NATIONAL PROTEST: WHAT IF AKWA IBOM PEOPLE DEFIED GOVERNOR UMO ENO’S COUNSEL?
– Samuel Ayara
October 22, 2020 was the dateline, Uyo the Akwa Ibom State Capital had without any warning evolved to a theatre of absurdity in what many term “a night of rage”. Haunting memories of how a supposedly peaceful ENDSARS protest turned out worst than the dehumanizing manners the Special Anti Robbery Squad treated citizens have become a scar on our national history. The agitation for the delisting of inconsequential tactical unit in the Nigeria Police Force, in the long run left families and institutions in irrecoverable shock; SARS in its brutal oddity and efforts to end their excesses birthed fear and anger.
Without any provocation, the protest as in some state of the federation assumed an unforetold dimension, when hoodlums in the guise of protesters took the reins, sacked and robbed any business and citizen in sight, in a violent heist that snuffed life out of Iniobong Lyons, the Ibesikpo Asutan born, African Church cleric. From Public facilities, to business outlets, as well as service centres, the Post- ENDSARS documented experiences would avail movie writers a horror movie bestseller script.
Mbetto Boutique on Ikot Ekpene Road with goods worth millions of Naira was reduced to broomsticks, leaving the owner, Francis Cletus suicidal, blue and distraught; it took more than a year for him to return to skeletal business. The LG showroom also felt the fangs from the hoodlums who dared the sanest of reasoning in their misadventure. It took the uncouth courage of John Nta, for Treasure Island to be spared from the wild fire that was thought a spark; even for those whose businesses were not affected, it was a “no longer at ease” situation.
With what could arguably pass for the height of indulgence in theft and vandalism, where some bank premises were not spared, there was another cell that transacted arson on public facilities. The corporate headquarters of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation and the Anchor Insurance building, which houses the Primary Healthcare Department, are still under the weight of the rage that walked our streets that night. This left in its wake fear, tears and sorrows in a magnitude that could have been more excruciating if Raphael Edem, one of our cerebral assets, God forbid, had gone down when the mob, in their inglorious angst went for him.
All of these vexatious twists from the ENDSARS misadventure coloured-up Governor Umo Eno’s stout resistance against the return of such dark episode, when he mobilized resources and goodwill at ensuring the people across demographics traditional rulers, civil society groups and youths listened to the voice of reason, accepted a peace offer and shelved the end bad governance protest, which like the October 2020 disturbance has also left scars on our collective national prospects.
August 1st – 10th 2024 came and lapsed and the state across all 31 Local Government Areas remained in one piece, despite all external incitements. That was the height of respect for a governor whose forte before and after the protest has remained pro-people. While others laughed and scorned, Akwa Ibom youths held on, tuned off from the sensations and kept faith with a governor they trust would come through in more beneficial ways than an uncertain protest would avail.
So much for the price of one; Governor Umo Eno, exactly one month after people of the State shared his view on the need to shelve the protest, came through with bag loads of goodies. With a Youth Appreciation Rally, where the Governor presented his scorecard in youth development to include training and empowerment of 1200 beneficiaries through IBOM-LED, Educational & Business Support Grants to undergraduates and SME’s to physically challenged persons, appointment of hundreds of Youths into strategic positions and commend engagements.
The bearer of the ARISE Agenda mandate further doled out 310 million Naira in cash support to youths across structures in the 31 LGAs at 10 million Naira per LGA, approved fresh appointment of 300 youths into Ibom Community Watch scheme, announced recruitment and training of 200 youths at the Dakadda Skills Acquisition Centre with monthly transport allowance of 20,000 Naira each, and a hundred percent increment in Student’s Bursary, as well as corresponding two hundred percent increase in bursary for professional students in Medicine, Law and Post-graduate programmes.
Not done, he floated a monthly grant of 50,000 Naira each for 5000 youths in the State (across party lines), launched an employment portal for youths to aggregate data and prepare for youth employment in State civil service and other organizations. As if that much was not enough, the governor in another 24 hours, soon after the rally came through with a big bang; the realignment of ministries to create a ministry of Youth Development from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
Interestingly, the Governor, despite his sterling performance and effort in carrying everybody along is not insulated from the fangs of crisis merchandise. When they are not accusing him of not throwing money around, they are angry that he is mindful of vulnerable people and insistent on following through the right processes in running the administration. But the phenomenal Umo Eno who is no stranger to braving the tides is always upbeat in ensuring there is something to talk about. Just when it was thought that he has done too much, he converted the two billion Naira interest free loan to traders to a grant, all in a bid to help MSMEs scale-up.
While different legal opinions on the federal government’s handling of the protest outcomes crisscross, people are already having their day in various courts; the morality of such persecution/prosecution notwithstanding, we saw carnage, destruction, theft and uncouth anger in display in climes where the protest held. We cannot sympathize with them and fail to appreciate what was averted in our collective resolve to shelve the protest. A win-win situation it has been as the benefits of yielding the Governor’s peace call continues to roll in endless torrent.
In defying external doomsday calls and bland attempt to misinform the people, we sure made the right decision, when we turned our backs on what could have strained our peace. Doing so, we incurred no lose in our strides with the debilitating national economic situation that has seen Governor Umo Eno on the frontlines of humanitarian and compassionate gestures since assumption of office. The gains of listening when it mattered most have been enormous, defiance to ideas that energize peace and prosperity has no place here.
Samuel Ayara writes from Ibong Otoro in Abak LGA.
