By Usiere Akpan
UYO
Gov Udom Emmanuel has called for calm among governorship aspirants nursing mixed feelings over the selection of his successor by a cross section of the stakeholders in the state.
Consequently, Emmanuel has called for the acceptance of the selected aspirant, Pastor Umo Eno, in the interest of the state to check aspects of godfatherism in the governance of the state.
Emmanuel, watched by his wife, Martha, gave the hints during a visit on him by the Umo Eno governorship campaign team, which took place at Government House, Uyo, Monday.
The governor said that the process of choosing the successor was done out of free mind and guided by God, insisting that the incoming leadership would make due exhibition of impeccable character, disposition and capacity to keep the top office in the state.
He stressed, “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 said that the needed qualities have been found in the character of Pastor Umo Eno to lead Akwa Ibom in the next political dispensation, adding that the aspirations of Eno has received his support for the 2023 gubernatorial elections in the state.
The state chief executive officer stated that the emergence of Eno was the divine work of God from the embodiment of good character and capacity in various levels of leadership in the state, adding that the decision of Senator Bob to step down for Eno was a display of maturity and statesmanship, stressing, “while some people were meant to be kings, there were others who were destined to be fathers of the king.”
He noted with delight the array of personalities in the composition of the campaign team and tasked them to deliver on the impending task of winning the governorship elections, stating that the band of Eno would not only ensure victory but strengthen the morale of leadership in the state.
Emmanuel encouraged Eno to be strong, courageous and confident in God’s support and to avoid harbouring any form of anger against anyone for sponsorship of hate media messages, reassuring that with God’s hand in the project, victory was sure in as much as there would be no room for anger on his part as the leader of the state.
The director-general of the Umo Eno governorship campaign oragnisation, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, appreciated Emmanuel for providing good leadership for the state over time and the tact in managing the situations culminated in the emergence of the preferred candidate, promising to leave no stones unturned in ensuring successful delivery.
The national coordinator of the Maintain Peace Movement, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem, said that Eno was a dent-free, marketable product, assuring that the gamut of stakeholders constituted a tact campaign team with records of victory.
Eno said that the chosen process has shown the trust of the people on the leadership of Emmanuel and the stakeholders’ commitment on having transparency in the state, adding that he has surrendered himself to the service of the state, while pledging to continue submitting to the tutelage of God.
He pleaded with Emmanuel to support his aspiration to success by lending his wealth of experience and proven expertise in the next administration.
Highlight of the moment was the declaration of withdrawal from the contest by Senator Bob to support Eno as the preferred candidate and offered to be part of the campaign team to ensure victory.
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