UYO
The year 2026 is considered the year for keen political manoeuvring as all political parties are expected to field their candidates for the coming elections in 2027. In Akwa Ibom, the story seems concluded already as virtually all sectors and almost everyone in the state seems satisfied, particularly with the performance of the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno; and so much as to align with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
From youth groups, to women groups, from all senatorial districts and federal constituencies, political stakeholders to non-political stakeholders, from the National Assembly to the State Assembly, from the traditional institutions to all local government councils and from business and other professionals, markets’ and artisans’ associations, the Yoruba, Igbo and the Hausa communities in the state, have done all manner of endorsements of the governor and the party, APC, to such extent that the people of the state have come to see themselves as not only united as citizens and residents of the state, but furthermore as politically united.
Even members of the now opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been in no contention with the current wave of the ruling party, APC, in Akwa Ibom.
In a recent Yuletide outing of the PDP in the state, instructions was given to concerned PDP stakeholders to ensure the accommodation of APC members in the dolling out of the largesse stemming from the Yuletide meeting.
However, while the governor commenced a descent of his 2025 flight into 2026, with a directive, few days to Christmas, for another round of homecoming of all his appointees and all APC political stalwarts and stakeholders, in all the local government areas of the state, Akwa Ibom, yet again, was agog, as the grassroots witnessed a unique show of recognition, love and respect by the governor and the party, APC.
To cap it all, the governor, some hours to the New Year, consented to submitting himself, once again and as usual, to the yearnings of the youths, across the state, whose call on the governor this time was to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio and the governor himself, as well as to endorse the trio for another term in office.
From the streets of Akwa Ibom, to outside the State and in the Diaspora, praises of the governor is in the air, for his compassion and confident demeanor in his vision and achievements so far.
To many spoken to, they are happy to have the state well seated among the comity of states in the country. They portend that with the leading position Akwa Ibom is currently playing in the country in the area of development, accountability and the excellent leadership style of Governor Eno, there are strong indications that the State will attain greater heights in no distant time.
The political leader of Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Effiong Bob, in his submission lauded Governor Eno for his ability in uniting all different political interests in the state, noting that this singular achievement has spoken volumes of the governor’s determination to leave Akwa Ibom better than he met it.
The former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria equally applauded the bold steps the governor was making in the state, aimed at initiating meaningful development across the three senatorial districts, adding that from the way the governor is currently tackling issues of development, it was evident that he is not playing politics with development.
“Right from his electioneering till now, I have noticed that Gov Umo Eno is a man of his words. All that the governor promised the people is what he is implementing in the three senatorial districts and I am glad that God gave us a governor in his mould at this time.
“Akwa Ibom is now a notable entity at the centre and our people are still being counted among leading stakeholders in all the spheres of our national economy and discourse. If this tempo is sustained, which it will happen, Gov Umo Eno will not only finish strong after eight years, but Akwa Ibom and its people will record higher consolidation in the area of both capital and human development.”
He urged the people of the state to continue to speak with one voice, criticise where necessary and also sustain the current support they have for the present administration, expressing optimism that the future holds brighter days for the state.
Bob, however, called on the governor to remain focused in his determination at improving health infrastructure as well as stamp a bold imprint in revamping the educational system in the state, stressing that with standard health facilities, sound educational system, coupled with job creation, good road infrastructure, among others, the governor’s eight years in office would be a promise kept.
A leading figure of Akwa Ibom community in the Diaspora, Dr Francis Idiong, in his submission, described the current trend of events in the state as a “manifestation of sound leadership championed by a man who knows the right time to take an action.”
Idiong, who spoke during the Yuletide in his country home in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, applauded Governor Eno for his inclusive governance, a development he noted, was responsible for the peace and development currently being witnessed in the state.
He pointed specifically to the international status recently conferred on the Victor Attah Airport, the big leap in the tourism, health care and educational sectors as well as the appointment and election of sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom into enviable positions in the country as benefits of Gov Umo Eno-led administration, adding that the state stands to gain more if the status quo is sustained for two terms.
Others who also bared their minds on the current happenings in Akwa Ibom, brought about by Gov Umo Eno and his inclusive governance, among them, Usoro Uko, an engineer; Professor Gideon Udosen and Apostle James Udoma, all maintained that the present unity among political gladiators and their various political platforms can only bring about more peace and sustained growth for the state while also predicting another victorious outing for Governor Eno and Akwa Ibom come 2027 when the country will file out for another general election.
They sued for more initiative in the area of job creation, human capital development and strong collaboration with the centre even as they pushed concerted effort by the present administration for the actualisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport; one project they posited will help place Akwa Ibom in the world map of commerce.
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