Umo Eno: Truly, Governor for Oro

By Emmanuel Nicholas

For years, the Oro ethnic nationality, comprising Oron, Udung Uko, Mbo, Urue-Offong/Oruko, and Okobo local government areas, has long been striving for enhanced leadership and infrastructural development comparable to what is available in other parts of Akwa Ibom State.

This yearning has motivated every member of its community to either become an advocate for or a passionate critic of each administration due to perceived marginalization.

Government funding is limited, and no administration can develop the entire state simultaneously; this is why development in Oro nation has not always reached the desired level.

Previous governments focused on developing the State Capital to enhance its image, but under the leadership of Sen Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Udom Emmanuel, there was a shift of development spread, as other areas of the State were touched.

Even at that, Oro people persisted in advocating for increased government infrastructure, and over the years, they have requested dual carriageways to serve as their primary access routes to their communities.

The previous Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel awarded a contract for the dualization of the 14.5km Airport Road – Nsit Atai -Okipedi-Road. However, the contractor fell short of government standards and left the work incomplete.

The emergence of Governor Umo Eno has not only shifted that perspective but has delivered trustworthy results to the aspirations of the people of Oro nation.

At first, he chose a brilliant daughter from Oro Nation, Senator Dr. Akon Eyakenyi, to serve as his Deputy.

She was born in Mbokpu Eyo Akan, located in the Urue-Offong/OrukoLocal Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, and she is married in the Oron Local Government Area.

She is a true daughter of Oro Nation in every aspect.

She held the positions of Commissioner for Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Technical Schools Board, Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Chairman of the Governing Council at Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, and served as a Senator representing the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Once he placed Oro Nation in a key position within his Government, he began working on solutions for their infrastructural improvement demands.

In 2003, Obong Victor Attah shut down the old Oron Road to facilitate the construction of what is now known as Obong Victor Attah International Airport.

After the Oro people could not prevent the administration from closing their access road, they started to push for an alternative dualized access road.

During his campaign, Governor Umo Eno committed to creating a dualized access road from Uyo-Airport Road to resolve the enduring complaints of the residents.

Firstly, the Governor initiated the construction of a 2.1km Ukpong Street and a 2.1km Effiong Essang Street, along with an 800m discharge drain in Oron Local Government Area.

On February 13, 2024, the Governor returned to officially launch the long-desired access road to Oro Nation.

Governor Umo Eno initiated the dualization of the 13.5 km Okopedi-Oron Road along East-West Road (Phase 11), which includes a bridge.

The Chinese engineering and construction giant CCECC is in charge of the project, which must be completed for commissioning within 24 months, a timeframe that Governor Eno describes as inflexible.

On the same day, the Governor initiated the dualization of the 13.6km Unyenge-Universal Energy Road leading to Ibom Deep Seaport, which includes a second bridge with spans of 30m and 45m, as well as a spur to Affi-Uda Village in Mbo Local Government Area.

This initiative represented the commencement of the Ibom Deep Sea Port project, in line with his pledge to Mbo’s residents.

During the ceremonies held in Okopedi Okobo, Senator Eyakenyi, the Deputy Governor, rallied Oron Nation leaders to seek the cancellation of the Uyo-Airport-Okopedi dualization and proposed that Hensek Integrated Services be awarded the contract instead.

Governor Umo Eno, as a responsive leader, listened to the voices of the Oro people, canceled the contract, and a week later, re-awarded it to Hensek Construction.

Over the past seven months, Hensek Integrated Services has successfully transformed the dualization project into something that has pleased the public, and currently, about 80% of the road is complete.

The people of Oro Nation demonstrated that they made the right choice in requesting a proactive contractor for their access road.

Governor Umo Eno has set a new milestone in Oro Nation by being the first Governor to build an asphalt road in Urue-Offong/Oruko.

In addition to the road projects started, he has made sure that every project he took over from his predecessor in Oro Nation receives funding until completion.

A dependable leader needs to fulfill his campaign promises, which will foster trust among the people in your leadership.

Governor Umo Eno stands as a leader who values honesty, embodying truthfulness, trustworthiness, accountability, and transparency.

Today, Oro Nation feels joyful because they have truly found the Governor they have been hoping for, a leader who consistently prioritizes their needs.