GOVERNOR ENO & THE MEDIA HONEYMOON THAT NEVER ENDS

GOVERNOR ENO & THE MEDIA HONEYMOON THAT NEVER ENDS

– Samuel Ayara

When Governor Umo Eno, PhD, on February 11, 2022, as a leading Governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party arrived the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalist in Uyo, to intimate members of the fourth estate of the realm about his Hilltop Mansion aspiration, he was perhaps the most vilified and eviscerated gubernatorial hopeful.

His name did not only find permanent feature in conversations that sought to ridicule his aspiration, his character and reputation was deeply discussed; albeit, by people who either knew quite little about him, or chose mischief in painting him with dark adhesives.

A section of the media practitioners had then made the anti-Eno agenda a core editorial policy – the people just had to believe he was not a good man.

Accompanied by a large cache of political heavyweights, Pastor Eno regaled journalists about his journey from entrepreneurship to public service; including the major breaks he had recorded. He also took them through what his Governorship will do for the state and how he intends to run an administration that will be big on inclusion, prosperity and collaboration.

Just before he ended his consultative remarks, he announced the institution of an annual prize award to encourage development journalism and called it “Pastor Umo Eno Prize for Development Journalism”. This gesture must have been considered as an attempt to repurpose the thoughts of pen-pushers from mudslinging.

This prize award could have also been Pastor Eno extending a hand that pointed to the brightness of telling better stories than those that sought to destroy. A reminder to break the news without breaking the society.

How much this worked is story for another day, but politicians sooner had to personally take the responsibility of mudslinging and otiose displays, as very few of their clients were still available, with many embracing the promising vistas development journalism offered.

In addition to the coveted prize, Governor Eno in the Daniel Ekanem Hall looked over the windows to behold the resilient auditorium building whose almost two decades carcass screamed tiredness and abandonment. Moved to further the impact of his presence on the facility, he announced a ten million Naira Donation to support its roofing.

The State Council of the NUJ at her February 2022 congress in response to the gesture commended the gubernatorial prospect for setting the pace by consulting the Union about his aspiration, while urging others to emulate Pastor Eno’s example in discussing their visions for the State. Twice for his support to the auditorium project, they also applauded him for the annual Prize award, expressing the hope that it would change the face of journalism in the State.

In months the first winner of the prize award emerged, taking home half a million Naira, so also were the coming together of the roof members on the auditorium, signaling hope at full blast.

Then the gubernatorial election and all the characteristic intrigues of electioneering soon flipped by, and Governor Umo Eno assumed office.

The first twenty-four hours post inauguration came with huge assurances for the media community. A listing of Governor Eno’s first five appointments featured two journalists; Mr. Ekerete Udoh and Mr. Anietie Usen making the list as Chief Press Secretary and SSA Media and Publicity, respectively.

If enlisting two journalists never convinced the media community that the Governor was ready for the partnership, it was probably because they were grossly unprepared for what was to come. To date, succeeding weeks and months have witnessed the appointment of scores of journalists and media practitioners to different positions. It is indubitably a record breaking highest confidence any administration has reposed in the media community.

For people who think the Governor has already done so much for media professionals, I do not agree any less. But just when Governor Eno could have been nodding in satisfaction at how much benefits the media community has drawn from the ARISE Agenda, journalists are left stunned and mouth agape, by the completion of the NUJ Auditorium; having beyond support for its roofing opted to see it through completion.

A thousand capacity auditorium, a conference room, changing rooms, eight conveniences and an expansive car park; furnished and equipped to taste, the edifice, a new addition to the city’s event venue options is both a definitive and instructive reinvention of the media profession as a famed component of the realm.

A no mean feat for the phenomenally impactful administration of Comrade Amos Etuk, this huge feat beyond cementing Governor Eno’s place in history, as a Nigerian leader that promised little but delivered on a monumental note, also justifies the numerous media related honours the Governor has in 25 months bagged, including the NUJ Media Friendly Governor of the year, 2024.

As Amos Etuk, the twelfth Chairman of the State Council of the Union gets set to bow out, the Nigerian media space will not forget the warmth and magnanimity of Governor Eno’s goodwill which in two years has converted numerous tangibles, including gifting brand new cars to members of the State Working Committee of the NUJ.

Ahead of its official commissioning, this addition to the appurtenances at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has travelled light years to admit Governor Umo Eno to a permanent spot on the media wall of fame, where intentional leaders are celebrated.

In sustaining Governor Eno’s media honeymoon, the community at its most faintest memory will never forget this kindness.

Samuel Ayara writes from Ibong Otoro in Abak LGA