Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has officially named Pastor Umo Eno, the State Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, as his preferred choice to succeed him.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Emmanuel announced Pastor Eno as his preferred successor at a well attended stakeholders’ meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which took place on Sunday at the Governor’s Lodge in Uyo.
This is following months of speculations and permutations, and after Emmanuel had said he was seeking the face of God to choose his successor.
After announcing his choice of Eno, former Governor, Obong Victor Attah, thereafter made the formal presentation to the stakeholders, which comprise major and leading political chieftains from the three Senatorial Districts, who all applauded the choice and pledged to work towards his emergence as the governor of the state come 2023.
Pastor Eno spoke passionately and emotionally about how he grew up in the Police barracks and how dreary and challenging those days were, but he summoned hope to overcome those difficulties.
The commissioner said he was grateful to God and to Governor Emmanuel for finding him worthy of the onerous task to lead the people of the state and continue the people-focused and developmental strides of Governor Emmanuel.
Bishop Uma Ukpai and the Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang, prayed for his success, a sentiment that was re-echoed by the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Chairman of State Council of Chiefs, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk.
Among those who attended the event were the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey; Senators Akon Eyakenyi, Effiong Bob, Ibok Essien, Aloysius Etok; and former Deputy Governor, Etim Okpoyo.
Others are member representing Etinan Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Onofiok Luke; PDP State Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan; Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, the National Coordinator of the Maintain Peace Movement (MPM).
Also in attendance are Hon Pat Ifon, Member representing Eket Federal Constituency at the National Assembly; Chief Nduese Essien, a former Minister of Housing; Ambassador Assam Assam, SAN, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Russia and the state’s political class.