Sen. Ita Enang must know that stomach infrastructure is also important - Uko Umoh

Mr. Uko Umoh is a well known name in newspaper publishing in Akwa Ibom State. He’s the publisher of one of the leading newspapers in the state, Community Pulse Newspapers, and also Chairman, League of Newspaper publishers in the State; a crusader for quality representation of Uyo Senatorial District recently bares his mind on a range of issues of public importance. Excerpts!  

How has it been with the League of Newspaper Publishers within year 2014?
We give God the glory for all that we have been able to achieve as a body. There are over 100 registered newspapers currently in Akwa Ibom and some are yet to formally register with the league which we are going to set up a committee to fish out and ensure they are duly registered with the league. We have also set a machinery in motion to ensure that government and other institutions don’t patronize such newspapers. This is one of our major targets to ensure that newspaper publishing in Akwa Ibom is taken to a new dimension within a shortest period of time. 

We are calling on those newspapers to get registered soonest to avoid embarrassment. The league is also planning for a befitting secretariat and we believe the dream will be realized soon. 

What has been the success story of Community Pulse Newspaper?
Success of any organization starts and ends with the management. But in the real sense, it’s been God all the way, that’s why I don’t fail to appreciate the Almighty in everything I do. In Community Pulse, we have been able to set out our goals and objectives, set a standard for ourselves and we abide in it. Our workers have been dynamic and committed coupled with the continued encouragement given to them by the leadership. We publish three consecutive times in a week even with the high cost of productions. We’re currently strategizing on improving our production status.

As a crusader for quality representation of Uyo senatorial district, how Will you react to the interview granted Senator Ita Enang by planet radio as it has to do with his hate speech for Governor Akpabio’s administration?
Senator Ita Enang has put in 16 years or more as a legislator to my mind without any commensurate empowerment of his close aides not to talk of some of his constituents.  I think the people of Uyo Senatorial District have really been magnanimous to him thus far having elected him to the Senate, the highest legislative body in Nigeria. I think the people of Uyo Senatorial District are tired of his kind of representation devoid of stomach infrastructure which he must realize is also important to the people beyond his voice or legislative engagement in Abuja. Senator Ita Enang is not known for giving or empowering people. The people are tired of him that why they have decided to give the ticket to Obong Bassey Albert (OBA), a former Commissioner of Finance and a governorship  aspirant  before now who has a rich history of goodwill and performance to represent them  come 2015 at the red chambers of the National Assembly  under the umbrella of Peoples Democratic  Party.This is the man the people of  Uyo Senatorial District believe in for quality representation in 2015, so he doesn’t need to feel bad, it’s about who the people want.

That’s why politicians have to understand one thing. We have enlightened electorates these days. Those elected to any political position must be very careful with the manner of their leadership. Each time someone is elected, he feels so important and abandoned those that stood with them when the going was though. What happened to Ita Enang during the last PDP primaries may likely happen to other selfish politicians who have little or no regards for the masses. 

As to Ita Enang’s views on Governor Akpabio, why is his (Senator Ita Enang) comments coming now on how much revenue the state has received and how it has been spent. It is a product of bad fate as he has lost the ticket for another tenure as a senator. Here is a man who had the opportunity to wine and dine with the governor before the delegates refused to give ticket for second term and never saw reasons to voice his displeasure about the government and rather had credited the governor for good performance. This is why I dislike politicians like him who are not objective in their utterances. Has he not seen the quality of infrastructure put in place by the Akpabio’s government, the stadium, the airport, the flyovers, the gigantic empowerment efforts of youth and women as well as the free medical services and much more to justify the uncommon transformation courtesy of the revenue allocation. He can refused to see now that he has lost the ticket. That’s what you hear from vexed and selfish politicians like him.

The fact is no matter what you think of Governor Akpabio he is the pride of Akwa Ibom  people who came and by sheer will change the story of Akwa Ibom people that is what the people are proud of. In 2011 Sen. Enang won because of Obong Paul Ekpo and Obong Bassey Albert and he has refused to acknowledge that fact. What does he really want this time.

Sen. ItaEnang also said in the said interview that Mr. Udom Emmanuel has no political  history to become Akwa Ibom governor, do you share his sentiments?
No. the man, Mr. Udom Emmanuel is a sound professional who served creditably at Zenith Bank before becoming the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government in 2013 and thereafter decided to aspire to be governor which is not out of efforts. He has the capacity to sustain the Uncommon Transformation of Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio. That’s why Akwa Ibom people of PDP find him worthy to be their candidate amongst others. The twenty two aspirants shouldn’t be an issue for him whether he has a political history or not. Even when Ita Enang first became a councilor if that question was asked, perhaps he never would have been elected. Lest we forget this is the same Sen. Ita Enang who told everybody in Uyo Senatorial District and indeed in Akwa Ibom hitherto that Mr. Emmanuel was the best man for the job when he (Enang) was looking for a second term ticket. He is just double speaking which is not good for a man of his reckoning.

The senator is quoted  in the interview with Planet FM as  saying that Akwa Ibom  allocation from the Federal Government is like putting together the allocation of all the south East states, do you agree with him?
I’m not a staffer of the budget office or that of the Federal Ministry of Finance but it is obvious that what has been received by the Akwa Ibom State government  has been judiciously used which shows in the quality of infrastructures and other expenditure within the three Senatorial Districts of the state. To raise such issues now, to my mind is borne out of ill-feelings on the part of the Distinguished Senator and not an objective comment. Like I tell people we should be grateful to God for giving us a governor like Chief Akpabio who is quite pragmatic to issue of leadership and governance. This is very simple and obvious that even a blind man can feel, touch and experience democracy in Akwa Ibom State, courtesy of the Uncommon Transformer. So when one defeated man sits at the corner of a private radio station to discredit Governor Akpabio, people should be able to ask him why he has decided to say all these things now. Why didn’t he say them before now? That’s why I give kudus to Gov. Akpabio for being free minded. Any bad thing that happens in the state, the governor will always be blamed for it. That’s one of the challenges of being a leader. But all the same, let’s always learn to accept defeat and stop trading blames on people.

Would you say that Uyo Senatorial District have had it good with Sen. Ita Enang?
Anny, let’s understand something here, when you are elected as a public  office  holder beyond  your mandate and duties, you must find a way to comment with  the people  by way of empowerment,  that is why every where you enter in Uyo Senatorial District you will hear that Sen. Ita Enang is not a giver. This is not because they feel like saying so but because he has lost touch with his people  and this  ingredient is valuable  in politics. Whether he has done well for the district is an issue of balancing the expectation of the people in terms of his legislative engagement and empowering the people.

Moving on, will you say the PDP delegates did the expectations of the party members and the people  in giving the ticket to Obong Bassey Albert?
I will  say yes because OBA has deeply related with people around Akwa Ibom especially within Uyo Sen. District to deserve their support. He is a good man, social philanthropist and someone very empathic to the course of the people at the grassroots. It is the belief of Uyo people that he will better cater for their  interest at the senate.

The other time we spoke, you said you know who will be the next governor  of Akwa Ibom, who really is in your mind?
Anny, help me reason out by the parade of aspirants who has that distinctive need of a leader by Akwa Ibom  people. The aspirants are well schooled, experienced and connected but certain all them cannot be governor.
You also must understand that there are some of them who are in the race not to succeed Governor Akpabio but for attention and merchandise. Certainly there is a man most credible for the job and that Akwa Ibom people know and they will unveil by their votes in 2015.

There are people who still think that as chairman, League of Newspaper Publisher there may have been an exchange by the governor  in view of the awardas best governor  since the creation of  Akwa Ibom, what’s  your take?
I have said this in different fora that the only consideration the league made possible that award for the governor was on the basis of objectivity and performance which is what is obvious since he came on board as governor. Chief Akpabio is a man the league deeply respects for his enamors impact on the lives of Akwa IBom people. We re objective in our judgment and will continue to be.

How will you assess the build up  to 2015 in the state?
There is really nothing to raise temperature about, the thing is that the people are waiting and ready to decide through their votes who they want as governor. The point is that the day  you decide to dabble into politics as a politician you must know that it is agameand being a game you may loose  or win so you accept your fate as it comes knowing that there is another time you can serve the people in whatever capacity you want. That is why I feel for people like Senator Ita Enang, he should gladly go back to his chambers as a layer and build from there. If he believes he is still popular with the people of Uyo Senatorial District he should approached another political party and contest for senate but in PDP the delegates have expressed their views by choosing Obong Bassey Albert to represent them.

There are speculations that the state PDP may be picking Mr. Moses Ekpo, a former Commissioner of Information who is now two years plus as the running mate for Udom, what’s your take?
You see, there are some patriotic  persons who can serve as deputy governor  without the ambition  of wanting to be governor. People like Mr. Moses Ekpo should be given their respect and government continue to provide for their welfare. Well, I believe some other young professionals should be allowed to express themselves politically for the good of our society. The people  should stop talking about deputy governors aspiring to be governor. We want dynamic and young professionals who can work patriotically for the good of Akwa Ibom. I’m not saying this as a politician but as an Akwa Ibom person who looks forward to a greater Akwa Ibom. Mr. Ekpo is a good man and has all it takes to be deputy governor but his age is the issue here. If Mr. Ekpo is allowed he will make people  to think that hel still want to control the going on  government.

As a non-politician, how will  you advise politicians in the journey to 2015?
I will want politicians to understand that power comes from God and that politics should not be seen as a do or die affair. It is a game of interest  but the  good of the society should supersede other considerations. There is no need for politics of bitterness as we remain brothers and sisters. I believe our politicians should strive more at ensuring the unity of our people even in their utterances and actions. We want Akwa  Ibom to be  better than how Governor Akpabio has left it and that can only happen when politicians should close ranks to make our state better.

Bette I let you go, what’s your thought  on 2015?
 It will be a good year and we all should continue to embrace democracy and be more united as a people. Politics or no politics our togetherness is paramount’.

Thank you for your time.
Anytime, you are always welcome.