By Ernest Udoh-Robert
The press briefing by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno on Saturday, 29th May 2026 removed scales of doubts of the governor being on the wrong track. The usual cocooned belief that governors live in opulence and have it easy in life is an aberration of the realities faced each day by a governor that truly seeks to succeed, that is, if what the governor said is anything to go by.
The governor, obviously, was not billed to attend the briefing because his seat was conspicuously missing, however, in the course of journalists interacting with the commissioners and other heads of government parastatals, the governor walked in, wearing an orange coloured shirt. At first sight I envisioned a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) inscription on the shirt, until i looked deeper and saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) inscription instead. Then I recalled there had been a progressive movement from the PDP to the APC, the state is now fully an APC state. But the aboriginal APC members are crying neglect, oppression and sheer disregard, even when the governor had declared a United Akwa Ibom. Yet the APC aborigines feel left out in this new United Akwa Ibom as they seek to be in the state executive council for no aborigine is a member yet.
A space had to be created for the governor to sit. After the usual protocol welcoming him, the Commissioner for Information and Communication strategy, Mr Aniekan Umanah, stood to proceed with the interaction but was however interrupted by the governor, who started by saying he was not satisfied with the way and manner questions were being answered by the commissioners.
“The questions asked are genuine and not aimed at just criticizing government. The questions should be answered without holding back. Maybe the commissioners are trying to answer the questions as politicians. I am not a politician, perhaps I need to learn. Moreover, there are some things the Commissioners will not say because if they say it they will be sacked, so please understand with them”
The Governor began, telling his audience to forget the siren and the paraphernalia of the office, “it is difficult being a governor. In my wildest dream I never thought I will be, but here I am today. it has pleased the Lord for me to be governor through the help of my predecessor Mr Udom Emmanuel.
Umo Eno lamented the systemic corruption he has to deal with on a daily basis, which is the reason for the creation of the treasury single account (TSA) payment system which must be embraced by everybody. “We must change the way we do things for us to succeed” Umo Eno added.
On improving the electricity situation in the state, Eno said, the process is ongoing and it will take time. However, in a no-holds-barred manner, the governor narrated the hurdles and processes the state must go through before there can be adequate supply of electricity. Describing Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) as a fully private company. He said that at the time it was incorporated, Akwa Ibom State government had no money to buy PHEDC shares. The government at that time, he disclosed, had to ask an individual to buy those shares on behalf of the state and it has been very difficult getting the man off the board. When the man who bought shares on behalf of Akwa Ibom State finally agreed to let go of the shares and after calculating his profits with the amount required to pay him off, it amounted to N25 billion. It took begging and emissaries, Governor Eno said, before the man finally agreed to be paid N10 billion. His exit from the board gives the state the right to write to PHEDC about the state membership of the board. This process takes time; moreover, a consultant has been engaged to audit all the equipment that belongs to the state held in custody by PHEDC. The governor assured that, the government is pursuing and doing everything possible to overcome every hurdle. But you know that there are those who will fight our effort. But not to worry we would surmount every obstacle.”
Earlier, before the governors unscheduled entry into the briefing, the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service Prof Eno Ibanga disclosed that, in the past three years of Pastor Umo Eno’s administration a whopping N743 billion has been spent on construction of roads in the state. This, he said, is geared towards opening up rural roads, improving the distribution of farm produce and road network in the state.
The governor, while buttressing the points highlighted by the commissioner, reaffirmed his commitment to expanding connectivity, stimulating economic growth and opening up communities for development. As of today, we have completed a total of 1,348 kilometres of roads within three years, and we are proud of that milestone as a sub-national government, he stated.
While responding to questions on Ikot Akpan Abia Oboyo Ikot Ita Enen Nsit Road, Eno expressed concerns over the abandoned 12.15km Road project and it would be an abnormality if he, as an Nsit man, will allow the road remain the way it is. He immediately asked the commissioner to ensure a contract is awarded for the immediate construction of the road within one month.
“It will be an aberration for me as an Nsit son not to do the Enen Nsit Road because when I finish serving the people, I will return to the village and they will definitely ask me what I did for them while in office,” he summed.
According to the governor, it has been an herculean task working with some indigenous contractors and with their negative attitude to work, they have unnecessarily delayed jobs. He apologized for the delay experienced on Tabernacle Road construction, which is being handled by Nsik Construction Company and warned that his administration would terminate the contracts for the Tabernacle Road project and the 16-kilometre Midim Atan Ikot Nyang Ikot Imonte Road, including its 30-metre span bridge linking Essien Udim and Etim Ekpo local government areas, should the contractor fail to meet the completion guarantees given for July, 2026.
On road maintenance, Governor Eno directed the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service to immediately constitute a committee comprising representatives of civil society organisations to assess previously awarded pothole rehabilitation contracts worth N1.6 billion and identify additional failed sections requiring urgent government intervention.
There were loads of issues raised during the briefing, one of the take homes for me was that leadership requires sacrifice and there are enemies within and without to give you sleepless nights. That option is what many of us dont see and is it worth the sacrifice?
