UMO ENO IS THOROUGH BREED, FOLLOW HIS FOOTSTEPS – EX MINISTER TELLS COLLEGE OF PAs

Evangelist.com.ng edition, Friday, November 3, 2023. By Joseph Ekong

The political leader of Eket Senatorial District Rt. Hon. Chief Nduese Essien has advised college of personal assistance to the governor, Eket section to follow the footsteps of Pst. Umo Eno in order to meet expectations and deliver on the mandate of their office.

He stated this during the courtesy and familiarization visit of the newly inaugurated Ward Personal Assistants to the Governor, Eket chapter, at his Ntaisip residence, Ikot Ibiok.

The fourteen member forum was led by their dean, Hon Monday Umoh, ably supported by the former PDP chapter Chairman in Eket, Pastor Godwin David with Hon Ime Assam, as their live wire.

In his remarks, the two term federal lawmaker first of us congratulated them for being selected as personal aides to the governor, from their respective wards, and charged them to show class and be alive to their responsibilities.

” We are all living witnesses to the fact that the selection was an uphill task in some wards to bring out one person from the motley crowd. In some wards, the process was less cumbersome while in others, it was rancorous and a fight to finish , but we thanked God that peace eventually prevailed when the chips were finally down ” Essien said.

“Some of you here had already served in one office or the other and you know the peculiarities of that office. May be, because you performed creditability well in that office, is the yardstick used in giving you a second chance to continue with your good works ”

The former federal minister of lands and housing specifically gave kudos and paid tribute to some of them in the team that had previously served meritoriously as councillors, supervisors, youth leaders, ward and chapter executive, saying that experience teaches best.

Chief Nduese Essien told the rookies among them that this particular appointment is like a ” temptation” and that, their future relevance and continuous dominance in the political arena will surely depend on how successfully they hold this position that has been entrusted in their hands.

He advised them to use the position to either move up the political ladder or use it to exit from politics, because it is a make or mar situation.

Speaking further, the erudite elder statesman said that for now, their duties are still hazy since the government of the day is yet to define their specific roles, responsibilities, job description and schedule.

He however commended Pastor Umo Eno led administration for making these appointments but advised that he shouldn’t be like the previous appointments, where somebody gets appointed, has no office, no defined schedule of duties, no supervisor of duties to check what the person does, but just stay idly at home and be collecting salaries and at the end, learns nothing from the position.

The revered Atta of Eket also used the occasion to remind them of the warning from the Governor that none of them has been appointed as leader in their respective wards.” There are people that have been there already and know it better than you. You have to learn and take instructions from them.”

Based on the ARISE agenda of the present administration, Chief Nduese Essien further observed that Pastor Umo Eno is doing things a little bit different from his predecessors and advised his personal aides to follow his footsteps and join the bandwagon.

He referred to the state helmsman as a thorough bred businessman who does not believe in wastages, but wants every money at his disposal to be judiciously used in servicing the masses and the rural dwellers. He alsi applauded the governor for not believing in fanfare of wearing of ceremonial uniforms and throwing money around in public places, so that anybody that catches it will take it and run. ” Gov Umo Eno means well for the state and he wants the state to come out of its present state to the next higher level.”

Responding on behalf of the governor’s aides, the trio of the Dean, Hon Monday Umoh, deputy dean, Hon Godwin David and Secretary, Hon Ime Assam, from the three geopolitical zones, gave thumbs up to the leadership prowess , versatility and acumen of the Ada Idaha ke Efik Eburutu and thanked him immensely for allowing them to share from his tower of strength, fountain of knowledge, wealth of experience and words of wisdom and advice.

One of the highpoints of the occasion was when the erudite Chief Nduese Essien asked the governor’s aides individually to mention what he or she feels, should be his or her responsibilities as a governor’s representative in the ward, and use it to develop a blue print for their effective take off.