An uneasy calm have proceeded the endorsement of Akwa Ibom Lands Commissioner Mr Umoh Eno by Governor Udom Emmanuel as his preferred successor since Sunday.
This is even as mixed reactions have trailed the endorsement with some people in the ruling PDP aversed to the decision even as some have not suprisinly endorsed the governor’s choice.
In his reaction, a frontline guber aspirant and former Speaker of the State Assembly, Barr Onofiok Luke who expressed disenchantment over the action maintained that he would continue with his aspiration because a wider consultation wasn’t done.
“We would have loved their endorsement but that would have been after due consultation. We would love the endorsement by the elders of the state. But whoever they would endorse should be the choice of the majority of people in the state.
“So for me as Onofiok Akpan Luke, I am in the race for the governorship. I am going to stand election on the platform of my party the PDP. I am not part of that endorsement at all.
“But I respect their views; I respect the opinion and choice of the governor. I respect Obong Victor Attah and the opinion of the elders of the state. It is their choice. I only respect their opinion; but I am not in support of what they are doing.” Luke, a member of the National Assembly said.
Prof Herbert Batta, a lecturer at the University of Uyo also frowned at the endorsement.
” Did they pray for the Paramount Ruler to handpick a successor? Or did they pray for him to provide guidance and a level playing field for the best homegrown politician to emerge?
” This handpicked one was reportedly awarded a contract, before his appointment as commissioner, to rework Idua road in Eket, a town he lives in, has his businesses and church; but he messed up the road, made it worse, and abandoned it! Did the govt fail to fund the contract? Did the govt reward him with an appointment? Does the govt want him to succeed?
“Or does the govt want the party and people to do with it what they did with Obong Attah over his son in law? Recall, that’s how Akpabio emerged though Akpabio imposed his successor: Udom, will Udom be successful?
When probed for information, a former state Publicity Secretary of the PDP and presently State Commissioner for information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong simply replied that, “it is not a state government matter. That’s a political party’s matter. So, I cant talk as a commissioner for information.”
But for former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, the choice of Eno came after series of consultations with relevant Stakeholders and prayers to God to reveal the right individual that will continue on the legacies of Governor Udom Emmanuel .
” So, God has revealed to our dear Governor t, Udom Emmanuel that Pastor Umo Eno will be the right person to succeed him after his tenure in 2023.” Enoidem said.
He added that the choice of Umo Eno is a dream come true for the organization (Maintain Peace Movement) who has been praying for God to give Akwa Ibom a successor like Udom Emmanuel who will perpetuate and sustain the peace in the state.
“We all know that Udom Emmanuel was not the most popular politician in 2015 when he was brought to us by God to contest for the position but he got the acceptability of the people and finally emerged the Governor of the state in 2015 and 2019. So, it is the grace of God and His will also that Umo Eno should succeed Udom Emmanuel and we stand by that, ” Enoidem recalled.
A chieftain of African Democratic Congress in the state, Arch. Ezekiel Nya-Etok in his own reaction said, that “the Governor had the choice to stay neutral, or to have a preferred. He has made his choice, and it is his fundamental right so to do. You also have you choice: to align, or to meet them on the field. Just as much as you should respect the right of the Governor, he also must respect your right to agree to disagree with him.”
In a reaction, chairman of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in Akwa Ibom, Mr Harry Udoh maintained that there would be nothing wrong for the governor to support whoever he wants but that would not be seen as representing the choice of Akwa Ibom people.
“There’s still the primary election to be won and theirs still the general election to be won. Anybody can choose anybody, it is left for the people to decide, I think that’s what democracy is all about. The governor can go ahead and dream the dreams he wants and see visions he wants but that is not the dream and vusion of the people.
” The people have to decide at the end of who should be governor. We can’t argue with the governor, I have my dreams and visions too likewise every other persons.
“The governor is not saying I chose this one based on his antecedent or what he can do but based on what God told him, in this 21st century? that is the fallacy to ‘appeal to authority,’ that is just reducing God to politician. I don’t have any problem with the Umo Eno but the governor’s posturing is unpalatable.” Udoh said.
