Press Release
Christians in Akwa Ibom State have been urged not to be intimidated by opposition, conspiracies or life’s tribulations, saying only God can guarantee the safety, preservation and victory of His people.
Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, gave the admonition on Sunday, August 9, 2026, when he ministered at All Nations Christian Ministry International, Eket, where he preached on the theme: My Shield.
Drawing lessons from Psalm 3:1-3, Governor Eno, who is the Undershepherd of the church, said believers should not mistake seasons of adversity for evidence of God’s absence, noting that challenges and opposition are not necessarily signs of divine abandonment.
Also read: Governor Umo Eno’s Burden of Unity: Rebuilding a Party Born in Fracture
He cited Psalm 3:2: which reads “Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God,” and urged Christians to avoid allowing voices of their adversaries to weaken their faith in God’s ability to deliver them.
According to him, people may gather against an individual, but divine protection is greater than every conspiracy.
Quoting Isaiah 54:15, he said “Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.”
The Governor, speaking on the dynamics of spiritual battles, observed that the devil could sometimes use people close to an individual to create conflict, opposition and adversity.
He cited the rebellion of Absalom against his father, King David, as an example of how opposition could rise from unexpected quarters.
The governor urged believers to remain calm when confronted with adversity, stressing that they should resist the temptation to respond to every provocation.
“Only God can save,” he said, urging Christians to place their confidence in God rather than in human calculations or assistance.
Governor Eno also drew lessons from David’s relationship with King Saul, noting that despite Saul’s relentless hostility towards him, David refused to retaliate when he had the opportunity to do so.
He explained that David’s restraint was rooted in his recognition of Saul as the Lord’s anointed, adding that believers must learn to trust God even when circumstances appear to justify retaliation.
The State Chief Executive further cautioned against attributing survival and success entirely to human intelligence, strategic planning or influential connections.
While wisdom, planning and relationships have their place, according to him, the ultimate source of preservation remains God.
The Governor, who has severally been described as a king and priest, reminded the congregation that God is both “a sun and a shield,” giving grace and glory and withholding no good thing from those who walk uprightly with Him.’’
He, therefore, encouraged believers to depend totally on God, observing that assistance from people could come with expectations and obligations, while divine help comes without such conditions.
The service which featured sessions of praises, worship, choir ministrations, special presentations and intercessory prayers, was attended by government officials and other dignitaries.
