A good man

BY TOM FREDFISH

He is a good man with a pure heart. He is an unusual politician. His, is of title and not by deeds. He does the opposite of what people expects of politicians. He has exhibited a selfless and patriotic attitude. His only concern is the benefit of the people and the State, no parochial interest. That is Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the executive governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Why is he this good? Appraising the activities of Mr. Udom since he assumed office about 7 weeks ago, one can say that he represents the better aspect of good governance with an urge for service. Going by the commitments of his administration to build industries, enduring infrastructures, construct good roads, ensure stable electricity supply and enforce administrative efficacy; the path of revolutionary development has begun in earnest. 

However, that is not the focus of this piece. I am greatly touched just like others, many of whom may not admit that Udom Emmanuel has a genuine intention to develop Akwa Ibom State irrespective of tribes, political affiliations or family ties. That is my focus. The policies taken so far symbolize that of a governor of the entire State and not of a particular tribe or political party. He has begun on a good note; going about with his job of governing the state with a heart unfarmed by pillows of hatred or politics. He delivers on his promises with precision and tact of a purposeful leader devoid of sentiment. That is what good men do. 

Governor Udom is winning my heart in its entirety. I am not known to sing praises to politicians rather I have a character to say the truth without distortion, hence, my accolades for the governor is justified. Governor Udom’s action reminds me of a popular Christian song. As kids, we use to sing the song after Sunday school class in my family church, Mount Zion Church of Christ, Lagos. The song portrays Jesus Christ as the Father of all; so magnanimous, compassionate, a cheerful giver, and one who provides for every one irrespective of their denomination or race. I am sure you will love to know the lyrics or perhaps sing it with me as it resurfaces in my thoughts on Udom’s lifestyle: 

“Everywhere He went, He was doing good, Almighty Healer, when the cripples saw Him, They started walking; everywhere He went, My Lord was doing good”. 

I am not saying Udom is Jesus Christ. No! But Udom has accepted to act like Christ who admonishes Christians to live a life like Him.

Since May 29, 2015 Udom has gone about the State doing good. He carries goodness in his heart tinted with development. From Nwaniba, in Uyo to Ibaka in Mbo, down to Government House, and to Ikot Ekeng in Etinan and to Ikot Ukap, Itu and back to Oron nation, Udom is doing good.

Some pessimist may ask; and then, what is special about what he has done? The answer is simple but broad. Udom had demystified governance. He has shown that in governance there are no boundaries between a people, their dialects and biological lineages. 

To say the fact, Governor Udom knows his onus. The first point of call after handing over the state to God in a 3-day fasting and prayers he declared was to go and assess some health facilities in the state capital, Uyo. He is conscious of the fact that if he must build industries and employ people, the state needs healthy citizens to work in the industries. The health concerns of Uyo people spurred the governor’s visit to Anua general hospital located at Nwaniba in Uyo. 

Udom was not bothered about who owned the hospital or which constituencies will benefit from the facilities if it was put in order. He immediately declared that the state will take up the responsibility of renovating the hospital as well equipping it with modern health facilities. These measure was taken so that the ordinary people benefit and to curtail preventable death. A good man beckons. 

During, before and after the governorship election, the Oro people comprising of Oron, Okobo, Udung Uko, Mbo, Urue-offong Oruko local government areas cried foul of being neglected and deliberately marginalized in terms of sitting of government projects and sharing of political offices. They therefore schemed, meandered and politicked to ensure that an Oro man takes over from Chief Godswill Akpabio.

But when they realize that such ambition was not possible given the profile of Udom Emmanuel who got into the race after a stint as the Secretary of the State Government, they decided to gang up against the party, PDP, by promising to support APC even though Udom was from the same senatorial district with the them. 

The Oron Think Tank led by Chief Okon Osung swore, the Oron Union condemned, the Nsup Nlap Akpakpru Oro disowned and every other microscopic formations in the five local government areas declared that they would rather support one of their own who was given the deputy governorship position in the APC than to support PDP’s Udom who happens to come from the same senatorial district with them.

During the campaigns, they were daring in their approach as the PDP campaign train witnessed little or no support from the political elite of that area. However, the first point of contact in governor Udom industrialization plans was to set up an 11-man technical committee to look into the actualization of the Ibaka Sea Port located in Mbo local government area, one of the five strongholds of the Oro people.

Ordinary, a politician will suspend the project in Mbo or relocate it from the area because he did not get the maximum support from the people. But Udom is a good man. He did not think like a politician. He was not bothered about the many ways the project will benefit the Oro people and if they may use they resources earned from being employed there to fight him in the future. He was concerned about the people and governing Akwa Ibom State according to the dictates of his office and oath taken to do justice at all times. Udom is a good man and his goodness did not stop there.

Without hindsight of why Oron roads got to a dilapidated state, Udom has promised to urbanize Oron town? Oron is not the home town of Udom yet he finds the terrible roads network which has almost been gulped by erosion the responsibility of his government. No politics played. No interest whatsoever. To ensure that he gets firsthand information of the level of damages to the internal roads in Oron, Udom had to visit the town with engineers from credible construction companies when it was raining so as to discuss possible ways for immediate remedy. Only a good man will do such. 

Despite the fact that the Udom Emmanuel Campaign Council did not get maximum cooperation for the Oron people, he nevertheless has given them a prime position in his government. The appointment of Hon. Victor Antai as the Commissioner in charge of the 31 local government areas in the state is strategic and is being described in some quarters as a good gesture from a good man with a large heart.

Governor Udom interventionist policy in Oro nation and the appointment of credible persons from the area into his government is in sync with a passage in the Bible, 1st Peter 5:4 which say: “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away”. 

The momentum of development that this good man carries about did not end in Oro nation. It was also extended to Ikot Ukap in Itu local government area. Udom could have sited the Vehicle Assembling Plant at his village in Awa Iman, Onna but because he wants even sharing of industries in the state, he opts to site it in another area other than where he came from. So also is the intention to resuscitate the Peacock Paint at Ikot Ekan in Etinan whereas there are other moribund industries he would have resuscitated in Onna local government area.

Many people also do not know that Udom has donated brand new Hilux vehicles to the Nigerian Police Force for highways patrols to stem the high rising crimes on the highways. No wonder a public a public commentator once referred to him as the “doer of all things”.

The burden of governing a state with 31 local government areas is huge and with divergent interest yet Udom carries the whole state as his constituency believing that Akwa Ibom is not only his ward, but his local government area, and both federal and senatorial constituencies. With such thoughts in mind, he goes about initiating projects without minding whose interest it protects. Indeed Udom Emmanuel act is the definition of a good man.