GOVERNING WITH CONSCIENCE
The upsurge of supports accorded the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, both at home and outside has attested to the sterling qualities that he has brought to bear in the governance of the State.
For a man who built enormous capacity for transformational leadership in entrepreneurship, coupled with the gift of the fear of God that has helped in the formation of his strong character and a philosophy of life that places value on others, his performance so far is heart-warming; proving that he is indeed a leader of conscience.
Typical Nigerian politicians act as if they have no conscience. During campaigns, they will make fabulous promises which they know quite well that they wont be able to fulfill. Not as though they don’t have the resources or capabilities to make good their pledges but for self-centered reasons would deliberately ignore them; they have dead consciences (1Timothy 4:2).
Conscience is the spirit in man. It can either accuse you of wrongdoing or excuse you (Romans 2:15). A leader whose conscience is alive will not trammel on the wishes of the people, he will not ignore the cries of the poor. His conscience will accuse or trouble him till he does the right thing. How dangerous for a people to have leaders with a dead conscience!
Conscience is defined as “the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good, ” (Merriam-Webster, 2025). H.L. Mencken defines conscience as “the inner voice that warns us somebody may be looking.”
A leaders of conscience like Pastor Umo Eno, will always weigh beforehand the impact of his actions and decisions, knowing that he is not only accountable to the people but to God.
Very recently, Pastor Umo Eno has received nationwide encomiums and awards for good governance. His administration is just about two years. Are the public acclaims a validation of his character as a conscience -driven governor?
If the essence of governance is performance, which will invariably make the people happy and be at peace with one another, then Pastor Umo Eno has hit the bull’s eye.
In his book, Keys to Governance, Dr. Yilmaz Arguden stated, “The essence of good governance is ensuring trustworthy relations between the institution and its stakeholders. Trust is the foundation of sustainable development. Good governance is the key to establish common expectations, to devise effective policies and processes in order to achieve desired performance levels in a sustainable fashion. Governance involves the rights and processes of decision making and exercising controls in an organization to achieve mutual goals. In short, governance is about performance.”
Portrait of a conscience-driven Governor
Vision:
Vision defines where a leader is going. A clear vision will draw supports from followership without being coerced or coaxed. The ARISE Agenda vision of Pastor Umo Eno has elicited widespread followership. Before embarking on delivery of service to the people, the Governor had presented the blueprint of his administration for public scrutiny and input; it was an open discourse at the Ibom Icon Hotels.
Next was implementation roundtable where stakeholders unbundled the five pronged agenda covering agricultural revolution, rural development, infrastructural renaissance, security and education. Different aspects of the ARISE Agenda was dissected and distilled into easily implementable portions. It was to make government functionaries saddled with the implementation drive of the blueprint know exactly the vision of the governor, in order to deliver on their terms of engagement.
It is safe to assert that this administration has performed beyond predictions. Even virulent cynics have today become key supporters of the Governor, and are vocally pushing for the support of the masses for a second term bid of His Excellency. That is because they have seen the qualities, values and principles which have guarded the actions and decisions of the Governor.
Vision, in the words of Dr. Myles Munroe, enables you to do the impossible. Said he: “Vision unlocks what was and what is to propel you into the land of what would be.”
Relationship
Aside the vision of the ARISE Agenda that has drawn massive supports, relationship is another pillar that this administration leans on for success.
Driven by conscience of a pastor who values God’s agenda above all, Pastor Umo Eno has chosen the path of peace, cordiality and harmony. To achieve massive transformation of the State economically requires building bridges of concord across political borders. For Pastor Umo Eno, his philosophy is stoop to conquer. You have to warm yourself into the corridor of those God has lifted and placed in positions of authority, power and influence (to be continued in the edition).
