By Peter Adobamen
Perhaps, the key hallmark of great leaders is not just to write great chapters of success in life and society but to also produce quality leaders who would keep building on the legacy of progress for the good of all. The pioneering story of Udom Gabriel Emmanuel began Monday, July 11, 1966 when he was born. He had his secondary school education in Akwa Ibom, and his tertiary education in Lagos, where he studied Accounting in the prestigious University of Lagos, graduating with a Second Class Upper Division. Upon graduating, he was employed at Price Water House Coopers (PwC), as an Audit Manager. From PwC, he moved over to Diamond Bank (now Access Bank). From Diamond Bank, he moved to Zenith Bank.
It was in Zenith Bank he spent close to two decades, serving in different positions, including pioneer manager of Zenith Bank Lagos Central Branch, Non- Executive Director, and then Executive Director. Whilst serving as an Executive Director in the bank, leadership beckoned on him. He resigned from the bank to take up the role of Secretary to the State Government of Akwa Ibom, and little did he know that he was being prepared to pilot the affairs of the state as the Governor. With remarkable track record of excellent service, he left his role as Secretary to the State Government and ventured into full political participation when he contested in the gubernatorial Primary Election which he won. He thereafter won the 2015 Governorship Election as candidate of the PDP, a feat he repeated in 2019.
As elected governor, Udom Emmanuel’s first tenure was anchored on a five point agenda which are Wealth Creation, Economic and Political Inclusion, Poverty Alleviation, Infrastructural Consolidation and Expansion, Job Creation, while his second tenure was anchored on an eight point (completion) agenda: Industrialization, Aviation Development, Rural and Riverine Area Development, Agriculture, Human Capacity Development, Security, Infrastructure, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.
In his 8-year tenure, he turned around the fortunes of the state by delivering on impactful projects too numerous to be mention. Due to the success of his administration, Akwa Ibom state today holds the enviable title of being the first state to have an airline – IBOM AIR. Managed by private sector, the airline is arguably tops the table of schedule reliability among all Nigerian airlines. In its five years of operation, it has grown its fleet to eight aircrafts, which fly over ten different routes.
During his tenure, former governor Udom contested at the Presidential Primaries of the People’s Democratic Party. On April 12, 2022, he took his campaign to the members of Senate Caucus of the party. Meeting at the residence of the then Minority Residence, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, he stated that it was his belief in his ability to make Nigerian safe and peaceful, attract investments, as well as to make the nation economically vibrant, that made him desire to contest for the seat of President. In his words “Those who can rescue Nigeria are the professionals in politics. Those who understand the language of the economy, those who understand the language of money and can manage resources, as well as those who have experience in the private and public sectors…If I could do these when I am only managing a sub-national where I do not have control of several policies, then I believe we can do better given the national platform as President.”
He contested against big names in politics such as Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, Bukola Saraki, Bala Mohammed, Anyim Pius Anyim, Sam Ohabunwa and Olivia Tariela. At the counting of the ballot, Udom Emmanuel garnered 38 votes, coming 4th position overall, with Atiku Abubakar emerging as the flag bearer of the party. Former governor Udom Emmanuel was thereafter appointed as the chairperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council to lead the campaign of the Atiku/Okowa Presidency. Furthermore, it should be noted that as against the usual practice of outgoing Governors contesting for Senate, and also for President, at the same time, Udom Emmanuel refused to do so. This is premised on the fact that he is a man of integrity. In his words, “I don’t like violating the law – I can’t be running for President and at the same time, I go and collect forms for the Senate. I mean, that’s a total violation of the Electoral Act.” For a first time contestant, Udom Emmanuel fared well at the primaries. Although he did not emerge as winner, many hold the opinion that he should not throw in the towel. He should give it another shot as he has what it takes to transform Nigeria. He has done it in Akwa Ibom, and will be able to replicate it on the national scene.
In spite all his many achievements as governor, Udom Emmanuel understood the importance of having a good successor to continue his good works. His chosen candidate was Pastor Umo Eno, the then Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources. After a rigorous election, Pastor Umo Eno emerged victorious at the Governorship election held on March 18, 2023. Udom Emmanuel continued in office till May 28, 2023, still executing projects even up till his last few weeks in office. He bowed out of office, shoulders high, having achieved majority of the plans he set out to achieve.
Since his handing over as Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel has lived a quiet life, devoid of interruption and disruption to the current administration. On few occasions when he has visited the state, Pastor Umo Eno has alluded to this fact. At the opening ceremony of the Akwa Ibom Dialogue and unveiling of the A.R.I.S.E Agenda in July 2023, held at the Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, Pastor Umo Eno said “I want to specially welcome again to this event, my political father, His Excellency, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, CON who has come to show us support. A man that since leaving office has never brought any pressure on me for anything. Instead, I am the one running after him to ask for direction, to ask for advice quiet unlike what I hear happen in other states. We thank you sir”.
Furthermore, Udom Emmanuel still represents the state government when called upon do so. On Friday, November 24, 2023, he was in Canada, alongside the CEO of Ibom Air, Mfon Udom, and the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. George Uriesi, to represent the Akwa Ibom State Government in receiving the first of ten Airbus A220-300 aircraft ordered by his administration, from the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. It was a remarkable feat which no other airline in Nigeria has achieved. Speaking at the United Evangelical Church, Lagos during a Special Thanksgiving/Welcome Service organized for him on Sunday, November 26, 2023, he said “On Friday, when we were at Mirabel in Canada to receive the first of the ten new Airbus Series of Ibom Air with the MD, Captain Mfon Udom, we almost shed tears because even the Airbus people turned around and said, in their generation of Air Bus management, that was the first time Nigeria’s Flag was flying in the Airbus Factory and that was not done by the Federal Government but a sub national.”
Since leaving office as Governor, Udom Emmanuel has still made it a duty to advocate for better governance, especially a governance model that suits the needs of the people. Speaking at the 8th edition of the London Political Summit, held in October 2023, in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, he advocated for governance models which aligns with African values and social structures. Delivering the keynote lecture on the theme ‘How can the people, power, and politics sustain peace’, he advocated for an Afro-centric approach to democracy stating that the unique values, systems, and shared ideals of Africa would yield superior governance outcomes compared to the Eurocentric model currently practiced in Nigeria.
Committed to impacting lives, Udom Emmanuel is passionate about inspiring the next generation of Nigerians to arise to the faith of greatness. He displayed this passion when he delivered the Convocation Lecture of the Mountain Top University at its 5th Convocation Ceremony, held on December 21, 2023. The lecture title was ‘Optimizing your potentials in a challenging future’. He shared seven principles that will help the graduands in charting their course to greatness. The first principle is to accept that living in dominion is God’s plan for mankind. The second principle is tapping into the power of vision. Embracing excellence and shunning mediocrity is the third principle. Understanding that success can be measured at every point of one’s life is the fourth principle, while embracing the challenges that accompany opportunities is the fifth principle. Fighting your time is the sixth principle, while building strategic relationships is the seventh principle. Concluding his speech, he charged the graduands to ‘Rise to greatness, make your mark, conquer your world and become a blessing to humanity’
It should also be noted that in acknowledgement of his great works as former Governor of Akwa Ibom, some of the great projects either commenced by, or completed during his administration were recently renamed after him. The first is the Dakkada Towers, renamed Udom Emmanuel Towers on May 26, 2024. The second is the recently completed 21.5km Airport Road, which was commissioned on May 27, 2024 by him, and renamed Udom Emmanuel Boulevard.
Happy birthday, His Excellency, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
Peter Adobamen (Author of ‘Udom Emmanuel: The Quintessential Leader- The Completed Agenda (2015-2023)’.
