• Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Mr Enobong Uwah (R) presenting the new SUV to Comrade Amos Etuk
By Imoh Etimudo
This is first class love for the fourth estate of the realm in Akwa Ibom State. Evidently, an important lecture is on-going in a compulsory course on good governance in Akwa Ibom State. The course description is on a good governance that is synonymous with keeping promise.
The thrust of it is on trust in leadership through sustained credibility, that has earned the Governor-lecturer the confidence of the people for whom leadership primarily exists for.
This is the story of the good governance in Akwa Ibom State where a good man has refused to separate his good nature from politics, and rejected to be spoiled by the spoils of office.
Governor Umo Eno has made governance look so easy and attractive. This is because of his loyalty to truth, hardwork, excellence, good conscience and good leadership.
Loyalty to truth and keeping promise has stood Governor Eno out as as the trademark of good governance, and cynosure of all eyes.
In the spirit of his adherence to truth and keeping promise to the masses, within 24 hours, he has fulfilled the promise he made to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) with the gift of SUV to the State Chairman of the union, Comrade Amos Etuk.
When Nigerians doubt a thing, they say it looks like film. This good gesture of Governor Eno to the media community in Akwa Ibom State is very significant. The governor has upped the ante of the game in promoting the ideals of the profession through prioritization of the welfare of journalists in the State. Of the truth, the governor has restored the pride of the profession and this is a strong signal that he loves the masses.
Journalism as a profession exists for the good of the masses. Whatever is done for journalists is done for the good of the people. Whoever does good journalists is showing love to members of the public whose interest, journalism protects.
Let me, therefore, borrow from a recurring expression by most members of the clergy: “He who waters deserves to be watered.” It should be so in the journalism sense of the word.
Apart from the gift of SUV to the NUJ Chairman, the remaining ten members of the State Working Committee will take delivery of ten saloon cars from the governor, as promised by the promise-keeping governor. That will be in a month’s time, a time long enough for whoever among them was yet to know how to drive to enrol in the nearest driving school.
The same Governor Eno has offered to assist the Nigeria Union of Journalists to complete their secretariat. Already, he has mobilized contractors to hasten work at the site.
This is a well cherished relationship and the governor is leading the charge. This is enough to say that Governor Eno has literarily moved journalists from from their traditional “Fourth Estate of the Realm” to a new estate, an estate of love and respect, an estate of value and sincerity, and an estate of openness and support.
The term Fourth Estate or fourth power refers to the press and news media in their explicit capacity, beyond the reporting of news, of wielding influence in politics.The derivation of the term arises from the traditional European concept of the three estates of the realm: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.
In the United States of America, it is a way of making the press come fourth after the executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government.
Generally, the term “Fourth Estate” refers to the press and media, emphasizing its role in monitoring and influencing policies for their good. That is the crux of the watchdog role of the media. And a governor who is taking care of the welfare of the metaphorical watchdogs has succeeded in giving the fourth estate a first class furnishing. It is a furnishing of love and care.
Thank God Akwa Ibom got it right in his choice as governor of Akwa Ibom State. Otherwise, this would have been the State’s equivalent of the saying elsewhere, the best leader ABC did not have.
Thank you, Governor Umo Eno. In journalism parlance, you are the toast of the newsroom. Or better still, you are the toast of good governance.
Congratulations Comrade Amos Etuk and God bless the NUJ.
