I Am The Only Qualified To Oppose Gov. Eno

I Am The Only Qualified To Oppose Gov. Eno

By Thomas Thomas

In Akwa Ibom State, very few can claim opposition credentials without blinking or glancing over their shoulders. But for those who understand the terrain (its hazards, its silences, its hidden blows) there is at least one voice that has earned the right to speak without fear or favour. Nobody has played opposition in this State more than I have, and I say this without sounding boastful or courting unnecessary applause. It is simply a statement of fact born from years of sacrifice, confrontation and consequences.

When every Okon and Effiong chose the comfort of silence, when voices that should have risen in defence of the masses were suddenly drowned in selective amnesia, I stood up (young, unseasoned, but unwilling to bow to intimidation). While journalists and newspaper proprietors scrambled for crumbs and patronage, I rallied comrades like Solomon Johnny and Unyime Ekwere to confront what many feared: a system that had grown monstrous and intolerant of dissent.

My insistence on holding government accountable—on insisting that leadership must have a human face—came at a heavy price. I was censored, gagged and sidelined in the very newspaper house I helped build into a household name. That was the beginning of our exit, the birth of a bolder dream, and ultimately the creation of Global Concord Newspaper.

With Johnny and Ekwere, we transformed Global Concord into the people’s megaphone (fearless, consistent and unbending). We spoke for the masses when it was costly to do so. We confronted power at a time when critics were hunted like rats. Printing presses shut their doors against us; at some point we even had to move operations to Calabar to keep the paper alive. Everything we endured (threats, harassment, economic strangulation) was borne out of commitment to the common good of Akwa Ibom people.

So yes, I am qualified (by experience and sacrifice) to speak for or against any government in this State. If Governor Umo Eno were not serving the people, I would be the first to say so. If he were breaking promises, mismanaging resources or violating the oath of office, nobody would need to push me before I raised the alarm. And if the day comes when he strays from the path of responsible leadership, trust me, you will hear my voice again—loud and clear.

This is why it amazes me to watch a handful of self-acclaimed “opposition voices” descend into tantrums and fabrications. Opposition is not hatred. Opposition is not destruction. Opposition is not a licence to lie. Constructive criticism is a democratic duty; malicious propaganda is not. If the governor has erred in your judgment, raise the issue respectfully, intelligently and with facts. That is how democracy grows. That is how leaders are shaped. That is how governance improves.

Let me repeat myself for emphasis: I am qualified to speak for or against any government in power as far as Akwa Ibom State is concerned. I can tell you for free, if Gov. Umo Eno is not for the people, I will say so. If he fails to keep promises, I will say so. I would not have endured in his government if he were not attending to the yearnings of the people. If he were reckless with State finances, I would say so. And the day he acts contrary to his oath of office, trust me, I will say so.

It is precisely because of this long, costly record of standing on the side of truth that I can state, without fear of contradiction, that the current wave of opposition to Governor Umo Eno is unnecessary. The man has neither provoked it nor earned it. His disposition to governance is calm, people-centered and development-driven. He is not at war with anybody; he is not running a vengeful administration; he is not suffocating dissent. Instead, he has chosen inclusion, peace, rural development, agricultural expansion and community engagement as pillars of his leadership.

What exactly then is the basis of this opposition? That he is not aggressive enough? That he is not flamboyant? That he is not spending State resources recklessly to impress political spectators? Good governance is not theatre. It is not noise. It is not chaos. And Governor Umo Eno’s refusal to indulge in political dramatics is precisely why the State is experiencing the stability many once prayed for.

True opposition must be anchored on evidence of wrongdoing. But when a governor is busy reconnecting communities to their local economies, supporting small businesses, restoring peace, reviving moribund projects and managing State resources with uncommon prudence, what exactly is there to oppose? It becomes obvious that much of the present criticism has nothing to do with governance—it is simply the old Nigerian habit of attacking a government because one wants the attention that comes with being seen as “opposition.”

That is why some people can wake up, fabricate claims and circulate hate campaigns under the pretext of playing watchdog. But opposition is not hatred. It is not envy. It is not bitterness disguised as activism. The essence of opposition is to correct, not destroy; to guide, not mislead; to remind, not malign.

So yes, criticize, but do so with honour. If the governor errs, point it out constructively. If he needs direction, give it. But do not invent lies to justify your presence on the political stage. Akwa Ibom has moved beyond that. The people now see through hollow bravado and empty noise.

Opposition is a noble responsibility, but only when rooted in truth. And if, perchance, you still insist on playing opposition in this era of calm and development, you may as well appoint me as your Opposition Consultant. I will gladly teach you how to do the job properly, intelligently and without staining your conscience.
____________________________________
Thomas writes from Tuskers Republic, Uyo