By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
Past and present National Assembly members, across party lines, have pledged their total support for Gov Umo Eno’s administration to succeed.
In their separate remarks on Monday night, at Government House, Uyo, they commended Eno, for his humility, bipartisan disposition, unflinching dedication to alleviating the sufferings of the vulnerable and importance placed in opening up the rural areas, in his ARISE Agenda.
Setting the tone for the event, the deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who until her election on the joint ticket, was the senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, commended the governor for putting together the parley after the Easter Service of Songs, where a number of past and present National Assembly members joined in singing praises to the Lord.
“I remember telling the governor that your people (past and present members of the National Assembly) have been desiring to meet with you and you responded instantly that you will see them.
You were emphatic that it should not be just a PDP affair, but all great AkwaIbomiteswho had served our dear State across party lines, which speaks to your spirit of inclusivity. And so here we are, all 68 of us except one, who recently passed on, coming to break bread of unity with you. This night is one of history and we thank you for making this happen”.
The state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, appreciated them for the show of unity, saying that irrespective of the party they belong to, the fact still remains that they are one Akwa Ibom State, stressing the need for them to come together to look at things that unite them, rather than those that separate.
According to him, knowledge is not embedded in one party alone, hence, the reason they should criticise constructively and shun politics of bitterness and character assassination.
Eno thanked them for the gathering of unity and love, and specifically thanked the minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), ObongememEkperikpe Ekpo, who is also a former National Assembly member, recalling that he had paid a courtesy visit on him recently, during which he informed him that Akwa Ibom has the largest gas deposit and that there was need for collaboration to advance the State’s collective development.
“Later this week, we will be undertaking a ground-breaking ceremony of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) depot at the Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone, in Ibeno and next month, we will do same at Ibaka Gas hub.
“Let me emphasise here that, the people that will be employed there, will not be based on party affiliations but qualified AkwaIbomites. That’s the spirit I bring to governance.
’The Senate President, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, is also a great leader from our dear State, a former governor, and I respect him and I thank him for his pledge to work together with us, to bring development to our dear State.
“I have said it severally that I will support and work harmoniously with the President and Commander -in -Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, and I will continue to support him. I was elected to bring development to our state and not to fight those in constituted authority.”
The minister of state for Petroleum, Gas, ObongememEkperikpe Ekpo, described the event as a show of purposeful government, and the first time it is happening, attributing it to the purpose the governor has for the State.
“As a representative at the federal level. I bring you greetings from the President of Nigeria and also the mandate of the Senate President to be here with the team. The Senate President is solidly behind you at the national level and you have the backing of the National Assembly.
“In other words, you will not have issues of Abuja Front, you are the best and luckiest governor. This is not a government of APC or PDP, this is a government of Akwa Ibom State for Akwa Ibom people. By the time you finish your term, you will take Akwa Ibom to another level and it will be a challenge for whosever that will take it up from you to meet that level of development.”
Others who spoke at the event were, Senators Ita Enang, Helen Esuene, Ekong Sampson, Effiong Bob, Rep.Unyime Idem and the director general of the Campaign Organization, Chief Assam Assam, SAN, who all celebrated the spirit of unity and togetherness that the night represented.
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