By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo ..
The All Progressive Congress, APC, has said it has strategized to takeover the remaining states of Rivers and Bayelsa to ensure a uniform development plan for the South South region.
This is even as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom that he would not regret his joining the APC by enduring that he is not forsaken nor humiliated.
Tinubu who was represented by his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima said gave the assurance at a reception for Eno by the APC in Uyo on Saturday.
The President who acknowledged that Eno’s defection was as a huge sacrifice said that the APC has always believed in building bridges and not walls adding that in unity and togetherness the nation would thrive.
“We are here because we believe in building bridges not walls and mending fences, not destroying it. President Tinubu is a bridge builder and your decision to come to APC is one you can never regret. The president assures you that you won’t be humiliated or forsaken we are your brothers and we will rise together. We are not assemblage of politicians we are a family.
“We will stand by you as we stood by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio who went through fire because of our party, we are all with you and we shall succeed together. On behalf of the president I thank you for coming to APC.” He said.
Speaking President Godswill Akpabio applauded Eno for taking the bold step to join the APC noting that the governor from onset has been identifying and showing support for the Tinubu’s led administration.
Akpabio assured the Governor of his request from the centre for the realization of Ibom Deep Seaport pledging his resolve to ensure the victory of the President in the South South during the 2027 election anbe expressed hope that the remaining two states in the region will won by the APC.
“What we have here today is not just a political movement, but a political maturity. You have placed the peace and development of Akwa Ibom state above party lines. We say welcome to the progressive family and we know you are going to add value and not number to the family. It’s going to be from celebrations to collaborations.
“I see things turning around for good in Akwa Ibom, you are a man of your words, there is nothing anybody can do to you, among the things you asked for from the centre was the Ibom deep seaport, don’t worry, we will give you more than you asked for.”
Earlier, Eno said he joined the Progressive movement inorder to align Akwa Ibom to the centre and support President Tinubu reforms to bring economic growth to the state.
He appealed to the President and the Federal Government to make his movement to the progressive party translate to the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport in the state.
“So, we are not afraid to join the APC as we know with APC, we will realise our Ibom Deep Seaport, today we are reassured by the federal government that we will have it. Akwa Ibom has 19.1m deep and we don’t even need to dredge even if it is one terminal, this movement would have been justified.
“We have taken the risk to join the Senate President to deliver the President come 2027 and we know that every risk has a reward and our reward should be the Ibom deep seaport which for over 30 years we struggled to have.” The Governor said.
The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje while welcoming Eno to the party described him as a wise man who knows the difference between national isolation and national unity.
Ganduje expressed joy that South South zone of the country has four APC governors and would soon have the remaining two in the opposition party saying that with uniformity of political party it would be easier to solve the common problem in the South South region..,
“Since we are progressive governors in the South South, it will be easier to take care of the problem of the region.” He said.
