A’Ibom People Declare Total Support For Umo Eno

…Say A’Ibom People Will Have Reasons To Thank GodBy Ossom Asaka

UYO 

 

The people of Akwa Ibom have declared total support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Umo Eno, in the coming general election, describing him as a man of destiny whose time has come to contribute to the development of the state and its people. 

 The people, who spoke with _Midweek Pioneer_ at the Nest of Champions, Uyo, during the flag-off of the PDP governorship campaign in the state yesterday, expressed optimism that Pastor Umo Eno’s reign as governor of the state will catapult Akwa Ibom to greater heights, especially in the area of industrialization and entrepreneurship. 

  They lauded Gov Udom Emmanuel and the PDP caucus for their choice of the party’s flag bearer and pledged to work for the success of the candidate during the 2023 general election. 

 A stakeholder of the party from Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Obong Bassey Akpan, said he was happy at the large turnout of party faithful at the governorship campaign flag off yesterday, adding that the large number of Akwa Ibom people at the stadium was a clear signal of the endorsement of the PDP governorship candidate as the choice of Akwa Ibom people. 

 “I was not surprised at the large turnout of Akwa Ibom people yesterday at the Nest of Champion. The crowd was an indication of the people’s endorsement of Umo Eno and the PDP in Akwa Ibom. And, I am optimistic that come next year, the PDP governorship flag bearer will be sworn in by God’s grace as the next governor of Akwa Ibom State. 

 “On our part, as supporters, we will continue to mobilize support for Pastor Umo Eno based on our conviction that his reign as governor will usher Akwa Ibom and its people to the next level of development. I know he will not disappoint the state and its people,” Akpan stated. 

 Enefiok A. Udobong, one of the chieftains of the PDP in IbionoIbom, in his assessment, described Pastor Umo Eno as a humble and peace loving fellow whose choice  by the party for the office of governor in the state come 2023 did not come to him as a surprise. 

 Udobong expressed delight with the high level of acceptability that Pastor Umo Eno was enjoying both within the PDP family and among the political class in the state, stressing that the time has come for the prevailing peace in the state to be sustained. 

 “My coming to this stadium, today, was to see things for myself. And, from what I am seeing, I have no doubt that Akwa Ibom people are solidly behind the PDP flag bearer as their governor come 2023. 

 “All we want in Akwa Ibom after Gov Udom Emmanuel is for us to continue to enjoy the peace we have at the moment and also compete favourably with other states in the country in terms of infrastructural development. I have no doubt that Pastor UmoEno will do these and even more when he takes over the administration of Akwa Ibom as the next governor, after Gov Udom Emmanuel, by God’s grace. 

 “Umo Eno has the capacity, the training and experience as a successful entrepreneur, and I tell you Akwa Ibom and its people will have reasons to thank God that they supported him for the top job in the state,” Udobong stated. 

 He urged the PDP family, the political class and every Akwa Ibom person to rally round and support Pastor Umo Eno to win the forthcoming governorship election, noting that a vote for the PDP is a vote for more development in the state and for its people come 2023.

 Obonganwan Victoria Udosen, one of the leading women supporters of Pastor Umo Eno and the PDP in Nsit Atai Local Government Area, was full of praises to God and Akwa Ibom people for massive turn out to support the PDP governorship candidate. 

 Udosen, who said the large crowd of supporters was expected, however, appealed to the people to sustain the tempo till the PDP candidate is sworn into office as governor come 2023, stressing that Akwa Ibom and its people cannot be taken back to those dark days when political killings, kidnapping, fear and terror was the order of the day. 

 “Akwa Ibom people are gathered here today because we are happy with Pastor Umo Eno and we will continue to support him even after he is sworn in as governor, come 2023. 

 “His choice as the next governor is divine and we have no doubt that he will take our state and all of us to the next level of development,” Udosen submitted. 

 Other supporters, who also bared their minds, expressed satisfaction with the massive support which Pastor Umo Eno is currently enjoying in the state, and sued for more of such support to ensure victory for the PDP governorship candidate in the forthcoming poll.

 The highpoint of the campaign flag off came when Pastor UmoEno mounted the rostrum to present his campaign speech titled, “My Contract with Akwa Ibom State”. 

 The PDP governorship hopeful, who said he was eternally grateful to God who has shaped and raised him to where he is today, disclosed that if elected as governor come 2023, his administration will build on the legacies in the aviation sector and ensure that Ibom Air is further strengthened to maintain its pacesetting role in the country. 

 “We will build a cargo terminal and begin cargo flights along the west coast, a feat that will attract a lot of development to our dear state,” he stated. 

 He lauded Governor Emmanuel for seeing the hidden potentials and also for believing in him for the top job come 2023, assuring that his reign as governor will continue to build more road infrastructure as well as maintain existing ones so as to provide the much needed connection between the people of the state. 

 “As a private sector person, I will work hard to ensure that more private sector driven ventures are established here with the attendance benefits to the state and create employment for our teaming youths. 

 “We will work to ensure that our people continue to live in peace as we strive to turn our state to a tourist haven and promote our creative industry to make Akwa Ibom a destination of choice,” the governorship candidate stated. 

 The PDP governorship hopeful, who unveiled his ARISE Agenda at the campaign flag off to centre around Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance/Advancement, Security Management and Educational Management, also promised to turn around the Akwa Ibom Palm Estate into a wealth-generating enterprise. 

 “As I stated earlier, we will use the resources available to grow our people, provide advances  for growth SMEs, ensure equality education and healthcare, food security, build human capacity and open the tap of economic prosperity because we already have world-class infrastructure,” Eno hinted. 

 He promised to continue to invest and prioritize the welfare of civil servants in the state, by building their capacity and prompt payment of their wages and entitlements, including gratuities of retirees.  

Eno urged Akwa Ibom people both at home and in the Diaspora to arise to continuity, greater peace and prosperity, and to a brighter future for our children, even as he appealed for more support from the people for the actualization of his candidacy, come 2023.