By Bayo Etema, Uyo
Following last Sunday’s adoption by the stakeholders of Akwa Ibom State politics, Governor Udom Emmanuel’s anointed candidate for 2023 governorship election in the state, Pastor Umo Eno, yesterday led prominent leaders of the state to formally informed the governor of his readiness to lead the state.
Eno, who is currently serving as Commissioner for Lands and Water resources led his campaign team comprising key stakeholders of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to consult the governor at the Hilltop Mansion, the official residence of Akwa Ibom State Governor.
Among his entourage to consult the governor were; Former Senator that represented Akwa Ibom North East, Effiong Bob, who is also a PDP governorship aspirant, former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Chief Assam Assam, who is the Director General of Pastor Eno campaign and immediate past National Treasurer of PDP, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem.
The entourage include House of Assembly members, Commissioners, local government Chairmen, some members of the National Assembly and prominent PDP leaders in the state.
Presenting Eno to Governor Emmanuel, the Director General of his campaign, Ambassador Assam Assam, SAN, thanked Governor Emmanuel for providing good leadership for the state over time and his tact in managing the situations that culminated into the emergence of the preferred candidate.
He also made presentations of traditional gift items to the governor, as he presented Pastor Umo Eno to the incumbent governor and prayed for his blessings and support, while promising to leave no stone unturned in ensuring successful delivery.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of Maintain Peace Movement, the organization that is rooting grassroots supports for Eno, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, described Umo Eno as a dent free, marketable product and assured that with the gamut of stakeholders’ that constituted the campaign team, victory is sure.
Also, a fellow governorship aspirant, Senator Effiong Bob, who said he was at the event both as the political leader of Nsit Ubium and a co-aspirant for the 2023 gubernatorial election, promised to worked with the party choice.
Responding, Governor Udom Emmanuel, expressed profound confidence in the character, disposition and capacity of Pastor Umo Eno to lead Akwa Ibom State, and reaffirmed his support for his candidacy in the 2023 gubernatorial elections in the State.
Governor Emmanuel, accompanied by his wife, Dr (Mrs) Martha Udom Emmanuel, described Pastor Umo Eno as an embodiment of godliness and good character and one who has shown great capacity in various levels of leadership in the state.
He said that while some people were meant to be kings, there were others who where destined to be fathers of the king, adding that the Senator Bob is the father of the favoured gubernatorial hopeful.
He noted the composition of the campaign canvassers and extolled their capacity to deliver on the impending task, stating that such a band would not only ensure victory but strengthen the morale of a leader.
The governor appealed to those who may still be nursing mixed feelings about supporting the chosen successor to free their minds, assuring that God was involved in the decision as Akwa Ibom was in the heart of God.
He said that accepting Pastor Eno was in the interest of the state as he was not interested in playing any godfatherism role or governing through a surrogate.
He said: “The day I leave office, I leave. I don’t want even one minute more through a successor. This government has no godfather. For me, God is the father of everyone.
All I want is the welfare of the citizens of Akwa Ibom”, he added, tasking the entire team to be courageous and continuously stand by the governorship hopeful and subsequently own up the government as a collective responsibility.
“Trust me, I personally do not harbour any anger against anyone. If I do, I wouldn’t have the space in my heart to conceive development and ideas to move the state forward.” He said.
