Pastor Umo Eno Channels Football Manager as Cabinet Mutiny Brews Over “Mkpo Ibaha” Claims
In what appears to be an increasingly tense relationship between captain and team, Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno has issued what amounts to a football-style “red card” threat to commissioners who dare leave the pitch before the final whistle.
The governor’s public warning, captured in an interview video posted by African Independent Television on Saturday, reveals fractures within an administration barely two years old and offers a rare glimpse into the power dynamics playing out in government houses across Nigeria.
The Great Disappearing Act
The flashpoint that triggered this extraordinary public dressing-down? An unscheduled event where the governor’s entourage apparently evaporated into thin air, leaving the state’s chief executive bereft of his “first eleven” players.
“Starting from now, henceforth, I like everyone to hear, that’s why I am speaking publicly, that when you hear that I have fired a commissioner from your local government, it’s insubordination,” Eno declared, the stern tone of a man unused to being abandoned midway through his official duties.
What makes this tension particularly notable is the reported underlying cause: whispers of “Mkpo Ibaha” the Akwa Ibom slang for “there’s nothing in government” spreading among cabinet members frustrated by insufficient funding for their offices.
From Colleague to Commander-in-Chief
In a revealing comment that speaks volumes about how power transforms perspective, Eno reminded his appointees: “I was a commissioner myself, and I can’t remember any day I left my Governor behind.”
The statement unwittingly highlights the gulf between his memory as a subordinate and his expectations as the chief executive a classic case of the view looking dramatically different from the top.
“The fact that I am simple does not mean that I am an appointed Governor; I was elected by the people,” Eno added, in what political observers might interpret as insecurity about his authority rather than a simple statement of fact.
The 24/7 Leash
Perhaps most revealing is Eno’s characterization of his commissioners’ roles as “a full-time job, which you must do 24/7” an expectation that raises questions about work-life balance in Nigeria’s political sphere.
“You must go with me and take me back to the Lodge,” the governor insisted, essentially demanding that commissioners function as both policy implementers and personal escorts, with personal commitments rendered irrelevant by the governor’s unannounced schedule changes.
This expectation stands in stark contrast to modern workplace norms, where even high-level executives are entitled to predictable schedules and personal time considerations apparently not extended to public servants in Akwa Ibom.
The ARISE Agenda and the Falling Soldiers
Behind this public spat lies a more substantive question about the implementation of the governor’s ARISE Agenda, his blueprint for delivering “dividends of democracy” to the electorate.
If cabinet members are indeed muttering “Mkpo Ibaha” and disengaging from official functions, it suggests deeper administrative issues than mere insubordination possibly pointing to resource allocation problems, policy implementation challenges, or governance structures that leave commissioners feeling ineffective in their roles.
Between the Lines
What remains unspoken in the governor’s ultimatum is any acknowledgment of the structural issues that might be causing this disengagement. Rather than addressing potential legitimate concerns about resource allocation or administrative effectiveness, the response has been to threaten termination—treating symptoms rather than causes.
As the Akwa Ibom administration approaches its mid-term, this public friction raises important questions about governance style in Nigerian states. Is a 24/7 entourage truly necessary for effective governance? Does treating commissioners as personal aides rather than policy leaders enhance or detract from public service delivery?
For the people of Akwa Ibom waiting for those promised “dividends of democracy,” the answer may lie not in who follows the governor to every function, but in whether the ARISE Agenda delivers tangible improvements to their daily lives with or without a full complement of commissioners in the official photographs.
Reference
A’Ibom gov vows to fire commissioners who abandon official duties