INTERVIEW: Enough of Babysitting Umo Eno – Guber aspirant, Nseabasi S. J. King

Nseabasi S. J. King is a renowned columnist and public affairs analyst whose views on public issues shape and redirect public discourse both at the state and national levels.

In this bare it all interview, the former Head of Media, Office of the Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State, chose to introduce himself as the local farmer who wants to be governor because he is worried that we are hanging on a cliff and faced with an uncertain political future considering recent developments in the politics of the state.

Excerpts;

 Sir, there was this urgency in your voice when you called and asked to speak with us. What could this be?

 “Who are you that I should pick your call,” struck a raw nerve in me and ever since that vitriol, I have been struggling with what to make of it. I am afraid that things may never be the same again.

Are you in anyway referring to the governor’s public remarks the other day?

Yes. It was a sad day for many of us here in the state, especially for those of us who were already in the streets crying, “…we’ve found him, we’ve found him.” Peace is upon us. Behold, the lamb of God, meek and mild. Obongemem! Obongemem!! I personally celebrated his assumed disposition to peace when I wrote, May 29: Who Was, Who Is & Who Is To Come, during his first anniversary celebrations, but sadly, it is becoming clearer by the day that we may have celebrated a bittoo early.

What if it were just a spur of the moment? The appropriateness or otherwise of the remark may not necessarily represent his person.

No! I don’t think so. Let’s look at it this way. The conquering lion of the tribe of Judah went to the cross as a lamb, and not as a cub, because the intricate nature of the lion does not represent peace in any form or manner, not even in a metaphor. I think that is instructive enough. He took in all the insults, hurtand pain, and was still able to say, father forgive them for they know not what they do. That was the lamb in him. The admonition to turn the other cheek was still the lamb in him. Come to think of it, should a dog bark at a lamb, would it bark back? Or should the shepherd strike his sheep, would it bite? The answers are obvious. It is a sheep. It is not in its nature to do so, no matter the level of provocation, unless a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

A wolf in sheep clothing. Is that how you see the governor now?

I am beginning to see a dual personality, politically speaking. One moment, he is treating defamation of character with a slap on the wrist, the next moment, he is killing a fly with a sledge hammer on the same issue of law.

 How do you mean, Sir?

I think that the only wrong that convicts Princess Udoito in her circumstance is the odd fact that she is not the governor’s daughter. QED. After the first lady’s passing, I saw a videocirculating online that gave me serious concerns. The governor’s daughter in plain language accused the father of having a hand in the untimely deaths in the family. It was unthinkable. I had never seen a thing like that before. A friend of mine in Port Harcourt later called me to talk about it but I refused to discuss it. I was utterly embarrassed. I felt sorry for the governor. It was one of a few videos I never watched the second time. I wish it never happened. It didn’t matter if she knew what she was saying or not, though there were people who insisted that as an insider she knew what she was saying and deserved the benefitof the doubt. I personally wanted that matter to die. Being the first family, it was our collective shame and there is no better way to put it. Should her father insist today that she lied, then that would mean she got away with serious defamation of character, long before Princess Udoito found out that the same water that harboured the fish can boil it.

 But that was his biological daughter. What did you expect him to do in the circumstance. Prosecute his own daughter?

Beautiful! I think I love that slant. You mean in the first instance of defamation of character, the governor came forward as a loving and forgiving father. Right? And that made him look good before all – a circumspect and forgiving father you would want to say. So, in the second instance, what changed? It was not his biological daughter. So, between the daughter of Ubium and a daughter of Eket, we must save Barabbas and crucify the Nazarene. What manner of leadership. What sense of justice.But I thought Eket was the governor’s second home, where he is said to have made his first real break in life as a hotelier. Has he forgotten so soon? Or he simply outgrew them. My brother, it is glaring that Umo Bassey Eno’s leadership is divisive, segratoryand clannish, and it is going to become increasingly difficult to defend these excesses as the 2027 elections draw near.

 Clannish?

Quote me. I first noticed this streak in him during the ARISE Town Square Meeting in 2025. The so-calledhomecoming tour of federal constituencies in the state including Etinan federal constituency in August. When it was time for Etinan federal constituency, he took it to Nsit Ubium, instead ofthe federal constituency headquarters, Etinan. An Etinan federal constituency man who did not feel at home in Etinan until he got to Ikot Edibon in Nsit Ubium is what? It was ridiculous. I saw paid adverts on the cover of newspapers that carried Nsit Ubium/Etinan/Nsit Ibom federal constituency. That was when I became jittery and I said to myself, Nseabasi, we’re riding a tiger and might end up in its belly anytime soon. We cannot trust this man with our political future. At some point, I had to tag the SSG on a WhatsApp platform administered by Prince Emmanuel Sam to ask, what is the meaning of this? Udom Emmanuel as governor was not this clannish when he was dubbed awa governor. He never for one day bypassed Eket as the headquarters of his federal constituency. Never!

But despite your observations, Sir, the governor looks pretty much at home in Etinan considering the gale of endorsements coming from the constituency. He is also getting a wide range of endorsements from stakeholders across the state including the Senate President.

You’ll have to read the room again. Did you see the faces of Etinan political leaders on that day at Ikot Edibon? Look, we don’t suffer fools gladly. Umo Eno is playing double dodge with the wrong set of people. We’re too sophisticated in politicking to be taken for a ride. Just watch the horizon as things unfold. And for the endorsement, it is a buy 2 get 1 free package. I won’t say more. After this interview, expect more endorsements but I warn, do not count your eggs before they are hatched. This is politics and 5 minutes is a lot of time. Umo Eno has become a case of what was ordered and what was delivered, so we’re processing a refund. See! The Senate President’s experience and understanding of politics in the last 3 decades is about to be seriously tested this time. If his political journey were to be likened to a career in accounting, this would be his ICAN exams. He should approach Umo Eno’s second term aspiration with caution. How do you expect an Nsit Ubium man who didnot feel at home in Etinan, would not feel at home in Eket, to suddenly feel at home in Ikot Ekpene? How? Think! You can only trust Umo Bassey Eno with a second term ticket at your own peril.

 Sir, you seem to be the only one who view the Eno administration glass as half empty. Is it an issue of point of view?

Pay attention. People are beginning to speak up. People are beginning to assess his performance as he winds down. He has lost a lot of goodwill. Maybe, we were babysitting him all along. People are beginning to speak up because they’ve had enough of it. Akpan Hogan Ekpo, a renowned professor of economics, spoke to The Crest newspaper the other day and expressed dissatisfaction with the rising unemployment rate in the state. He quoted verifiable data from the NBS and advised him on what to do. I mean unemployment is what is rising in our ARISE Agenda. In distinguished Senator Udoedehe’s phone call spat with the governor, the former FCT Minister sounded worried that the governor is not teachable and would not listen to sound advice. If on the eve of a new term, all that Governor Umo Eno has is still a campaign document and not a development plan for the state, according to the Prof, then we should all be worried. So you can now understand why the likes of Dr. Samuel Udonsak said that come 2027, the people of Eketwould have to renegotiate their political future and consider alternatives. And I am one of those alternatives.

 Are you running for governor in 2027?

As we speak, my manifesto, ALOE VERA, is ready and is receiving attention from a team of economic experts and retired public administrators who are fine tuning a development plan for my consideration. Things are going to unfold very fast. Like Mr. President, I am very teachable. I am talking to experts in their various fields of competence. I have asked them if we can replicate the telecom model of choice in the power sector, now that the states can generate, transmit and distribute under thenew power reforms law. You know this model of choice where you can switch from Sim 1 to Sim 2 on your phone, depending on who is offering a better network service per time. I want to adopt that in remodelling our power sector infrastructure.Instead of having all 3 power supply lines at home coming from 1 power company like we do now, we can have 3 supply lines from 3 different power companies, so that if there’s no gas or power at all from Ekperikpe Power Holding, you can take out your cut out fuse and check the supply line from Umo Eno Power Holding, and if the voltage there is too low and can’t power your refrigerator, you move over to King Power Releasing Company for a stable supply and better life (laughs). On a serious note, we should always have a choice in life. He is a God of variety.

What is ALOE VERA in this context?
A Little Of Everything Vigorously Enhances Running Ahead, ALOE VERA. The idea is, “…be versatile.” Have that extra knowledge on random subjects, topics or any discourse asmuch as possible, as this can give you an advantage over your peers and contemporaries. Over 30 years ago, at Holy Family College, one of us had a heart attack, we all panicked and did not know what to do, until one of us ran in and administered CPR. He was resuscitated immediately and taken to the school clinic from where his parents took him home the next day. But before they left, they asked to see the smart kid who brought back their son to life and he was well celebrated. He saved a life.Yes, we were all mates, seated in the same class everyday, studying together under the same roof but he had that extra knowledge on CPR that we did not have, and that alone stood him out on that day. He ran ahead of us with it and became an instant hero. Every school boy should be able to do that. I want that in the new curriculum. Every Akwa Ibom child above 16 should receive driving lessons and know how to drive in case there’s an emergency anywhere. It shouldn’t matter if there is a car at home or not. I’m planning for boot camps for our young school leavers. My friend told me he learnt the CPR First Aid at a church boot camp. That is the ALOE VERA approach on basic education. We want to teach them a little of everything that is applicable in our everyday life. Then I have this robust package for the girl child. It will take care of their sanitary health and body care needs throughout their years in school. Mothers would love it when it is finally revealed because it is going to take a lot of burden off their shoulders. On infrastructure, if your contemporaries are building airports, go the extra mile like Governor Attah did and add an MRO. Run ahead of them with that added advantage. If it’s a specialty hospital, add an air ambulance facility instead of being in a hurry to finish the morgue before the hospital’s ICU. Let’s make some real effort tostay alive first. ALOE VERA is that detailed and takes care of the little little things we often ignore in planning the future.

What are your chances, Sir? You’re obviously the underdog here sparring against the incumbent governor.

I am the dark horse, rather. The dark horse of 2027 politics in Akwa Ibom State. My demography is wide and spans many political divides in the state. I represent a big portion of the small people that the governor cannot condescend to take their calls, and a small portion of the big people that are afraid that when this tyranny turns full cycle, they would be at the receiving end, too.

 Tyranny?

 Imo Udoima, a very vocal son of Uyo has been shouting himself hoarse trying to get the attention of this government on honouring the legendary Eyo Uyo and the other pioneers whofought for the creation of this mainland state called Akwa Ibom, but it was more convenient for the governor to go for the jugular of Udo Uyo instead of giving honour that is long due to Eyo Uyo. Tenant wey no send landlord,  dat one na tenant? From the records before me, the Uyo patriarch was a pioneer in the agitation for the creation of the state where you today hold sway as a maximum ruler. At least, for his sake, do something heart-warming for the people of Uyo. If not for anything else, for the purposes of history, let’s have an official recognition ordocument on how we got here from the COR State Movementdays to the Mainland State Movement and lastly, that all-important call between President Ibrahim Babangida and our very own, Arc. Victor Attah before the formal proclamation. He should earn these points begging for his attention.

But he is earning more points with his execution of the ARISE AGENDA programmes and projects.

If I were to choose not to disagree with Prof that the ARISE AGENDA is a well written document though not a development plan as expected, I won’t hesitate to state that itsexecution is pure showmanship. Explain to me, how do you come to Etinan with about 64 villages and disembark along the express way and start to paint one school in the name of learning environment or model school? Are you going to hotspot the learning environment there to the rest of the schools in the remaining 63 villages? His model schools as executed hold the beauty of the white sepulchre, charming on the outside but empty within. Mind you, this is education, where content is priority. These are haphazard measures. I did not want to say half measures, because he is so disorganised. What happened to that travel program where Comrade Ini Ememobong went with the children to the UK? It was a beautiful program in conceptualisation but again it was submerged in showmanship after he took his pictures. I will revive it, widen its scope and make it more regular,  and not a flash in the pan. School children, as many as possible, every holiday should be given the opportunity to see the outside world and develop a better worldview as they grow up. I’ll name it after him.

 Do you really mean that, Sir?

 Yes! It is his legacy project. I wish he had the same political maturity to have named the 13th month salary that he brought back in its legacy name, Akpabiomber. What is Enomber? It sounds ridiculous. I’ll correct that, too. We did not have to do away with the Dakkada prayer. I know we don’t have pictures of you kneeling for him again. We understand. But that was a strong timeless Christian prayer well said. It shouldn’t matter if you’re Dakkada or Arise now. It inspires me to this day anytime I hear it. Rise to the faith that one day, we shall be counted as great people of a great state with great minds. Rise to the faith that all these are possible and many more. Hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Umo Eno should not play devious politics with everything. No!

 What are your parting shots, Sir?
The one we brought to solve our problems has become the problem himself. One week, one trouble. The one we asked to maintain peace has become the harbinger of crisis lately. I’ll have a lot of work to do on assumption of office. I want him to release Princess Udoito and drop the charges against her after reading this. He should learn from the Akpabio- Natasha incident. That is if he can prove Senator Udoedehe wrong that he is teachable. Acknowledge the contributions of Eyo Uyo and the other pioneers in the agitation for state creation. My late father was one of them. Apologise to the distinguished Senator so that history maybe kind to you after you eventually leave office. And start preparing your handover notes. To all his political appointees that he has threatened with agreement is agreement in order to stifle their political growth and future, I say go ahead and present yourself to your people for nomination, Governor Eno is desperately trying to replicate what Governor Emefiele and the gang did with his new currency note swap policy in 2023. It won’t stand. Go ahead with your aspiration. I’ll accommodate everyone after the elections. The political space is open and wide enough for every aspiration.This is the beauty of participatory democracy like the Senior Advocate, Chief Assam Assam rightly said earlier. The more, the merrier. Governor Umo Eno wants to stifle the growth of others, and after he has had his fill, the next thing you’re going to hear is that he is prepping his son to go to the House. No way!This is not Umo Eno’s world. Let’s all aspire. I am going to unleash an unusual campaign strategy for governor that will torpedo his boat. Something no one has ever seen before. I’ll be in the next keke and minibus inviting the real owners of Akwa Ibom to my inauguration long before the elections. I am your incoming governor.