- Ikot Ekpene S/D honours Umo Eno with Exemplary Leadership Award
From Joe Effiong, Uyo
President of the Senate and former governor of Akwa Ibom State Senator Godswill Akpabio has congratulated Governor Umo Eno on being able to unite the state saying the state is easy to rule and govern but a difficult place to unite.
Speaking at a reception organised in his honour by Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene)Senatorial District at Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, Senator Akpabio described the governor as a man of peace and an apostle and disciple of peace, noting that , “Akwa Ibom is a very easy state to rule and govern but also a very difficult place to unite.”
He said, “It is a major duty bestowed on you by God to unite the whole state. Let your actions speak unity to the state.
“As a governor, I united the state by appointing people into key positions without considering which tribe they came from.”
The Senate President assured Governor Umo Eno of the national assembly support for the success of his administration in the state.
” The national assembly will support you to succeed as a governor irrespective of political party lines. You have received the federal government with smiles, we will receive you with benefits of democracy for your people.” The Senate President pledged.
Governor Eno who was conveyed an exemplary leadership award by the people of Akwa Ibom North West (Senatorial District) on the occasion, thanked the senatorial district for coming together to hold the grand event and the honour done him.
While affirming that the award was a confirmation of his governance disposition, the governor called for more work to unite the people of the state and an endorsement of many more years of service to the state beyond 2027 and the chief executive of the state.
He conveyed the felicitations of the people and government of the state to Senator Akpabio, describing the event as statement that Akwa Ibom people are joyfully united behind their own and that Akwa Ibom sons and daughters deserved to be celebrated.
According to him, as a minority in the federation, Akwa Ibom cannot afford to be divided not trade away the rare privilege of have their in on of the highest position in the nation, over political differences.
” My presence here as the governor of Akwa Ibom State conveys the wishes of the government and people of the state on this occasion. When a man is celebrated at home, he will definitely be celebrated by outsiders. This the statement the people of Ikot Ekpene, and indeed Akwa Ibom people have made today.
Your ascension to the seat of the Senate president is for all of us to celebrate. It is my avowed commitment that as Akwa Ibomites, that we will continue to celebrate our sons and daughters that God as raised in their various fields of endeavours, because first, they fly Akwa Ibom flag and Akwa Ibom blood runs in them. We may be from different political parties. But we are first of all, Akwa Ibom, and as Akwa Ibomites, we ated united.” The governor said.
Earlier at a state banquet organised in honour of the Senate president, the governor has sought the partnership of the federal government in the development of Ibom Deep Seaport and oil Palm Refinery in the state.
Eno noted that it is a privilege and a blessing for the state to have a Senate President under his leadership as state governor, and urged him to bring the dividends of democracy back home.
He said; “Your Excellency, I had some requests while we were in my office, and I want to please make it public, they’re just three. The first thing I want to request is that you help facilitate a partnership with the Federal Government on the Ibom Deep Seaport.
“The second request is that we want to partner with the federal government to develop our oil palm plantation and to have an industrial oil mill in this state. This is the kind of thing that will bring employment and will benefit our people. Finally, Your Excellency, we would like to pay a Thank You Visit to Mr. President across party lines. We would like to go thank him for standing by you and supporting you.
“Your Excellency, we thank you and we want to assure you that we will continue to collaborate with you to bring development to our state and our country at large,” he said.
Governor Eno appreciated President Bola Tinubu for the support given to Akwa Ibom son to emerge as Senate President and assured the President of continuous support to enable him succeed.
“We want to thank the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We want to thank him for standing by you, and supporting the vision of your colleagues that today, Akwa Ibom has the number three citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That’s the joy we have and that is the pride we carry, and we will continue to assure you that we will partner with you, partner with the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the Governor added.
The Governor who had earlier recieved the Senate President in his office on a courtesy visit, appreciated him for his visionary leadership as governor of the State, and urged him to do even more as number three citizen of the country.