His Excellency Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State decided to mark a landmark birthday by channeling attention away from himself and to the vulnerable.
The tradition on a day like this would have been to open the day with pages of newspapers - national and local - awash with colourful birthday wishes sponsored mostly by Government funds.
The Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo (MFR) put in interestingly; "Some of you would have sent all manner of birthday wishes to nations dailies; both what you wish the person and what you don't".
The day would then climax with an ostentatious cocktail attended by dignitaries from all over the world. But the gentleman Governor chose the unprecedented.
He refused to be celebrated - at least not by members of his administration and close friends. He did not even deem it necessary to be in the state to, at least, receive wishes physically; he was out on official assignment.
A delegation led by Mr Moses Ekpo (MFR), the deputy Governor, simply went with foodstuff, provisions, toiletries and other supplies for orphans in 5 motherless babies facilities in the 3 senatorial districts of the state; a private initiative of members of his administration, elders, of the state, members of the PDP state EXCO, dignitaries and friends of His Excellency.
The kids were then treated to a buffet lunch, dinner table. This was the party Governor Udom would appreciate on his golden jubilee. And at the end of the day, there was no 'after party'.
It is worthy of note that the Governor had requested for this manner of celebrations. Therefore, huge advert budgets would be rerouted into Charity.
To some, it is a great departure from what used to obtain in Nigeria's highest oil yielding state. But to others, it is only indicative of the modesty of Udom Emmanuel, a man known for his distaste for sycophancy and boisterous jamborees.
A million lessons could be gathered from this disposition. One would be that we still have men of unpretentious values in Africa's corridors of power, holding up tenets of democracy.
I witnessed this.
Uduak Umo; a Chartered PR professional and Public Interest Researcher. Follow me on Twitter @umo2013
Don't forget to view a graphic on 17 Interesting Domestic Attributes of Udom Emmanuel here: http://www.jabborro.com/2016/06/17-interesting-things-you-didnt-know.html?m=1)
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