Governor Umo Eno and Jesus’ Discipleship: The Political Leadership We Need
As cabinet members, they are expected to serve the people, not just the governor. Given the Governor’s daily schedule, it would be undesirable for the People’s Executive Governor to prioritise his own needs over the welfare of the people his appointees are meant to serve.
Governor Umo Eno’s decision to instruct his Executive Council (EXCO) members to follow him everywhere as part of their appointment protocol is a step in the right direction.
Whether or not there’s an underlying reason for this move, it appears that, as a devoted Christian, His Excellency wants to emulate the Jesus-like model of discipleship, where disciples accompanied Jesus everywhere he went. To justify this decision, Pastor Eno emphasised that “discipleship is a full-time job,” implying that appointees should not treat their roles as part-time or side hustles.
While we appreciate the governor’s intentions, we hope the cost of this decision will not burden the public purse. If this move leads to increased expenditure on transportation and other logistics, it may further strain the state’s finances.
This Jesus-inspired leadership model would be more palatable if the governor adopted a more modest approach, similar to Jesus walking, I mean trekking, with his disciples. However, if this decision results in an endless procession of luxury vehicles in the governor’s convoy, it warrants reconsideration.
Moreover, if this decision limits the accessibility of the governor’s appointees to the people they are meant to serve, it may be counterproductive.
As cabinet members, they are expected to serve the people, not just the governor. Given the Governor’s daily schedule, it would be undesirable for the People’s Executive Governor to prioritise his own needs over the welfare of the people his appointees are meant to serve.
Put differently, it will be unfair for the Governor to privatise the availability of his appointees, and increasing their absence from their core office responsibilities and availability to the people they’re meant to serve.
On a final note, what we need is a leadership style that balances dedication with practicality and fiscal responsibility. Given the prevailing economic challenges and widespread poverty in the State, we hope this decision will not inadvertently exacerbate the situation.
