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| Engr. Nkereuwem Ekanem, Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government |
By Emmanuel Nicholas
Humility is defined as the quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance. Words that are considered synonymous include humbleness, meekness, diffidence and unassertiveness. We are well aware of the perils of hubris, we are taught from an early age that pride comes before a fall, but is there not an inherent tension, or indeed contradiction, between being truly humble and being a leader? How does humility square up with leadership? Is there a place for humility in the practice of leadership? And can a truly effective leader be truly humble? Too many people remain enamoured by the view that leadership is really about control, but in fact great leaders demonstrate again and again their humility by influencing, inspiring loyalty and providing support. They do so however from positions that are not necessarily to the fore. In fact they lead from behind, putting others in front especially when there are things to be celebrated, then only coming to the fore when there are dangers to be confronted.
A humble leader does not create class of association, he wines and dines with the low and high with no sense of red lines in class. Every humble leader is a practitioner of Servant leadership which is a philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better governance and ultimately creates a more just and caring world. A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid", servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.
Engr. Nkereuwem Ekanem is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, a registered engineer with COREN and a holder of an M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from Loughborough University of Technology, United Kingdom. He hails from Ikot Okpoudo in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. During his swearing –in as SSG, Governor Akpabio urged him to bring a strong set of skills, great wealth of experience and a good heart to the job of Secretary to the State Government.
And since his resumption of office as SSG, the noble gentleman has brought in his peaceful and humble disposition to play and this has also become a stabilizing factor for the present administration and the entire Akwa Ibom State political polity. Engr Nkereuwem started his peace and unity pursuit by meeting all the leaders of thought from Uyo Senatorial District pleading with the elders to continue their support for Chief Dr Godswill Akpabio CON ,at the meeting the man of peace aliked his boss Governor Akpabio to Nehemiah whose only passion was to build Israel without concentrating on his clan the Judah alone, recounting the goodwill of Akwa Ibom State governor towards Atai Uyo , in terms of appointments, human empowerment and developmental projects that greatest beneficiary of those gestures is Uyo Senatorial District. He admonished the leaders to give hundred percent support to the candidature of Deacon Udom Emmanuel to emerge as the next governor of Akwa Ibom State .
Crown Prince Ekpe Atakpo, the political leader of Uruan Local government Area and chairman Uyo Senatorial District leaders congratulated Akpabio for his wisdom in appointing Engr Nkereuwem Ekanem , a leader he described as an personification of wisdom and humility . Obong Atakpo on behalf of Uyo Senatorial District assured the Akwa Ibom SSG that the people of Ibibios in the Senatorial District are not blind from seeing the great strides of Governor Akpabio in the Senatorial District and without repudiation they will support Governor Akpabio till the end of his government and beyond .
Prince Atakpo at that occasion also affirmed to Engr Nkereuwem that the people of Uyo Senatorial District have no candidate in the forth coming guber election , that they had served their turn in Obong Arc Victor Attah and are awaiting Udom Emmanuel to finish his eight years on behalf of Eket Senatorial District before Uyo Senatorial District will take their turn again.
I recall the Chairman of Uyo Senatorial District leaders , advised that if any son or Daughter from Uyo Senatorial District is contesting for the position of governor to step down , that such ambition his self-serving , that such Candidate will not get one vote from the District . ‘’We are total PDP and no other Political Party will boast of one vote from our District ‘’
Another speaker who spoke at that meeting was the political leader of Uyo local government area, Dr Val Attah who confirmed the position of the leaders of Uyo senatorial District leaders, which all their votes will go to PDP Governorship candidate, Deacon Udom Emmanuel and all PDP candidates across the State.
After the leaders of thought, the Akwa Ibom State SSG met the Traditional Rulers across Uyo Senatorial District. During the meeting, the Nsit Ubuim born Engineer harped on the need for peaceful co-existence of the entire Uyo Senatorial District , that unity and peace will breed progress to the area .
He pleaded with the royal fathers to use their offices and unite the people to support the government of Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio CON and the Candidature of Deacon Udom Emmanuel. ‘’My fathers , we all have seen the transformation Chief Dr Godswill Akpabio have wrought in our land , all we owe him is the continuous support of the present administration and also galvanize your governs to vote Udom Emmanuel, he is the most credible candidate in the coming governorship election, we in Uyo Senatorial District , we had served our turn . "My fathers, there an adage in Ibibio that says , Ke Ete , Ke Ete Idoho udusad ’’ as what is good for Akpan is good for Udo. Is the turn of Eket Senatorial District and we must support them so that when power return to us , they will also support us" he concluded.
In their response, the Paramount Ruler of Etinan Local Government Area his Royal Majesty Edidem Dickson Umoette JP assured the astute gentleman that they have ears and eyes , that their support for Governor Akpabio is without repudiation .
He also said that Deacon Udom Emmanuel will be the next governor of Akwa Ibom State , as he is the most qualify candidate and being an Ibibio son , his candidate will never suffer any set back .
"My son, why I said that our support for governor Akpabio is intact, he is the man that cares for us, today our impress is not what it was as at 2007, he construct for us all befitting palaces, sent us abroad regularly for medical check-up and his wife Ekaette Akpabio have shown such love and care to our wives, we cannot afford to disgrace such a family", he concluded .
The Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government Engr. Nkereuwem Ekanem played host to Nsit Ubium women and youth and told them that Nsit Ubium people have consistently supported Government and would continue to do so. He also enjoined Nsit Ubium people to vote massively for PDP in the forth coming elections. According to him Nsit Ubium people are grateful to the administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio for his appointment. He urged the people of Nsit Ubium to support the choice of the PDP a at all levels. “Traditionally Nsit Ubium people have never been in the opposition. We are solidly behind the administration of Chief Godswill Akpabio. Where he goes,we would go. Where he puts his feet, there we would put our feet. Nsit Ubium would vote for PDP 100%”. He assured the marmot crowd in his hometown.
In their separate responses , the youth and women leaders after lengthy songs of praise to God for the goodwill of Akpabio towards Nsit Ubium asked the SSG to go home and sleep well , that not one vote will be given to any opposition Party. That they will not be confused by the naira rain of any candidate who wishes to use his loot for self-serving agenda.
When people are quarreling, the path to peace is to seek humility, rather than to assess arguments and weigh one against another, because when we do that we run into relative values which are so subjective it's impossible to come to a conclusion. The way to settle an argument is to seek humility in each party. The question that comes to mind is, how do we do this? When tempers are hot, passions are aroused, and patience is strained, how can you get people to calm down and start thinking about a humble attitude? How do you quell the rising of pride in a human heart? How do you stop the urge to defend yourself, and the stubborn insistence of what we call our "rights"? At this defining moment , a man in the person of Engr Nkereuwem has come in to assist the government of Chief Dr Godswill Akpabio at this season of election to calm the tension in the polity .
He assumes the peace ambassadorial role of ensuring there is unity and peace among the political class in the State, his meeting with leaders of thought from Oro nation was one the best peace accord after the light youth restiveness during the PDP rally in Oron local government Area . Engr Nkereuwem who was virtually on his knees for the youth and Elders of Oro nation to see politics not as do or die affair, that if don’t win today there is always tomorrow , and tomorrow will never come if they destroy today .
His soft words was able to drop swords from the hands of the youth and the entire oro nation and throughout the remaining campaigns in that nation of Oro, it was peace and growing confidence from the people of the Areas to the Peoples Democratic Party and the Government of Chief Dr Godswill Obot Akpabio.
Few days ago Engr Nkereuwem met with all the Councillors of Nsit Ubium and pleaded with them not to betray the government and Party that have brought Nsit Ubium so much human empowerment and development , we are the only local government with the highest numbers of political appointment and infrastructural development in terms of roads network.
He urged them to go and return PDP at all levels, from the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Deacon Udom Emmanuel as Governor, Obong Bassey Albert as Senator for Uyo Senatorial District, Rt Hon Sam Ikon for House of Representative for Etinan Federal Constituency and Hon Bar Onofiok Akpan Luke for Nsit Ubium State constituency.
The SSG has displayed sterling leadership qualities. Like a good fruit, it is expected he will receive sticks and pokes from cynics and critics but all we see is a glowing example of humility and an ambassador of peace.
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