When he campaigned across the 64 gazetted villages and 12 wards of Etinan Local Government Area, Obong Uko Umoh did not just seek votes, he made a significant promise. He told his people that if entrusted with their mandate, he would usher in what he called ‘๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐บ’: a rebirth that would restore the dignity of Etinan, rekindle hope, and lift the people from the trenches of neglect to a land of visible transformation.
For the Iman Ibom people, just as it is in our country, most political promises have often been like rainclouds that gather but never pour. But the former Nigerian Pulse publisher turned Council Boss is proving that leadership is not about rhetoric, but about results.
As former U.S. President John Quincy Adams once said, โIf your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.โ And indeed, less than six months into his tenure, Uko Biafra, as he is popularly called, is inspiring a new rhythm in local governance, a rhythm defined by impact, empathy, and serious commitment.
Hon. Uko Umoh assumed office as the Executive Chairman of Etinan Local Government Council in October 2024, and without any immodesty, he hit the ground running.
In a recent interview with journalists, he divulged that one of the first things he did as Council Boss was to order a comprehensive audit of all government projects in Etinan: abandoned, uncompleted, and vandalized. That audit, he said, birthed the Implementation Committee, which laid the groundwork for his gargantuan achievements. He made it clear that it is wiser and cheaper to complete viable projects than to abandon them for political points.
Fast forward to his second month in office: the Etinan Council Secretariat, which had remained in darkness for over a decade, was connected back to the national grid. That single gesture rekindled belief across the LGA. It was no longer politics as usual. Something had changed.
While the projects at the Council Secretariat were ongoing, Umoh’s wind of transformation was also blowing across every village and ward. He began grading roads, not just in the central urban corridors, but deep into the rural settlements. His focus was not optics; it was access. He knew that a real government must be felt, not just heard.
Beyond infrastructure, he turned his attention to his people. The people of Etinan have benefitted from comprehensive medical care – many underwent surgeries, various ailments were treated, eye conditions were addressed, and several other health needs were met for a good one week. In addition, Uko Iman launched a job data initiative in a bid to register unemployed but qualified Etinan sons and daughters. It wasnโt for show. It was a real connection to real opportunities at the federal and state levels. From there, the people of Etinan began to see leadership that listens and responds.
Then came April 29 and 30, 2025: two days that marked a turning point in community impact and rural transformation in line with Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda. Eight life-changing projects were inaugurated and handed over to the people across eight communities – four each day, focusing on two of the most essential needs of rural dwellers: water and electricity. These included: Water rehabilitation project, Iwor Etor (Southern Iman Ward 5); Transformer rehabilitation project, Ekpene Ukpa (Urban Ward 2); Water rehabilitation project, Ikot Eba (Urban Ward 2); Transformer rehabilitation project, Ikot Ibok (Southern Iman Ward 3); Water rehabilitation project, Afaha Akpan Ekpo (Urban Ward 5); Transformer rehabilitation project, Etinan by Motor Park (Urban Ward 1).
In Iwor Etor, for instance, just like in other communities, the joy was indescribable. The water and electricity projects brought tears to the eyes of elders, youths, women, and royal fathers who came out in large numbers to give their performing Chairman and entourage a rousing welcome. For years, they had relied on streams and makeshift sources. But now, clean water flows at their doorstep. The village sang in praise, not just for the water, but for being remembered.
At Ekpene Ukpa, the streets lit up with celebration as the community received its own functional transformer. It was the first time in recent memory that electricity returned to their homes. Night no longer felt like a curse.
In Ikot Ibok, the mood was electric. The village renamed their hero โEkwuemeโ – meaning โthe one who says and does.โ Their water source, once a muddy pond, had now been replaced by a properly reticulated system. They couldnโt hide their joy.
The same story played out in Ikot Eba, Etinan Village, Ikot Nkang, and Afaha Akpan Ekpo. Each community received either water or electricity – some, both. But in all locations, the message was clear: The New Etinan is not only possible – it is here!
In support of educational advancement and in line with the ARISE Agenda, the Executive chairman recently purchased and distributed 500 JAMB forms to eligible students, with a promise of full scholarships in the University to students who score 350 and above.
So far, Obong Umoh has graded over 80 kilometers of roads across various wards and villages, making long-abandoned village routes motorable and easing movement for rural dwellers.
Currently, Uko is also constructing a state-of-the-art motor park, the first of its kind, and one that will stand out in the entire South South. At the Etinan Roundabout, the chairman is developing a world-class plaza that is fast becoming a central attraction. The once-quiet area now bustles with activity as Iman Ibom people from nearby villages gather there, bringing new life to the space. This development is not only discouraging rural-to-urban migration for entertainment, but is beginning to draw people from Eket, Nsit Ibom and Uyo into Etinan.
For the first time in a long while, the people of Etinan are not asking what the government is doing. They are seeing it, feeling it and living it. Little wonder stakeholders across Etinan, who have seen this shift, in a rare show of unity, recently passed a vote of confidence in his leadership. They have seen the commitment. They have witnessed the delivery. And they are confident that Etinan is in good hands.
In the months ahead, Uko Iman has promised to turn his attention to health centres in the area, breathe life into the agriculture sector and, above all, โstomach infrastructure,โ among others. The Ekwueme Iman Ibom will do it.
Oh yes! Hon. (Obong) Uko Umoh may have started as a publisher of news, but today, he is writing a different kind of story, the kind that the people of Etinan will tell for years to come.
Uko is no longer just changing the narrative in Etinan, he has become the new narrative himself, turning promises into actions and restoring the confidence of his people. Again, The New Iman Ibom he spoke about is no longer an idea, it is now what the people live and see daily; a visible shift in leadership, in service, and in what it truly means to care.
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๐๐๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฎ๐ค.