By Abasiofiok Inyang

"Too many people speak after hearing just one side of a story. Judging a situation without being there and knowing the actual facts ruins lives and relationships, so you best know the full story before attacking someone and making false accusations"--- Stephen Covey. 
Governor Udom Emmanuel must have been very much aware of this wise counsel when he addressed journalists,  the entire Akwa Ibom citizens and the world last Monday. The chat was not only timely but very apt considering the many rumours, concocted stories and outright blackmail that followed the outbreak of the dreaded coronavirus in the State. From the number of those infected by the COVID-19 in the State, to the handling and management as well as the palliatives given to cushion the effects, the social media was flooded by fake news with the very intention to bring down the governor and his administration.

Specifically, the briefing well fitted the recent heat generated as a result of the removal of Dr Aniekeme Uwah as State Epidemiologist. The "emergency social media practitioners" whose stock in trade is to jump to hasty conclusions and deliver judgments after hearing from one side. As if that was not enough, tempers were raised in the State when rumour mill dished out that nine commissioners in the State Executive Council were infected by the COVID-19 disease.

Undoubtedly, Dr Uwah may have the wealth of experience in the field of epidemiology. His being appointed to head the department of epidemiology was like putting a square peg in a square hole. Interestingly, he never disappointed in his handling of the department. 
However, his wealth of experience and delivery of his assigned duties was not enough for him to exhibit the act of insurbordition and disloyalty to his superiors. This is the bitter truth that many who judged after hearing one side failed to let the world know. 
Yes, Dr Uwah and Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong might have had issues but as long as he is the  surbordinate, there was no justifiable reason to act the way he allegedly did.

The governor in his briefing, was able to point out that Dr Aniekeme Uwah was not sacked by the State Government as the public was misinformed but only redeployed in line with the rights of the government.
 
It is also worthy of interest to note that the governor cleared the air on the palliatives given to Akwa Ibom people and insisted that it was meant for the poorest of the poor. Actually, the governor had good intentions to reach out to the people through over 2,274 groups but its handling was disappointing as those entrusted failed in their responsibility and went about to present one side of the story to the public.

What a State! The case was not different as regards the palliatives given by the Federal Government to the State. The social media was equally awashed with insinuations that the State Government has received so much from the Federal Government but the governor proved such rumour mongers wrong and disclosed that apart from one hundred million naira donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC and the 1,800 bags of rice from the Nigeria Custom Service which he said, is not yet certified good for consumption by Akwa Ibom people, the State has not received any other thing from the Federal Government. 

The media chat also gave the governor an opportunity to disclose the State Government's preparedness in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed that before the outbreak of COVID-19, government had employed over 200 doctors and over 2,000 nurses and put in place facilities worth millions of naira in different hospitals including the Ibom Specialist Hospital. The Ikot Ekpene Infectious Diseases Hospital is equally wearing a new look with facilities to handle the pandemic while reassuring that the isolation center at Itu Mbang will be ready in two weeks time as work is being done day and night.

In overall assessment, the governor has done his best to tackle the dreaded coronavirus disease. He only needs to be encouraged and not run down by those who are yet to understand that election had since ended in 2019, and governance is for the good of all.

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