is going, Akwa Ibom people may totally forget about what the governor has not paid, and at the risk of sounding like a prophet of “doom”, what the governor will eventually never pay.

This is because they are still basking in the euphoria of the latest approval of an additional 1.5 Billion Naira by the governor for the payment of gratuities to retired workers in the State, which according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ekerete Udoh, is “an attestation to the Governor’s humane disposition to the people of the State.”

Is this enough reason to forget about what the Governor has not paid? No! It is in the interest of Akwa Ibom people for attention to be drawn to such, so that the governor will be accorded what he deserves.

Most people have congratulated and appreciated Governor Umo Eno for coming to the rescue of the retirees. In its message of appreciation, a sociopolitical group, the ARISE Ambassadors, says Governor Umo Eno is paying gratuities, not lip service.

That is the crux of the matter. Evidently, the Governor has fulfilled most of what he promised Akwa Ibom people, or is the process of fulfilling others. He has shown serious commitment to ensuring that Akwa Ibom State continues to be the envy of all.

Thus, Governor Umo Eno is paying for the development, happiness and prosperity of Akwa Ibom State and the people. What the governor has not paid for, and will never pay is lip service. He is not paying lip service to his promise to make Akwa Ibom State a better place!

Hence, as we talk about what he has paid, let’s also find time to talk about what he has not paid, and won’t ever pay – LIP SERVICE!