Akwa Ibom: Udom’s aide slams caller who described gov-elect, Eno as stooge

 The Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Media, Richard Peters has tackled a caller in a radio phone-in programme who described the Akwa Ibom State governor-elect, Pastor Umo Eno as a stooge that would be doing the biddings of his predecessor.

The caller during the radio programme expressed reservation that the incoming governor is a ‘neophyte in politics” and “unpopular” and he may not have the capacity to lead the state as the outgoing governor would still have control of his government.

But Udom’s Media Aide irked by the statement wondered how people could give a conclusion of an administration when it has not even begun.

He said such an utterance was a show of sheer obsession with hatred and envy noting that it was laughable that someone who has held several positions in both private and public sectors and has not been found wanting, will be adjudged incapacitated to occupy the office of a governor.

He said the 2023 elections have been lost and won, and that people should realities that pastor Eno is the governor-elect and has the character and competence to lead the state meritoriously.

“The 2023 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State has come and gone. The narrative hitherto held in some quarters that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umo Eno will not win the election because according to them he is not marketable has choked many in the throat.

“While I do not intend to dignify this baseless standpoint with my opinion, there is a need for people to know that Pst. Umo Eno does not only have the capacity to lead Akwa Ibom to a glorious destination, he has the character and competence to lead the state meritoriously.

“In the last 30 years of his life, Pst. Eno has been at the helm of affairs of many corporate organizations and on the hot seat of many board meetings and has taken major decisions that have advanced the success of those organizations. There is no need to over-emphasize the fact that his capacity, character and competence made him bid contracts and win in reputable multinationals, including ExxonMobil.”

While highlighting the landmark achievements of the governor-elect while serving as the Commissioner of Lands and Water Resources as well as the head, Agriculture Investment, Peters said the governor, Mr Emmanuel would not condescend to meddle in his successor’s administration having rejected to go for Senate as other governors are known for at the expiration of their two tenures.

He added, “Why should someone be unnecessarily worried? Already, Pst. Umo Eno has his plans for every Local Government Area at his fingertips. He knows what those in the riverine areas of the state want. He knows what those with a good number of palm trees want. He knows what people in Ibiono Ibom, Ibeno, Ika and Urue Offong Oruko want.”

“He has carefully documented them in the Arise Agenda. All that is left is implementation, and he has the political will to execute all. So, where does the argument of incapacitation come from apart from the pit of hell?” He queried.