ONE YEAR OF INSPIRING LEADERSHIP OF HON UKO FRIDAY UMOH AND THE REBIRTH OF ETINAN ETINAN LGA
Otobong Nsekpong
Globally, great leaders use a variety of tools to excel in a leadership role. One of such tools is a personal leadership philosophy statement to help them establish a guiding leadership framework. These leadership philosophies vary depending on the leader’s goals and the type of leadership they believe in.
The structure of a personal leadership philosophy can vary greatly depending on the goals and needs of the leader. Some statements are as short as a sentence, while others may be a page or more.
According to Louis Carter, Founder and CEO of Best Practice Institute (BPI), a leadership philosophy is essentially a belief system that guides a leader in decision-making . It consists of his or her core principles, perspectives, and values.
Renowned leader like Mahatma Gandhi exemplifies the strength of nonviolent leadership while
Nelson Mandela’s approach highlights the transformative power of forgiveness.
In Akwa Ibom State, we had the ‘Come, Let’s build together of Obong Victor Attah during his time as governor and many others whose personal leadership philosophies fasten the pace of development in the state.
Coming down to governance at the third tier of government, not much had been heard of leaders having a clear cut leadership philosophy to guide their administration. No wonder, the “New Iman is Possible” philosophy of Hon Uko Umoh in Etinan generated so much interest beyond the local government area.
The new Iman is Possible philosophy is a reflection into the past where Etinan was a leading light in many aspects including education, commerce and politics. This philosophy championed by Hon Uko Umoh therefore seeks to bring back the glorious days of Etinan local government area as the brain basket of the state, the naira town and political base of peace and development.
Guided by this philosophy and the burning desire to make the local government a desired destination outside the state capital, the administration has put the right foot forward in many areas.
Having had the advantage of overseeing the affairs of the local government as Transition Chairman from December 2023 to September 2024, he immediately set the ball rolling by puting the experiences garnered as Transition Chairman to use in his new office as elected Chairman of Council.
One of such experiences was the report of an audit committee set up to evaluate the state of public infrastructure in the local government cutting across the 64 villages. The essence of setting up the committee was to take a critical look at public infrastructures in our communities that are no longer functioning and offer practical solutions that will resuscitate such facility for the good of the people. As executive Chairman today, that painstaking report has become a working document for his administration.
In the spirit of a New Iman Is Possible philosophy anchored on prudent management of resources as well as sincerity of purpose, the administration of Hon Uko Umoh has restored hope and confidence of the people in politics and governance.
The list of his achievements is inexhaustible spreading across infrastructure and human development.
The Honourable Uko Umoh’s administration is reputed as the first to declare tax holiday for people doing businesses in the local government. Between the 1st of December to 31st December 2024 business owners heaved sigh of relief while carrying out their businesses in the local government.
It was also the first time in the history of Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Etinan local government area that a cash gift of one million naira was donated to legionaries while a gift of wrappers was also given to wives and widows of members of the legion.
In the thick of the rainy season precisely Monday July 28, 2025, the Uko Umoh’s administration delivered brand new KIA Optima 2024 model and Toyota Corolla 2024 model to the Leader of the Legislative Council and the Secretary of Council respectively to enhance their performance in office.
The administration has reached out severally to people living with disabilities and the widows, making life easier for them.
In the area of infrastructure, Hon Uko Umoh comes out as an intentional leader who is well versed with the problem of his people and possesses the rare determination and courage to offer solutions to the problem.
He started by completing convinence facilities at the legislative chambers. The commissioned legislative chambers was with an uncompleted septic pit while the offices lacked the facilities of a modern Water system closet.
Hon Uko Umoh fixed the facilities in his first 100 days, creating a conducive environment for legislative businesses. No wonder , Etinan local government was the first to sign the 2025 appropriation bye law.
He then moved to the Council Hall named millennium hall and gave it a face-lift including the provision of ceiling fans making it conducive meetings.
In a bid to open up rural communities and boost rural economy, the administration graded over 96 KM of roads including opening of new ones.
The massive grading of roads was made possible by the fact that the council’s own grading machine which was dumped at a mechanic workshop outside the state was repaired and put back to use by the council.
Relying on the report of the special Project Implementation committee, eight rural communities have had either their moribund water facilities resuscitated or vandalized electricity transformers replaced.
Communities that had their water facilities fixed include Iwor Etor, Ikot Eba, Ikot Udo Otto and Afaha Akpan Ekpo and recently with the full support of the Council, the Councilor representing Southern Iman Ward 4 also resuscitated the Ayam Efa water project that had ceased functioning many years ago. Each of the communities where water project was resuscitated was given a brand new generating set to aid in running the pumping machine.
Communities that benefitted in the restoration of electricity include Ikot Ibok which was in darkness for over 15 years, Ikot Nkang where the community leadership was overwhelmed by the cost of replacing about ten concrete poles, Ekpene Ukpa and Etinan main Town. Today with the renewed vigor in power supply in Akwa Ibom state, these communities come alive once again.
Economic activities are booming, small businesses like welding, tailoring, barbing/hair dressing saloon, cool room business and many more are springing up daily thereby creating jobs for many unemployed hands courtesy of the visionary and inspiring leadership of Hon Uko Umoh.
In the education sector, the administration of Hon Uko Umoh apart from the purchase of UTME forms for 500 students also provided educational materials like note books and uniforms for public primary schools in the local government area.
In the health sector, the chairman has also stamped his feet and written his name in gold with the renovation of Ndon Utim Primary Health Centre which had become a home to wild reptiles and rodents. The village Head of Ndon Utim, Eteidung Joshua Fred Otong could not conceal his joy at the handing over ceremony when he declared that whosoever Hon Uko Umoh will present as candidates in the 2027 general elections will have the full support of Ndon Utim people.
For an administration that has a three year mandate, a legacy project would have been initiated in the second or third year with an intention to use it in campaigning for a second term. However, that is outside the New Iman is Possible philosophy as the chairman and his Council are doing everything within their power to redeem the time and restore the lost glory of Etinan local government area.
In the last one year, the administration has put in place an ultra modern motor park not found anywhere not only in the state but across the nation built by a local government area
Located at the premises of the old motor park along Uyo road, the new motor park comes with every modern facility to provide comfort for travelers including a ramp for people living with disabilities.
It has two toilet and a bathroom each for male and female passengers, a lost but found store where missing items will be kept. There is a borehole with overhead tanks in place to circulate water within the premises as well as solar panel security light to illuminate the premises at night
There is also a drive way that is fully asphalted with drains on both sides to evacuate water to the high way where there are deeper gutters and the premises is faced round with a gate house completed with a separate toilet as well.
There are designated places for parking of private cars as well as town service taxis, mini buses and motorcycles.
A 10 car pavilion has also been erected to accommodate the ten routes of Lagos, Abuja, Onitsha, Aba, Ibeno, Port Harcourt, Bayelsa, Calabar, Benin and Uyo.
The ultra modern park is not only an aesthetic design to behold along the Etinan- Uyo express way but it will also be a major source of revenue to the local government council.
With facilities such as lock up stores, a ware house, car wash, public toilet as well as an increase in the number of routes to be plied from the park, it is expected to rake in five to 10 million naira yearly.
As an inspiring leader, Hon Uko Umoh inspired Etinan contingent to the Akwa Ibom state sports festival to an enviable 4th position on the medal’s table. This was not the case in previous outings in the state.
All the achievements recorded by Etinan Council under the leadership of Hon Uko Umoh is made possible by the cordial relationship between the legislative and executive arms of the council. It is interesting to note that in Etinan council, breakfast meetings are rotated between members of the Executive and Legislative Council in their respective homes which has further cemented the bond of unity in the Council.
Of the truth,in just one year, Hon Uko Umoh has left an impressive mark in Political leadership in Etinan local government area.
It is therefore a clarion call on all sons and daughters of Etinan local government area to support the administration of Hon Uko Umoh to achieve more for the people. The wheels of progress is moving steadily and no son or daughter of Iman should prove to be a cog in the wheels of progress piloted by Hon Uko Friday Umoh.
Otobong Nsekpong is the Press Secretary to the chairman,Etinan LGA.
