James Freeman Clarke’s thought on leadership, is perhaps, one the most instructive and profound. According to him, “a politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.” Clarke’s opinion explains the reason leadership in Africa isn’t altruistic- or selfless.

Pastor Umo Eno, the frontline gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State for the 2023 election is a departure from the regular African politician. He is not driven by primitive accumulation and political vendetta. He is a transgenerational leader because he sees leadership and governance as vehicle for making impact that would transcend generations.

Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jnr. and Abraham Lincoln are (not were, because their impacts live on) some examples of transgenerational, whose imprints on humanity have outlived them. For instance, Nelson Mandela led a movement that culminated in the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa and the emergence of the first truly multiracial democracy in Africa.

Umo Eno articulated the concept of “low- hanging fruits”, which encompasses the following: jobs, skills, entrepreneurship and security- to address the fundamental problems of poverty, inequalities and unemployment- which are the most ravaging challenges of Africa!

Eno’s conceptualization aligns with Professor Dudley Seer’s meaning of development, which impinges on providing answers to the questions of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

As a transgenerational leader, Umo Bassey Eno thinks about the future generations, Eno would build a substratum and superstructure for the emergence of a viable, peaceful and prosperous Akwa Ibom. How does Umo Eno intend to provide answers to the questions of poverty, unemployment and inequalities?

First, PUE had said variously that he would prioritize education, by revamping our schools and making the public schools system attractive. This, according to him, is because education is the bedrock of sustainable future. In this regard, skills acquisition and technical learning would be given an utmost priority because, Akwa Ibom State, under Umo Eno’s watch, would become productivity/ production- driven- as against consumerism.

Secondly, Umo Eno would create jobs by encouraging Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Akwa Ibom State, through start- ups and support grants. The rationale for this is that about 11 percent of the world’s population, or 783 million people, live below the extreme poverty threshold in 2013. MSMEs contribute significantly to the employment creation process of the private sector.

In emerging markets, 4 out of 5 new positions in the formal sector were created by MSMEs, which is about 90 percent of total employment. Therefore PUE intends to use SMEs as a vehicle for containing the challenges of poverty and unemployment- and in the process, raise a middle class in Akwa Ibom.

Thirdly, as a transgenerationsl leader, Umo Eno would contain insecurity to the bearest minimum. In Umanah (2021), it’s been established that ‘a nation experiences frequent instability if the system is not structured in such a way as to ensure broad public participation in the affairs of the state’. Umo Eno therefore, would promote inclusion by engaging Akwa Ibom people in his administration. By possible extrapolation, the resources of the state (both human and material) would be judiciously distributed and managed.

Finally, transgenerational leaders are men of integrity. We have variously defined Integrity as the practice of being honest and showing uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. Umo Eno would not compromise his principles on the alter of politics and emotions.

It is interesting to note that US President, Richard Nixon, would have been a transgenerational leader, had he not lied on the job. Dubbed the Watergate scandal, Nixon supposedly oversaw a break-in into the Democratic National Committee offices. Later, evidence revealed Nixon’s involvement.
Nixon story shows that no matter how educated, talented, rich or cool a leader is, or believes he is, how honest you are, ultimately tells how enduring he will last as a leader.

As a corollary, Umo Eno is truthful, accountable, transparent and has moral courage. These qualities account for his meteoric rise in private business, in which he has made transgenerational impact. One therefore, believes that, as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, from May 29, 2023, he would replicate this feat.

Uwemedimoh Umanah, PhD, ANIPR, is the Spokesperson for Team Umo Eno. He writes this piece from Abak

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Cheap publicity. Every sane akwaibomites is against this forceful imposition of unmerited successors by the incumbent governor.