Pastor Umo Eno, yesterday led a team of prominent leaders in the state to formally inform the incumbent governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel about his readiness to lead the state in the forthcoming 2023 governorship election. This was as a result of Sunday’s adoption by the stakeholders.
Umo Eno, who is currently serving as Commissioner for Lands and Water resources alongside his campaign team made up of stakeholders of Peoples’ Democratic Party, which included Effiong Bob who was a Former Senator that represented Akwa Ibom North-East, former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia, Chief Assam Assam, who is the Director-General of Pastor Eno campaign and immediate past National Treasurer of PDP, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem. Others are House of Assembly members, Commissioners, local government Chairmen, some members of the National Assembly, and prominent PDP leaders in the state.
They met with the governor at the Hilltop Mansion, the official residence of Akwa Ibom State Governor.
The Director General of his campaign, Ambassador Assam Assam, SAN, thanked Governor Emmanuel for providing good leadership for the state over time and his tactics in managing the situations that resulted in the emergence of Pastor Umo Eno after which he made presentations of traditional gift items to the governor and asked for his prayer, blessings, and support while promising to leave no stone unturned in ensuring successful delivery.
The National Coordinator of Maintain Peace Movement, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, described Umo Eno as a dent-free, marketable product and assured that with the gamut of stakeholders that make up the campaign team, victory is certain.
Also, a fellow governorship aspirant, Senator Effiong Bob, said though he was at the event both as the political leader of Nsit Ubium and a co-aspirant for the 2023 gubernatorial election, he promised to work with the choice of the party.
Governor Udom Emmanuel accompanied by his wife, Dr (Mrs) Martha Udom Emmanuel responded by expressing his profound confidence in the character and disposition of Pastor Umo Eno to lead Akwa Ibom State after him. He also reaffirmed his support for his candidacy in the 2023 gubernatorial elections.
He further expressed his confidence in the campaign team and their capacity to deliver.
The incumbent 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.
In his words, 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. Trust me, I personally do not harbor 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.”