By Emmanuel Abi Couson
The Arewa Journalists Forum has applauded governor Umo Eno for ensuring that representative of each ethnic group in Nigeria is brought into his administration.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the president of the Forum, Hassan Galadima said such gesture has strengthened the chords of Nigeria’s unity, dispelling distrust and unnecessary ethnic tension.
He noted that, that was the first time each ethnic group has a representative in a government of another State in Nigeria.
Galadima also commended Gov Eno for giving grants to non-indigenes doing business in Akwa Ibom State to help them grow their businesses, and keep them afloat of the economic hardship in the country.
According to the statement, “Governor Umo Eno has shown clearly that he stands for the unity and progress of Nigeria beyond the rubric of rhetoric. Governor Umo Eno has not only appointed non indigenes into his government, he ensures that each ethnic group in Nigeria has been brought into his administration. This is not just novel, but has the capacity of strengthening the chords of Nigeria’s unity, dispelling distrust and unnecessary ethnic tension. It is not that others may not have brought in non-indigenes into their governance, this is the first time each ethnic group has its own representative in a government of another State in Nigeria.
“As if that was not enough, we have also been informed that Governor Umo Eno has given grants to the non-indigenes doing business in Akwa Ibom State to help them grow their businesses, and keep them afloat during the economic hardship of the country. We do not think that Governor Eno owed them this gesture, it is done out of love and commitment to service. This is a portrait of a truly detribalised Nigerian.”
The forum expressed confidence that the recent empowerment of 800 youths with N400million by Governor Umo Eno would catalyze the growth and development of Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs and businesses in Akwa Ibom.
They also said that his policies on agriculture and human capital development have begun to build confidence in youths to return to farming and help bridge the widening gap between food production capacity and consumption and help stabilize the prices of foodstuffs in the state.
The statement in parts, “Based on the reports from our members from all the States of Nigeria, and other media practitioners most of whom are resident in the respective States, and the media reports we have monitored over time, we are thrilled by the accomplishments of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno
“He has distinguished himself in leadership in all the criteria we deployed for selection, including business and human capital development, agriculture, inclusivity in governance, education, care for the vulnerable and general approach to governance.
“Very importantly, Governor Umo Eno has given agriculture a pride of place in the quest to attain food sufficiency and food security in the State. Work is ongoing at the Ibom Model Farms which is a replication of the Songhai Farms with its success story in Port Novo, Benin Republic. There is massive investment in agriculture across the State.
“Therefore, we in the Arewa Journalists Forum present Governor Umo Eno to the nation as workable model, exemplar and a shining example of good leadership, a light that attracts good governance.
“We believe strongly that his leadership is a worthy model for other leaders in the country to emulate, and we encourage them to do same. We believe this will help spur other governors and leaders across various levels of leadership in the country.”
