BY | DESTINY YOUNG

There is an old story told in political circles. A king once appointed two trusted men to guard the gates of his city. He fed them, clothed them, and placed the safety of the entire kingdom in their hands. One day, while still wearing the king’s uniform, they slipped away to pledge loyalty to a rival chief who had been plotting to weaken the kingdom. When the king discovered this, he relieved them of their duty. Not because he feared their personal beliefs, but because no ruler can defend a city with gatekeepers who serve two masters at once. In governance, loyalty is not a matter of sentiment. Loyalty is a matter of duty to the trust placed in you.

The simple story above explains the principle at the centre of the matter. Political loyalty is not a luxury. It is the glue that holds any administration together. You cannot serve in a government that you publicly undermine. You cannot pledge allegiance to one leadership in the morning and dine with another structure in the evening. No democracy anywhere in the world encourages appointees who openly work at cross purposes with the very government they serve. This is why ministers resign in other countries when they no longer share the direction of their government. It is an honourable step that preserves clarity, trust, and responsibility.

For this reason, the decision by His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno to sack two of his aides on grounds of their participation in at the factional PDP National Convention, should not be misinterpreted or sensationalised. It is simply a matter of good governance and the preservation of institutional cohesion.

The statement released by the factional PDP group in Akwa Ibom State, through Barrister Ewa Okpo, chooses sensational language over truth. It stretches scripture in an attempt to portray a man known for peace and orderly administration as a persecutor. This is both unfortunate and misleading.

The facts are simple. Governor Umo Eno did not dismiss the affected appointees because they belong to any political party. He dismissed them because, while serving in his administration, they openly participated in a factional political activity that stands in direct contradiction to the policy direction of the government they work for. No responsible leader anywhere in the world would ignore that level of divided loyalty.

Political appointments are not compulsory. They are a privilege. Anyone who feels uncomfortable with the political direction of their principal can honourably resign. What is unacceptable is to remain in government, draw its benefits, enjoy its authority, and at the same time undermine its cohesion by pledging loyalty to a separate political command. This is not persecution. It is simply the standard practice of governance.

The factional statement suggests that loyalty is optional. No democratic institution agrees with that perspective. Cabinets across the world demand collective responsibility. Parliaments demand party discipline. Even civil society organisations insist on unified direction. Political loyalty is a worldwide democratic value, not a local invention.

The attempt to describe the governor as a Pharaoh is theatre without depth. The governor has shown openness in leadership and respect for all political actors. However, he cannot be expected to run a government with appointees who publicly identify with a factional struggle that works against his administration.

Governor Umo Eno has taken a preemptive and responsible step to ensure that the machinery of government remains coherent, focused, and free from divided allegiance. This is not persecution. This is leadership.

In truth, the governor’s action upholds the integrity of the government and protects the right of all Akwa Ibom people to be governed by a stable and united team. Those who wish to operate differently are entirely free to do so, but they cannot do it while occupying public offices that require loyalty to the administration they serve.

Akwa Ibom is moving forward. The state cannot afford to be distracted by factions that prefer drama to discipline and noise to nation building.

God bless Akwa Ibom State.