By Wilfred Enombang*
Good governance is not defined by the absence of criticism, but by the willingness of those entrusted with public authority to listen, engage and respond to the legitimate concerns of the people. Equally, responsible citizenship demands the courage to speak when things are wrong and the fairness to acknowledge genuine efforts when leadership responds.
The ongoing efforts to restore electricity to Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State provide a compelling illustration of this relationship between constructive civic engagement and responsive leadership.
For years, electricity supply has remained a major development concern in Esit Eket, with far-reaching consequences for households, businesses, commercial activities, investment opportunities and youth employment.
I recall that during the political engagements preceding the 2023 general elections, Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh made a commitment concerning electricity supply to our communities. That commitment was followed by the availability of electricity from September 2022 until June 2026, when the interruption of supply once again brought hardship to our people.
As a concerned citizen, I considered it necessary to speak publicly about the situation, particularly through social media advocacy. My concern was neither partisan nor personal. It arose from the conviction that access to electricity is fundamental to the economic survival and development aspirations of our communities.
I have always believed that citizenship carries responsibilities beyond voting during elections. It includes the obligation to question development failures, demand accountability and contribute meaningfully to the search for solutions.
An important opportunity for constructive engagement arose when Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh graciously invited me to accompany him to a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Executive Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Council, Hon. Mrs. Uduak Ikemesit Ikott.
The meeting was intended to brief stakeholders on the development architecture of her administration and mark the turning of the sod for the construction of a 300-seater Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test centre.
While appreciating the significance of the proposed educational infrastructure, I considered the gathering an appropriate opportunity to raise the pressing issue of electricity supply.
Looking directly at the faces of political and community leaders assembled, including Rt. Hon. Eyiboh, who had facilitated my participation, spoke frankly about the hardship imposed on our communities by the prolonged electricity interruption.
I emphasised that the aspirations of our people for economic advancement, business expansion, productive employment and improved living conditions would remain severely constrained without dependable electricity.
What made that engagement particularly significant was not simply that I had spoken, but that I was given the opportunity to express an uncomfortable public concern before those entrusted with leadership responsibilities.
For this, I sincerely appreciate Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh. His willingness to facilitate my participation demonstrated that meaningful leadership should not be threatened by independent opinions, particularly when such opinions are expressed in good faith and directed towards the collective interest.
I am equally encouraged by the response of the Executive Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Uduak Ikemesit Ikott, whose subsequent efforts to mobilise relevant institutions towards electricity restoration deserve public acknowledgement.
Recent developments indicate that technical personnel of the Electricity institution have commenced field activities along with identified electricity corridors in Esit Eket.
During a recent visit to observe the ongoing vegetation management exercise, I interacted with members of the technical team to obtain firsthand clarification on the restoration process.
The personnel explained that the ongoing activities include vegetation management, high-tension line tracing, right-of-way clearance and technical assessments intended to address infrastructure-related challenges affecting electricity supply.
They further indicated that rehabilitation of the relevant lines would follow the current exercise, with the objective of restoring electricity on or before the end of the year.
While the projected timeline remains subject to the successful completion of the necessary technical processes, the development offers renewed hope to residents and business operators who have endured the economic and social consequences of prolonged electricity interruption.
It is particularly encouraging that these efforts are progressing as the Christmas season approaches. The prospect of communities enjoying improved electricity supply during the festivities would be a welcome development.
However, my appreciation of these efforts does not arise from political loyalty or personal obligation. It is founded on a simple principle: the same civic conscience that demands accountability when things go wrong must acknowledge responsibility when corrective action is being taken.
Too often, our public discourse treats criticism as hostility and commendation as political endorsement. This false division has weakened the culture of constructive engagement that democratic governance requires.
A citizen should be able to criticise a public official today and commend that same official tomorrow without being accused of inconsistency. What matters is not the personality involved but the public interest being served.
Similarly, public officeholders should recognise that criticism, when expressed responsibly, can provide valuable insight into the challenges confronting the people.
Leadership is strengthened when it listens beyond the familiar voices of political associates and accommodates the concerns of ordinary citizens whose experiences reflect the realities of everyday life.
In this regard, I commend the Executive Chairman, Mrs. Uduak Ikott, for the steps being taken towards addressing the electricity challenge. I also acknowledge the technical team involved in the ongoing intervention.
Their respective roles illustrate how cooperation among citizens, political stakeholders, local government leadership and relevant institutions can help advance community development.
Nevertheless, appreciation must never become a substitute for accountability.
The ultimate objective remains the successful restoration of reliable and sustainable electricity across Esit Eket.
Our communities require more than temporary relief. They deserve infrastructure that is properly maintained and an electricity supply system capable of supporting long-term economic development.
Reliable electricity will enable small businesses to operate more efficiently, encourage private investment, support artisans and entrepreneurs, improve household welfare and create productive opportunities for young people.
It will also strengthen the prospects of educational and digital infrastructure, including the proposed JAMB CBT centre, whose long-term effectiveness will depend significantly on the availability of essential supporting services.
As citizens, we must therefore continue to encourage the ongoing intervention while maintaining a legitimate expectation of timely completion and sustainable results.
My advocacy has never been about who takes the credit for restoring electricity. It has always been about the progress of Esit Eket and the welfare of its people.
I want to see businesses flourish, young people become economically productive, investors develop confidence in our communities and households enjoy the basic conveniences that reliable electricity provides.
Above all, I want our experience to inspire a healthier relationship between citizens and those entrusted with public authority. We must build a society where criticism is not automatically interpreted as opposition, where commendation is not mistaken for compromise, and where leadership is judged by its willingness to respond to legitimate public needs.
The emerging electricity restoration efforts offer an opportunity to reinforce this democratic culture.
To Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, I express appreciation for providing the opportunity for my voice to be heard.
To the Executive Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Uduak Ikemesit Ikott, I commend the responsiveness demonstrated through the ongoing mobilisation of relevant institutions.
To the technical team undertaking the restoration exercise, I acknowledge their efforts and encourage the timely completion of the necessary works.
And to my fellow citizens of Esit Eket, I offer this simple appeal: let us remain courageous in demanding accountability, fair in acknowledging progress and united in pursuing the development of our communities.
Good governance should be encouraged wherever it is demonstrated, regardless of political differences. Constructive criticism should inspire corrective action, not permanent hostility. Public appreciation should encourage greater performance, not diminish accountability. In the end, the true beneficiaries of responsive leadership must be the people.
When citizens speak with courage, leaders listen with humility and institutions respond with action, governance becomes more than the exercise of authority; it becomes an instrument of public service and collective progress.
- Comrade Wilfred Enombang is a development advocate and writes from Ikpa Town in Esit Eket LGA.
