Hon. Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, and his family, during a 3-in-1 thanksgiving.
By Abasifreke Effiong
Ikot Ekpene Udo, the serene rural town in Nsit Ubium local government, Akwa Ibom State, had never received such a rush of cars and footsteps that it witnessed on Saturday 26th August, 2021. Cars and crowd of people were rushing to attend the 3-in-1 thanksgiving convened by Pastor Umo Eno, the Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Akwa Ibom State.
Thousands of people beat the rain which fell continuously since the early morning of that Saturday. Vehicular traffic on the snaky, coal-tarred rural road stricken by age and potholes was choatic. Security men who were in charge of traffic control had directed guests to park their cars about a kilometer away from the venue of the event, to prevent a gridlock, yet the hold-up was grottier when the rain let.
Hundreds of people trekked willingly, some mounted motorcycles and endured the piercing cold weather, beat the rain that kept drizzling till afternoon, to get to Ikot Ekpene Udo to honour a man who had decided to thank God openly for all His good works and benevolence.
It was a big day for motorcyclists in Ikot Ekpene Udo. There was a high demand for the service of motorcyclists between where the guests parked their cars and the venue of the thanksgiving. As it is whenever there is an increase in demand, motorcyclists in the community suddenly increased their charges from N50 to N200 per drop per person, within a distance of less than a kilometer. However, the stress caused by the chaotic traffic and the continuous rainfall experienced throughout that day did not encumber the cherry crowd from praising God and rejoicing with the celebrator and his family.
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Pastor Umo Eno was thanking God for 35 years of fruitful marriage to his wife, Mrs. Patience, whom he fondly calls “Kemi”; the first memoriam of his mother, Late Deaconess Eka Eno, and his appointment into the State Executive Council, as Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources.
Against some permutations, the thanksgiving service received a first-rate solidarity from the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, his wife, the deputy governor, members of the State Executive Council, Speaker of the House of Assembly and members, the national and state leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the highest leadership of the traditional institution in the state led by the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Chairman, Akwa Ibom State traditional rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, the leadership of youth and women groups in the State, leadership of the ruling party, national assembly members, members of Akwa Ibom professionals, student groups etc.
The bell of politics has begun to peal. And, it is cultural in times like this for political analysts to read meanings into every event, profile and stratify every politically exposed persons, whether those persons are interested in the next election or not, and talk about how much following they can get depending on how long they have been on ground politically. Pastor Umo’s thanksgiving service was a private event and apolitical at that, however, it did not miss the unfortunate make-believe analyses popular in seasons like this.
The story was that Pastor Umo Eno, a newling in politics would not have the honour of the Who is Who at that event. Pastor Umo has spent 30 of his life in the private sector building a career in hospitality management and 17 of the 30 years shepherding congregations both in the All Nations Christian Ministry Int’l and The Apostolic Church (TAC) where he was called into Ministry. Contrary to permutations, Pastor Umo Eno had the deserving honour from the Who is Who in the State, beyond his towering private sector and religious followings.
Pastor Umo Eno, acknowledged that he was overwhelmed by the crowd. He said: “I did not have this very large crowd when I buried by mother here last here, but today everywhere is filled up, I feel honoured by your presence despite the rain”. Men honoured the man who decided to thank God for all his benefits.
Thanksgiving is an obligation every man owes his Creator. “Giving thanks to God for His mercy and kindness is a blessing and a privilege. It shifts our attitude and makes us more aware of God’s activity in our lives. It humbles us and allows us to see just how truly great our God is!”, says Brian Williams. Thanksgiving to God is important, that was why David, during his reign as King over the united monarchy of Israel and Judah decreed a Decree commanding Israel and Judah to give thanks. “Give thanks to Yahweh; call on His name; proclaim His deeds among the people. Sing to Him; sing praise to Him; tell about His wonderful works”, David is quoted in Ist Chronicles 16:7-9.
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Pastor Umo Eno, his wife and family were thanking God for their triumph over life’s adversities. Their reasons for thanksgiving were germane. Pastor Umo said he was thanking God for “raising a barrack boy whom the world never believed could become anything”, to become the first person from Ikot Ekpene Udo appointed into the State Executive Council. He was also thanking God for restoring the health of his wife and for a fruitful marriage.
Pastor Umo’s wife, Mrs. Patience summarised her reasons for the thanksgiving thus: “I am highly favoured for him (Pastor Umo Eno) to have left all the girls in his village to come and pick me and married me and made a woman of me. In 35 years, God has brought us this far. He has blessed me with children. He has blessed me with grand-children. He has blessed me with sons in-law. He has blessed me with daughters in-law.”
The testimonies of Pastor Umo’s family said indeed that God has continued to have mercy on whom He has chosen to have mercy on. His mercies have led a man before the King, even the King of his own land.
The Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, spoke feelingly at that event about Pastor Umo Eno, and how impressed he and members of the State Executive Council are about his capacity.
The Governor said: “I hardly score people very high but this one man; we invited him only once to our retreat – and all Exco members will give you exactly the same report – he impressed everybody at that retreat”. The Governor continued, “…he is somebody who has capacity, who loves his people. God looks at the heart to reward people and I’m sure God looking into his heart and seeing the sincerity of his heart and his love for people, God has decided to make him serve his people right now.”
Bosses rarely pour such luscious and open-ended compliments on their subordinates, Pastor Umo can count himself blessed that he had his boss and the King of his community pour encomiums on him in such immortal words. The Governor’s commendation simply put forward Pastor Umo, as a man who has a sound psychosocial capacity for leadership and service, a man who is inventive, resourceful and sincere; and a man who loves his people. Truly, an unusual grace abound at the tabarnacle of thanksgiving.
Still at that tabarnacle of thanksgiving, many people who have known Pastor Umo Eno, prior to his appointment as Commissioner penned goodwill messages that revealed more about this man than what others know about him. The Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Adeyinka Asekun, said Pastor Umo Eno, is a “thoughtful and thankful” man. The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, said in his goodwill message that Pastor Umo’s appointment is a reward for his “goodness”. Their thoughts about Pastor Umo Eno, are wholly in sync with the Governor’s remark. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established”, Paul wrote to the Corinth (2nd Corinthians 13 verse 1).
