”My aspiration to serve the state in the capacity of the Governor remains on course,’’ Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke wrote after the emergence of the PDP preferred Governorship candidate.
Luke, the member representing Etinan-Nsit Ibom-Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was reacting to the presentation of the Commissioner for Lands in Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Eno, as the preferred candidate to succeed Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2023 general elections.
Eno was presented at a well-attended Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Stakeholders’ Meeting which took place at the Governor’s Lodge, in Uyo on Sunday evening.
Writing on his Facebook page on Monday on the title: We Are Still On Course, Luke said ”Out of respect and as a loyal party man, I honored an innocent invitation from the Governor for a meeting this evening at the lodge.
Read also:
- Analysis: Who Succeeds Governor Udom In 2023? (1)
- Analysis: Who Succeeds Governor Udom In 2023? (2)
- 2023: Governor Udom’s Succession Train Roars
The Chairman of Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives narrated ”At the meeting my brother from my local government and Federal Constituency, Pst Umo Eno was presented as the choice of the Governor for succession.
”It was at the said meeting that I heard of the agenda and choice for the first time and no one held any discussion with me prior to the meeting.
”I am not against the choice of the Governor coming from my local government, Federal Constituency nor the aspiration of my brother.
”However, as a fellow aspirant from the same local government at the same advantage when successful, my aspiration to serve the state in the capacity of the Governor remains on course,’’ he said.
According to him, ”This statement would not have been necessary but not for the misrepresentation in media which may create a negative impression about my person and the reputation God has helped me to build these number of years in public service.
”My supporters and those sympathetic to my cause should please note that we are as resolute as ever in our desire to give our people purposeful leadership in the office of the Governor come 2023.
”God’s Amazing Grace has always seen us through and will always see us through.’’
Emergence of Udom’s successor
Ex-Akwa Ibom Governor, Obong Victor Attah formally presented the governor’s successor, Umo Eno to the stakeholders comprising major and leading political chieftains from the three senatorial districts in the state.
He applauded the choice and pledged to work towards his emergence as the governor of the state in 2023.
Attah, our correspondent recalls, was a BOT member of PDP before he resigned. He later joined All Progressives Congress, APC and also resigned and decided to quit partisan politics.
Speaking earlier, Eno had narrated how he grew up in the police barracks and how challenging those days were, but he summoned hope to overcome those difficulties.
He said he was grateful to God and Emmanuel for finding him worthy of the onerous task to lead the people of the state and continue the people-focused and developmental strides.
Rev (Dr) Uma Ukpai of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association and the Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang, for Fathers of Faith prayed for his success, while Oku Ibom Ibibio and Chairman of State Council of Chiefs, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk echoed it.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udo, who confirmed the development to The Nation, said the action was taken by a cross-section of stakeholders in the state.
“The Governor announced that he (Eno) was the one God has revealed to him as the next governor of the state and he was unveiled to all the stakeholders from the three senatorial districts of the state by the former governor, Obong Victor Attah, who then commended the choice.
“It was an array of the political elders made up of Senators and House of Representatives members.”
Among those who attended the event were the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, MFR; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey; Senators Akon Eyakenyi, Effiong Bob, Ibok Essien, Aloysius Etok, former Deputy Governor, Etim Okpoyo; member representing Etinan Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Onofiok Luke.
Others were state PDP chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan; Barr Emmanuel Enoidem; the National Coordinator of the Maintain Peace Movement, Pat Ifon, member representing Eket Federal Constituency at the National Assembly and PDP BOT member; Chief Nduese Essien, a former Minister of Lands and Housing and Ambassador Assam Assam, SAN, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Russia and Belarus; Fathers of Faith, and other leading members of the state’s political class.
