Published 24th Mar, 2023

By Tola Owoyele

On March 18, Umo Eno, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner of the governorship election that was held in Akwa Ibom State.

Eno polled 354,348 votes to defeat Bassey Albert of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Akanimo Udofia of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who both polled 136,262 and 129,602 votes respectively.

Born on May 10, 1964, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Eno attended Local Authority Primary School and Victory High School, Ikeja, Lagos, for his primary and secondary school education.

After this, he studied public administration at the University of Uyo and obtained a bachelor’s degree.

After several years of working in industries, Eno set up his own hospitality business.

During the same period, he became the founder, Senior Pastor and General Overseer of All Nations Christian Ministry International, an Akwa Ibom State-based church.

Eno was recently a serving commissioner in the administration of Emmanuel Udom, the incumbent governor of the state.

Before his election, had been the subject of different controversies.

Here are a few:

ACCUSATION OF FORGED WAEC CERTIFICATE

After Eno emerged the PDP’s state governorship candidate in June 2022, party members who were displeased went to court, alleging that he had presented a forged West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result in his bid to become governor.

Akan Okon, one of the contestants during the primaries, who also filed the suit, noted that there were disparities in the name arrangement, school name and date of birth on the certificate Eno had presented.

In January, and after losing at both the Federal High and the Appeal Court, the Supreme Court dismissed Akan’s suit and affirmed Eno as the party’s candidate.

Akan was also ordered to pay a N5 million fine.

HISTORY OF SHARP PRACTICES AND DISPUTES WITH WORKERS

Apart from being Akwa Ibom State’s Commissioner for Lands, Eno is the chairman of Royalty Group, a major hospitality and food processing venture that is based in Uyo, the state’s capital.

In May 2022, an online newspaper released a publication on Eno’s alleged hostility towards his employees. Eno was accused of running his companies without respecting laid down labour laws and conventions. It was also alleged that his companies often prevented workers from speaking openly about the injustices and cruelty they suffer.

It was also claimed that workers who dragged Eno to the Industrial Aberration Court eventually got sacked.

While responding to the allegations however, Anietie Usen, Eno’s spokesperson, said they were not true.

He described Eno as a very simple, humble and godly man who is loved by many.

“For a man who has a record of employing over 2,000 workers, the highest outside government. I would be surprised if there were no recalcitrant staff,” Usen said.

HAPPY HOUR PLAN

Days before the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State was conducted, Eno made a ‘happy hour’ promise to Akwa Ibom indigenes. He said ‘happy hour’ would be a period of the day when drinks were sold at reduced prices in a bar or other relaxation spots.

“Every Friday, I will have what I call ‘happy hour’ for the state. And what do I want to do with happy hour? It’s simple. I want to create business for people that have facility. So, we declare that between 5 and 6, these are the bars that will sell drinks at a certain price,” Eno said.

TRENDING VIDEO: Umo Eno proposes 'happy hour' in Akwa Ibom every Friday, says he'll subsidise alcohol

🎥: @DeeOneAyekooto pic.twitter.com/mjmULln08F
— TheCable (@thecableng) March 16, 2023

This statement generated a lot of criticism, forcing many to question his economic plans for the state.

Some believed the plan was not a viable income generation initiative as 70 percent of the state’s indigenes live below poverty line. It was also posited that the poor majority in the state would prefer affordable food and housing opportunities to a government-subsidised weekly enjoyment.

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