2023: Indecision a Bad Attribute For a Leader 

Michael Okon

When growing up, my father’s most prominent advice to me and my siblings was that indecision is more disastrous than wrong decision. 

The majority of the political class is endorsing Pst. Umo Eno because Gov. Udom Emmanuel took a decision with his one vote at the right time. This espouses the Governors sincerity towards the Akwa Ibom project. 

Probably he would have earned a lot of applause if he wasn’t decisive on who from his experience can truly manage the affairs of the State. 

As it is, some of the aspirants are atleast saving cost by not running amok in throwing cash to lure supporters. 

Note that hate will not change anyone’s destiny. We may all have wished that the Governor gives his one vote to our different preferred candidates, but unfortunately he has just one, and he has already taken a decision on that one vote. It has gone for not just his preferred candidate, but other Akwa Ibom people’s prefered candidate. “Still same Akwa Ibom people o”, not another State. 

We recently clamoured for a home grown Governor (I never really understood the connection with capacity to lead), Pst. Umo Eno is home grown, 

If Gov. Udom Emmanuel wasn’t decisive we would have said he didn’t  have the guts of a leader. 

He must not use same approach as others.

He is being clear on his choice and has let everyone know who his vote goes for, and as a Leader, he acknowledges God as the giver of wisdom and insight on who he supports. This is his approach to succession. 

So if your prefered candidate didn’t grab the one vote, stop screaming “imposition”. Insults wont make things change, Elections is not an event, it’s a process, it is competitive, focus on how to win if you have what it takes to stand against the one vote. 

We all have rights to our choices,

But the Akwa Ibom project is paramount.!!! 

Now that we have an opportunity for a home grown Governor, as clamoured for, we must avoid cognitive biases against Pst. Umo Eno who is one of the home grown aspirant. 

Note that perception is not reality. Reality is that Pst. Umo Enos has the capacity required for the job. 

As a member of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Committee set up by Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2020 when the scariest pandemic enveloped the whole world and brought countries and economies to a stand still and I happened to have served in a sub-committee with Pst. Umo Eno and away from the business man I always knew him for, I was amazed at his articulation and approach towards public service. He ensured there was value creation in every decision that was taken. 

One of the problems he can be seen solving today in his capacity in public service is inadequate data for planning, execution and management of most government programmes and policies, especially people oriented programmes, hence, his focus in driving data collation in the Agricultural sector through the Farmers Enumeration exercise and for revenue generation through the Akwa GIS mapping system, this is an attribute of a value creator. 

So, I personally see Pst. Umo Eno as one that will help connect the dot from all the efforts of previous leaders. From Obong Attah’s road map, to Godswill Akpabio’s infrastructural renaissance and Udom Emmanuel’s investment in industrialization & human capital development,  

Politics exist in business. 

A businessman who has trudged through the process of starting and building a business has passed through almost all the trials any average Nigerian has passed through and can understand the workings of this unique society.

Pst. Umo Eno will be able to convert the efforts of our leaders to money in the pockets of citizens. 

So let’s play down on our differnt individual cognitive biases maybe of hate, skin colour, who supports him, etc, and focus on capacity to drive the Akwa Ibom Project. 

Everyone has baggage, and in my opinion Pst. Umo Eno has less baggage, and since we’ve been known to producing quality leadership over the years, 2023 shouldnt be different.

We cannot say God does not have a hand in who leads a people, we are all praying to that same God for the best. 

We cannot resist the gift of God’s direction being a State named after God, hope dont get things done, but vision, strategy and action.

Be clear on your choices. 

As for me I will support Gov. Udom Emmanuel’s one Vote