By Edet Ikotidem/ Samuel Odungide
Successor- This is the inheritance of power of authority from the incumbent to a professed choice.
This act can be unilateral or comprised of individuals (stakeholders) as it is often done in an organization and government.
Who is appointed a successor, reflects the future direction of a state, country, or family… As a baseline, this write-up begins with the same intuitive prediction.
Need for a Successor: The need for a chosen successor is inescapably pertinent, if continuity, progress, and wholesome governance are to be achieved. Conserved monetary implications cannot be overlooked. It is almost a norm for successive governments to intentionally abandon developmental Projects of their predecessors leaving the hapless citizens to suffer the inevitable and harsh consequences.
It is therefore unambiguous to state here that a chosen successor tends to understand the current policy and affiliate responsibilities of the government he or she is succeeding.
Process of Picking a Successor: A responsive incumbent leader will always seek to please the citizens whom he has their mandate to govern. This process could only be achieved by consultations with the representatives of the people via church leaders, Politicians (elected) Royal Fathers, and other stakeholders.
Udom is a fair player. He has engaged the state in a choice of a successor. The voice of the people is the voice of God. That is what it is.
Obong Victor Attah could not sit a chosen successor. That, made him cry out that his projects amounting to a humongous amount of state funds were abandoned and literally wasted.
The story was different with Udom’s administration because he was a chosen successor to Sen. Godswill Akpabio. Because Udom was part of the government he inherited, he was in sync with the policy of Education, Industrialization, Agriculture, and good road networking including the security of humongous funds sunk into the Ibom Tropicana.
All of these and more were projects embarked on by his predecessor. Presently, Governor Udom has a lot at stake here to leave to chance. He is inadvertently saving the state a lot of money which could be wasted due to the abandonment of his projects by his successor which in Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State is a commonality.
Umo Eno as a Choice: Gov. Udom Emmanuel is arguably the best Governor Nigeria has ever produced. Truly, he is Mr. Right. A pristine politician by Nigerian standard. Notably, the Peoples Democratic Party has over the years been endowed with classical candidacy at its primaries while the state has constantly been the beneficiary of astute and democratic leadership of the party.
Its products have always left a positive landmark on the sands of time, starting from Obong Victor Attah to Senator Godswill Akpabio and transcending Udom’s superior service delivery to eventually capitulate to the people’s choice in Umo Eno.
Also Read: Nsit Ibom PDP Stakeholders Settle for Pastor Umo Eno, vow bloc votes at Primaries
As it were, Umo Eno has a pact with development, economic renaissance, maintenance of peace, completion of projects, work generation/Employment, corporate engagement with the private sector, romancing with huge investors, eschew religious bigotry, he should play the role of an amalgamator in soldering together the different fragments of the political sector, bridge the ethnic chasm and avoid individualism in the state. Before soon, Akwa Ibom people will condescend to the superior choice of Umo Eno to pilot the affairs of the state and expectedly, leave the stage with a loud ovation as his predecessor.
Qualification and Capacity: Pastor Umo Eno is an accomplished entrepreneur, visionary and tenacious business leader with a proven track record in achieving business results. Pastoring over 3,000 membership congregation, in various assemblies across the state and outside, a public administrator whose yearnings for continuous self-improvement and growth has got him recently studying for a Ph.D. in the University of Uyo.
A Bi-vocational leader, he established Royalty Hotels & Recreations Ltd. from a humble beginning in 1997 with 5-rooms and gradually evolved into a group of hospitality and allied service provider in the state and the Country.
He has intently managed and provided jobs to over 2,000 persons in more than 12 locations including offshore locations.
A fellow of the Nigeria Hotels and Catering Institute, a 3-star Paul Harris Fellow, he graduated from the University of Uyo with MSc, Political Science Public Administration between 2006 and 2008 after he had his BSc, from the same institution.
A patient and progressive personality, Umo Eno who has bagged several Excellent Awards and Honours started his hospitality industry after his very successful stint with Norman Holdings Ltd. as, Group General Manager.
Even his brief stay as Commissioner in Udom’s cabinet has recorded relevant achievements.
Married with children, Pastor Umo Eno is indeed a man of Purpose
