GOVERNOR UMO ENO HOSTS PAST AND PRESENT MEMBERS OF NASS IN A NIGHT OF UNITY, BIPARTISANSHIP

… We will support you to succeed -Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas)

By Sunday Onye, Senior Corespondent

In an unprecedented show of unity and Pan Akwa Ibom spirit, National Assembly Members, past and present last night, at Government House Uyo, came together across party lines to pledge their commitment and support for the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno in his drive to move further the needle of development of our dear State.

It was a night that political differences were buried and the passion of love, unity, faith in the Akwa Ibom exceptionalism were held aloft.

Speaker after speaker, commended the Governor, for his humility, his bipartisan disposition, unflinching dedication to alleviating the sufferings of the vulnerable and accent placed in opening up the rural areas, in his Arise Agenda.

The State Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi who until her election on the joint ticket, was the Senator represented Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, in a tone setting 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 Akwaibomites who 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.”

Governor Eno, was deeply appreciative for the show of unity. “No matter the party we belong to, the fact still remains that we are one Akwa Ibom State.

“We can, as we are doing tonight, come together and look at things that unite us rather than those that seperate us.

“Knowledge I must emphasize is not embedded in one party alone. We should criticize constructively and shun politics of bitterness and character assassination.

“I would like to thank you for this great gathering of unity and love. Let me specifically thank the Honourable Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas) who is also a former National Assembly member, whom I had paid a courtesy visit to, in his office last week and told him Akwa Ibom has the largest deposit of gas and that we should collaborate and work to advance our 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 emphasize 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 night featured stirring goodwill speeches such as those from the Honourable Minister of Petroleum, Gas, Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, who said “this is a show of purposeful Government, the first time this is happening, and this is because you, our dear Governor, have a purpose for this 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 glowingly of the night of unity, which also featured the cutting of Unity Cake, were Distinguished Senators Ita Enang, Helen Esuene, Ekong Sampson, Effiong Bob, Rt. Hon, Unyime Idem and the Director General of the Campaign Organization, H.E. Chief Assam Assam, SAN who all celebrated the spirit of unity and togetherness that the night represented.

It was a great evening to see former political gladiators sitting together to break bread and set their sights on politics of development as opposed to politics of zero-sum game.

All past and present members of the National Assembly except a few who were out of the country and had sent in their apologies, were all in attendance.

Also in attendance were top government officials, Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, other State Exco members, International President of Maintain Peace Movement, Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN, Engr. Uwem Okoko of Hensek Integrated Services, Prince Godwin Ntukudeh, the Political Adviser to the Governor, and other critical Stakeholders.