Pastor Umo Eno you lied , you are throwing money 

By Emmanuel Nicholas

Governor of Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Eno, has misrepresented the truth in his recent response to media criticism regarding his administration.

He claimed he is not distributing cash and that he won’t give in to pressure to do so.

Allow me to ask, Sir: when you gave N500,000.00 each to 800 entrepreneurs to either start or expand their businesses, isn’t that an obvious example of distributing funds liberally?

Moreso, when you provided financial support to over 3000 youths after their training in various skills, with some receiving N1,000,000.00,  others N500,000.00, and even the least amount being N250,000.00, how can you say you’re not throwing money around?

You have also constructed 36 homes for the most vulnerable, fully furnished them, and installed solar power and water systems. You provided an additional N500,000.00 for each family to start a business of their choice.
Your Excellency, Preacher, you are indeed distributing money quite generously.

Currently, well over 122  bedroom bungalows are being built for the homeless poor, yet you have the audacity to lie to the people of Akwa Ibom, claiming you’re not spending money frivolously.

What kind of pastor are you to assert that you’re not dispersing funds? Consider the retirees who were suffering without their gratuities; the state owes over N60bn  in this respect before you were sworn into office as Governor, yet within a year, you’ve paid out over  N30bn.

What gives you the nerve to stand before God’s altar and claim you’re not throwing funds?

The last time I checked, you distributed N310 million to the youth of Akwa Ibom State to alleviate the effects of hardship, yet you lecture us about not succumbing to blackmail and sharing the money.

I can see why you might want to paint yourself as a deceptive figure. Why did you say you’re not sharing funds when you’ve released over a N100bn to pay contractors owed for completed and ongoing road projects?

You haven’t abandoned any of the road projects started by your predecessor, and you’ve funded contractors to return to work. The youth in Akwa Ibom State are happily employed on these construction sites, and yet you claim you’re not throwing the money.

Our ancestors would be deeply disappointed that you, as a Pastor and their Governor, are misleading people with such falsehoods about not distributing funds.

They are questioning me about the millions of dollars allocated for purchasing more aircraft for Ibom Air. They doubt my responses because your statements contradict my sincere account to them.

When they gaze at the sky and turn to me, I remind them of the food distribution worth hundreds of millions of Naira that reached over ten thousand households through the Bulk food purchasing agency.

Initially, their expressions showed disbelief, but when I swore on our deity’s shrine, they recognized my truthfulness. They know that while the living can lie, no one would dare to do so in the shrine’s presence.

Out of fear, as I felt the weight of that moment with the ancestors, I refrained from mentioning the funds you’ve allocated to improve the lives of the people.

I couldn’t bring myself to tell them that you’re the one constructing health centers in every ward; their reactions were so grave that I also held back the fact that you’re building model schools and undertaking many projects worth billions of Naira.

You have provided scholarships and bursaries worth billions of Naira to all Akwa Ibom State students in various tertiary institutions and funded educational exchanges for adolescents from rural areas, yet you claim you’re not misusing taxpayers’ money?

Look at how you’ve taken our children to England for an educational exchange programme. One child from Adadia in Uruan has a great-grandmother who passed away twenty years ago, and she is furious with you. She said, “How can this man claim he’s just throwing money around when he spent millions of Naira to send my great-grandchild to the UK? I never even had the chance to see Buckingham Palace in London.”

I had to ask her not to be dismayed, explaining that it’s often asserted that green pasture doesn’t anger the goat, but the dry turf does. Since your actions are commendable, indeed if you deny it, she should forgive you for misleading both the living and the forebears.

However, she remained agitated, asking in a husky voice, “Isn’t it Pastor Umo Eno who gave two billion Naira in grants to traders in our state?” It surprised me to see that even the ancestors are aware of your developmental efforts, and I acknowledged you are indeed the one behind it.

She turned to others and, pointing at a father in white with bright eyes, shouted, “Call your son to order! Let him stop lying to his people!”

It was then revealed to me that the man was your father. He pleaded with them to remain calm, explaining that you hadn’t informed him about your plans to establish a modern farm in Nsit Ubium, which would create over five thousand jobs for the youth.

And you also refused to let him know you are employing 5000 through Ibom community watch.

Moreover, you haven’t even told him that you’ve helped prevent many elders from becoming ancestors by providing 60 million Naira to support their healthcare and nutrition.

Oh, my Governor, I find myself wondering how to encourage you to speak the truth about simply distributing money. You are spreading it throughout Akwa Ibom State, as there’s no local government area without at least four projects.

Please, don’t let our ancestors weep; let them see that you’re sharing the resources so that the living can eat, enjoy, and remain healthy.

The ancestors of Akwa Ibom State are truly pleased with you. It is said that when forefathers pray for their descendants, they will live long and achieve great things.

Your ancestors, elders,women , and Youth of Akwa Ibom State appreciate your generosity. Please keep throwing the money.