The Senior Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Research and Documentation, Mr Essien Ndueso, has decried unnecessary criticism trailing the Governor for boarding the Ibom Air flight during an official trip to Abuja, the federal capital territory, recently.
Mr Ndueso reasons that Governor Umo Eno is simply living up to his promises of encouraging the Akwa Ibom State Government’s investments to thrive and expand to meet the demands of the present economic realities in the country.
Reacting to a series of negative criticisms following the governor’s decision to patronise the state-owned air carrier, Ndueso said it was rather unfortunate that the good intention of the Governor, in having first-hand experience with the State airline, was being interpreted negatively.
The Governor’s senior aide, who hailed the Governor for being down to earth in his leadership style since he assumed office on May 29, reminded critics that the Governor had, during his campaign tour, promised that he would occasionally be flying Ibom Air to have the same experience as every other passenger to guide his decision-making.
He said the Governor used the opportunity of patronising Ibom Air in his official capacity as Governor of the State to share the experiences of other passengers and wondered why some people would rather misinterpret that action with unsubstantiated claims.
“Remember His Excellency. Pastor Eno said he is not a Governor who sits in his comfort zone in the office to receive reports from the fields, but one who will go out to feel and experience the realities of investments and public utilities funded with public funds.”
Mr Ndueso, who had previously served as a media aide to the then Governor Udom Emmanuel, dismissed the rumour making the rounds that Governor Eno resorted to flying with Ibom Air because the former Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, was still keeping the private jet attached to the office of the governor of the state.
Ndueso, who described the allegation as a frivolous beer parlour gist aimed at tarnishing the image of the former Governor, urged the public to discountenance such allegations, as they were without an iota of truth.
He explained that Mr Emmanuel, despite being the immediate past Governor and former boss to the current Governor, has not shown any overbearing attitude to his successor and even came to declare during the State dialogue that there can only be one leader at a time in the State, being Governor Eno.
“Recall that Mr Udom Emmanuel was the one who told everyone to support the Governor as the new leader of the State. Others would be coming to the government house every day or even lodging in the Government House guest house, but the immediate past Governor has kept his promise by returning to his private practice, allowing His Excellency the incumbent Governor to freely run the business of government.
The Governor’s aide further explained that Umo Eno’s decision to fly Ibom Air was a simple way of telling the story of Ibom Air and urged those spreading falsehoods on the matter with the aim of tarnishing the image of the Governor and his predecessor to desist from such acts.
“The entire country has come to appreciate Mr Umo Eno as a simple and down-to-earth leader who has not allowed the aura of his position to have a negative influence on his humble nature.
“The Governor has told his people that in appointing aides, he is not appointing aides that will carry his umbrella and phones since he is carrying them himself, but he would rather appoint people with the capacity to add value to his administration.
“Even at the airport, you could see him subjecting himself to thorough checks and other airport procedures, and that is because he wishes to lead by example.
Such actions should not be misinterpreted but seen as actions that make him more connected to his people”. Ndueso stressed.
The Tribune reports that the decision by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to fly the state government-owned aircraft, ‘Ibom Air,’ while going for an official assignment in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Tuesday was trailed by wild-spread rumours, resulting in insinuations that the immediate past Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, had refused to relinquish the private jet attached to the office of the state governor after he left office.
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