Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State sent a simple birthday message to Obong Umana Okon Umana the other day to celebrate his 66th birthday. But the main essence of the letter was not written in words; it is located somewhere in the recent history and experience of the people – Akwa Ibom people.
Just a decade ago, Umana was humiliated, hunted and hounded for political reasons by the then governor. But today, he is being celebrated as ‘’an illustrious son’’ who has served the state ‘’passionately’’. Leadership style can make the difference. Umana had served in the public service of Akwa Ibom for about 25 years, rising through the ranks to become Permanent Secretary; Commissioner for Finance and peaking as SSG (Secretary to the State Government). He was later appointed Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in the Buhari administration.
In 2013, he was once locked out of office, hounded, hunted and harassed for seeking to contest the 2015 governorship race. In 2014, the DG of his campaign Organization, Chief Sunny Udom, escaped assassination by the whiskers when armed men stormed his office. He was lucky to have left minutes before they arrived, perhaps on tip off.