By Imoh Etimudo
From Ibom Towers in Lagos to Control Tower in Uyo, he is crooning Akwa Ibom State on the runway of investment with attendant economic benefits. He has literarily replaced pit mentality with a cockpit orientation for the people of the State. That is the guiding principle as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno invests for the State on land, in the air and the sea.
Coming on board as governor when the nation’s economy has been shot in the arm, Governor Eno believes the problem cannot be successfully solved by mere roadside stitches but through professional reparative economic surgery through long range investment initiatives that will buffer the State in future economic hardships, pointing, in practical terms, to the concept of economic diversification, preaching in action the sermon, “Akwa Ibom State, thou shall not live by federal allocation alone!”
This is finding expression through various investments for Akwa Ibom State, especially in the past two days where the investment driven governor has shuttled Lagos to Uyo in search of the goose that will lay the golden egg for Akwa Ibom State. In his wisdom, these eggs should not be put in one basket, if the State must survive rainy days.
Hence, the choice to invest in real estate, seaport and the aviation sector which are money-spinners in the best currencies. That made majority of the people are in support for the governor on the 18-storey Ibom Towers project, making the project to be qualified to known as “Tower With One Tongue.” Or how else could one capture a project where stakeholders, professionals and analysts hail Governor Eno on the initiative, despite unsuccessful attempts by an infinitesimal few with biased criticism that ended up spurring the governor than discouraging him.
Then the amazing investment in the aviation sector, with Ibom Air as the beautiful bride. This was more pronounced when the airline received two brand new CRJ 900 aircraft to swell the fleet of burgeoning airline, boosting activities in the entire aviation ecosystem which Akwa Ibom State is playing host.
It was such a moving complement by the management of Ibom Air that Governor Umo Eno stood between Ibom Air and the bank in such a way that they can only describe as “the triumph of public finance over conventional finance.” Because the governor is passionate about the survival and boom of Ibom Air, he deployed public funds to help the airline stand with the hope that when the money begins to come, it will be taken back to government purse for use in the development of other sectors of the economy. Of course, if the governor allowed Ibom Air to access bank facility by itself, it would have attracted so much interest. But Governor Eno took away such heavy burden from the shoulders of Ibom Air.
The governor graciously fully funded and financed the two new aircraft in a manner Ibom Air confessed is not known in the management of public finance.
Thus, the strong recommendation that many years to come, Governor Umo Eno’s initiative should be studied in business school and public finance.
Meanwhile, the arrival of the two brand new aircraft means increase in capacity and frequency to meet the increasing demands of air travellers who have made Ibom Air their preferred wings.
These latest additions are the fourth to be received by the airline within the space of one year, and make it three within the 2024 calendar year.
A leader who cares about the people, Governor Eno made a strong case for air travellers into and out of Akwa Ibom State, noting that flight cancellations should be scarce in their dictionary, even as Ibom Air management gave assurances to that effect.
While the two new aircraft will be deployed to the Uyo – Lagos and Uyo – Abuja routes especially during the Yuletide, it is just a warm up in the domestic space, the mission is to eventually connect the regional network to Uyo as the New Airport Terminal will soon commence services.
On its part, the MRO is 95% completed, and will be ready for business by next year; another tree that will bear money as its fruits.
Ibom Air refers to Governor Eno as their number one shareholder, supporter and cheerleader. But his revolution and innovation in leadership is beyond Ibom Air or the aviation sector, he is a governor of solutions and possibilities.
He has achieved a lot already for his people, and he is working for a lot others to be achieved. Ibom Deep Seaport is sailing in because government has done the right thing with the consultants of the project; an aviation village will be flagged-off by Governor Eno in a fortnight, just as judiciary quarters will be done in Uyo, a special ambulance service will be launched in Uyo and an international market at Ikot Ekpene will be flagged-off between now and December.
Meanwhile, the governor is not yet done with investment for the future of Akwa Ibom State. The next port of call will be the laying of foundation for a four-star hotel for Akwa Ibom State in Abuja, where again, he wants to turn an obsolete State Government property into a viable revenue generator for the State.
This is because the governor believes that the only alternative to investing for Akwa Ibom State is for government to tax the citizens, but as a passionate and empathetic leader who is quite sensitive to the economic mood of the nation, he does not even contemplate taxing the citizens but prefers to invest in areas that will generate income for the State other than the routine revenue allocation.
That is why the youth-friendly governor is still delivering on his promises for Akwa Ibom youths because he wants everyone to be on the same page in navigating the muddy waters of the economy. The latest will be the payment of #50,000 to 5,000 youths of the State, harvesting the “first fruit” of the recently launched Youth Employment Portal as part of the empowerment programme for them.
On the whole, it is so reassuring to Akwa Ibom State to hear from their governor that their money is in safe hand; that he will continue to invest on things that will benefit the majority rather than put money in the pocket of a few. Since every investor needs returns, Governor Eno has has equally challenged such investment as Ibom Air to begin to bring the dividends of the State’s investment so that such income can be used to fix other areas of needs of the people.
Truly, Governor Eno has given Akwa Ibom State the wings to fly, building on the successes of past administrations. Like the Swissair advert says, “How Man Was Meant to Fly,” he has really shown Akwa Ibom State is meant to fly and be in the radar of prosperity and development, with him in the cockpit.
Governor Eno is so plain and open in his policies and programmes as a Governor that one would say he is operating more as a pastor than a politician. But listening to the Chairman of Ibom Air, Pastor Imo-Abasi Jacob that Governor Umo Eno’s triumph of public finance over conventional finance should be studied in business school on public finance, and juxtaposing that with the fact that Governor Eno has bagged a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration, there appears to be a conflict.
Who should take credit for this exemplary governance? Is it Governor Eno the Pastor or Governor Eno the philosopher? But he was doing good before he bagged his PhD. Hence, let it be shared among the “two”. A combination of many backgrounds has blessed Akwa Ibom State with a governor who wants the best for the State.
The supposed battle by philosophers and pastors is not against Governor Eno, but a battle for him, to win him for themselves, or their profession because success has many fans. In fact, it is more of a scramble than a battle; they scramble for him! They do not fight him, they fight for him and to win him to themselves. It is a scramble for gold!
