Election period especially in Nigeria is a time when strange things happen. A father can wake up and deny his son because of political interest. It is a time when people come up with a narrative such as : Your father is not from this community; your mother adopted you to this family, so you have no share in the family’s inheritance”, and many of such unfounded stories.
Though very funny and pathetic, one of such infantile politically motivated narratives is circulated on the social media about the person of Pst Umo Eno, the PDP governorship hopeful whose strength and capacity to win the party’s flag is second to none.
The story purportedly written by one Etim Etim alleged that the commissioner for lands and water resources does not have any school certificate (no WAEC result, no first degree, no masters degree and so on). As funny as this sound, one must not be ignorant of the fact that when people don’t have what to use against a man, they can use anything to attack. You may likely hear that Pst Umo Eno is too light skinned, and so should not be allowed to lead the state. Another may say that he is too tall, and so should not be a governor.
To put the record straight, this certificate narrative is another attempt to attack the credibility of Pst Umo Bassey Eno, who is not only a lover of education, but someone who has sponsored many through different academic fields, even to PhD levels.
Umo Eno is an entrepreneur, administrator and a minister of the Gospel. An accomplished hospitality professional and fellow of the Nigerian Catering and Hotel Institute (FNCHI), He got his FSLC from Local Authority School Ikeja, from 1970 to 1975, thereafter proceeded to St. Francis Secondary School, Eket, Akwa Ibom State and Victory High School, Ikeja, Lagos State between between (1975 – 1981) where he bagged School Certificate (O’ Level) and didn’t end there. He always had a push for education and success. He proceeded to the University of Uyo, Uyo Akwa Ibom State and bagged a degree in Bachelor of Science, Political Science & Public Administration (1998 – 2002). He went further to bag a Master of Science degree in Political Science & Public Administration (2006 -2008).He is an alumnus of Pan African University’s Lagos Business School (LBS), and has over 35 years working experience in the private sector, spanning banking, marketing, management and hospitality.
In less than 12 hours after Gov. Udom Emmanuel unveiled Umo as his preferred successor, his profile, including academic background was immediately published, and is in the public domain. Anyone who is not convinced by the publication can make findings. It is a trivial issue that is not only senseless, but so elementary, when there are other issue based narratives that should be discussed.
The PDP governorship hopeful is so passionate about quality education and has on many occasions promised to make quality education a priority when elected as governor. He is a strong believer in academic excellence and when he speaks, one doesn’t need a prophet to say that he is a thoroughbred academic.
To show how empty Etim Etim is, he claimed he went online to check the name of the secondary school Umo Eno attended, and could not find any. So, he draws the conclusion that Pst Umo Eno did not attend any secondary school. He also alleged that someone called him, meaning that he is so idle and ready to be used as a sacrifice to malign people’s image.
It is a tradition that aspirants must submit their credentials to the party’s screening committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC). So, Etim Etim should not expect Umo Eno to publish his certificates on WhatsApp as he demanded. There are procedures for this.
In today’s society, there is no restrictions to getting information about any person with ease. He can possibly go to the University of Uyo where Umo Eno attended to make thorough investigation about his academic background, before coming out to make such empty allegations. Every sane person should know that the University of Uyo that we know, and other institutions cannot issue first and second degrees to someone if he didn’t possess the necessary requirements. If Etim thinks it is easy to get into University without meeting the requirements, he can as well try.
The general public should understand that Etim Etim is a political jobber whose stock in trade is to lie and get paid for it. As a sacked bank worker who is living from hand to mouth, he can do anything for money. He is a known tool who renders himself to be used by any desperate politician.
As more media hirelings are recruited to engage in smear campaign against the person of Pst Umo Eno who is seen as a direct threat to other aspirants, the public should expect more of such empty allegation, and ignore immediately.
Pst Umo Eno remains the most qualified aspirant for the seat, given his administrative prowess, work ethics, sound mind, intelligence and above all, humility.
Richard Peters
