Funmi Ogundare Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has declared that democracy should be measured by the quality of governance and the tangible benefits it delivers to citizens rather than by the conduct of elections alone. Speaking at the third Centenary Lecture of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Lagos, themed: ‘Democracy and the Imperative of Good Governance: Renewing Hope in Challenging Times’, Eno explained that democracy only retains its legitimacy when it improves the daily lives of the people through quality healthcare, education, infrastructure, food security and other essential public services. “Our task, therefore, is not merely to preserve democracy. It is to make democracy mean something,” the governor said. He argued that citizens experience democracy beyond election day, stressing that governance must translate into improved living conditions. “A citizen does not experience democracy on election day alone. He experiences it at the hospital gate, in his child’s classroom, on the road to his farm, and in the price of what he eats. A democracy that never reaches those places loses its moral authority long before it loses an election,” he stated. According to him, good governance remains the bridge between democratic promises and their fulfilment. “Elections confer legitimacy; governance justifies it,” Eno added. The governor also emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in governance, warning that opaque budgeting and procurement systems create fertile ground for corruption. “Citizens cannot judge what they cannot see. Where budgets and procurement are opaque, corruption is not merely likely; it has been structurally invited,” he said. Emphasising on his administration’s accountability framework, the governor disclosed that the Akwa Ibom State Government holds monthly delivery review sessions during which officials publicly present the cost, timeline and implementation status of projects before stakeholders, journalists, civil society organisations and members of the public. “Every month, for two full days, we hold delivery review sessions to which we invite stakeholders, elected officials, journalists, civil society organisations and the ordinary citizen. Project by project, we put up the cost, the timeline and the status, and then we take questions. “It is not always a comfortable exercise. That is rather the point. A government questioned only once every four years will behave like a government questioned only once every four years,” he stated. Eno maintained that restoring public confidence in democratic institutions requires openness, accountability and leadership committed to delivering measurable improvements in citizens’ lives. The governor attended the event alongside his predecessor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel; Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Udeme Otong; and other top government officials. In his remarks, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the Yoruba Tennis Club as one of Nigeria’s foremost social institutions and congratulated the club on its centenary. He thanked Governor Eno for delivering the commemorative lecture and noted that the club’s 100-year anniversary represented not only longevity but also enduring trust and commitment to the ideals of its founding fathers. Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Chief Olawumi Gasper, described the celebration as a historic milestone rather than merely a ceremonial event. He said the club had, over the last 100 years, demonstrated that recreation could coexist with intellectual engagement and nation-building, while expressing appreciation to the distinguished guests whose contributions to public service reflected the values of the institution. He added that the governor’s visit provided members and guests an opportunity to interrogate the ideas, vision and policies behind the state’s developmental strides. The chairman noted that the club had consistently promoted responsible citizenship, leadership and intellectual engagement while preserving traditions that have stood the test of time. “Today is not simply ceremonial. It is historical. It is reflective. It is visionary. The centenary seminar was designed to set the intellectual and cultural tone for the club’s 100th anniversary by encouraging conversations on democracy, leadership and national development,” Gasper stated.
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