Akwa Ibom Women Adopt and Endorse Pastor Umo Eno as Sole Candidate for 2023 Guber ....Commend Governor Emmanuel for Good Governance, Vision

 

By Edet Okpo

The entire  women  structure from the 31 local government areas of the State have unanimously adopted and endorsed Pastor Umo as the sole candidate for the forthcoming 2023 governorship election in the State.

This becomes an added boost to Pastor Umo Eno" aspiration to become the next governor of Akwa Ibom, other groups in the State having already endorsed him. 

In a message of endorsement signed and read by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, the women noted that Akwa Ibom women have holistically assessed the profile of Pastor Umo Eno as a renowned business mogul, entrepreneur of note, employer of labour, paragon of humility, integrity, hard work, fear of God and passion for community development among others and have resolved to endorse and adopt Pastor Umo Eno as the choice and sole candidate of Akwa Ibom women.

She said that the women's unanimous resolve to go with the governor and the adopted aspirant was also because they have know and have seen the material evidence and effect of Pastor Umo Eno's ability to manage human, material and financial resources as well as his godliness, the kind of qualities anybody aspiring for the office of the governor of the should have.

"In view of what appears to be opposing and conflicting interest by a very insignificant percentage of the public, freedom of which democracy allows,  the entire structure of Women in Akwa Ibom State have freely chosen, without duress but based on sound  convictions, to follow the popular and populist direction of His Excellency, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the position paper observed.

Continuing, it stated: "The  Women of Akwa State are very delighted and satisfied with the pragmatic, transparent, visionary, result- oriented and peoples- friendly administration  of  His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State in the past six and the half years that has  brought about industrialization,  Job/Wealth Creation, massive infrastructural renaissance,  Aviation Development & expansion, Women and youth Empowerment & Human Capacity, Agricultural Revolution, Revamping and restructuring  of Health and Education Sectors for global Competitiveness,  entrenchment of Peace and most especially inclusion of  Akwa Ibom Women in Governance as never before.

"That the  Women of Akwa Ibom State are grateful to  His Excellency,Governor Udom Emmanuel for allowing himself to be directed by God Almighty in the choice of his Preferred Candidate for the 2023 Governorship job in the person of Pastor Umo Eno, despite  undue pressure, propaganda  and unnecessary distractions orchestrated  by those who want to take over the mantle of leadership through Violence" 

The position paper also acknowledged that Pastor Umo Eno's Governorship aspiration is a divine project that must be embraced and supported by all lovers of peace,progress and development in Akwa Ibom State.

Calling for calm and fair play from all aspirants in the State, it states categorically: "That Akwa Ibom Women, having holistically assessed the profile of Pastor Umo Eno as a renowned business mogul, entrepreneur of note, employer of labour, Paragon of humility, integrity, hardwork,fear of God, Passion for community development and human empowerment; his antecedent as a public servant with an unblemished record of dedicated Service to his fatherland,  a politician with unquestionable democratic credentials, his rich and vast experiences in the management  of human,financial and material resources and as an ardent believer in the Completion Agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel, unanimously  resolve to ENDORSE AND ADOPT PASTOR UMO BASSEY ENO AS THE CHOICE AND SOLE CANDIDATE OF AKWA IBOM WOMEN IN THE FORTHCOMING 2023 PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTIONS.

In Separate adoption messages, Dr Glory Edet, Commissioner for Agriculture,  Mrs. Idara Ephraim Akpan, Dr. Ekaete Ebong Okon,Chairman,State Secondary Education Board, Hon. Inibehe Silas, Obongawan Margaret  Archibong, Hon Lady  Emem Ibanga, Chairman Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Mrs Blessings Ebong Uko, Hon. Blessings Usen, Hon Ofon Akpan, Esther Nta for female youths, Elsie Esara, Mrs Iniobong Robson, Mrs Aniedi Inyang, Hon Alice Ekpenyong and Mrs. Janet Amber among others, vowed to mobilize support in their various local government areas,  Wards and villages to ensure his electoral victory.

Addressing the Women, Pastor Eno thanked them for the show  of love and solidarity. He particularly appreciated them for accepting and endorsing his aspiration, and pledged to continue with the development strides of the current administration if elected into office in 2023.

Pastor Eno, an entrepreneur with vast experience in the management of human and financial resources promised to strengthen small and medium enterprises  in the state, while sustaining development in other sectors of the economy.

Earlier, the DG of the Umo Eno campaign team, Chief Ambassador  Assam Assam who is former Nigeria's Ambassador to Russia, while presenting Pastor Eno to the women, described him as the right man with the needed skills and capacity to pilot the affairs of the state  beyond 2023, and thanked the leadership of Akwa Ibom women for their support.

Chairman of the Maintain Peace Movement, MPM,  Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem praised the women for their consistency with the People's Democratic Party, PDP and assured them of better days ahead.

 The women who turned up in their uncountable numbers and groups stated that, apart from what they know Pastor Umo Eno for, the fact that the Governor whom the trust has shown them the direction to follow, their decision to go with him comes with no alternatives.

Pastor Umo Eno was escorted to the event by a delegation of PDP stalwarts led by Nigeria's former Ambassador to Russia and former Attorney-General in Akwa Ibom State, Ambassador Assam Assam (SAN); National Coordinator of Maintain Peace Movement and immediate past National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem; and Member Representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Otobong Bob. 

Others on the PDP team were Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Frank Archibong; Commissioner for Information and Strategy,Comrade Ini Ememobong,   Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Monday Ebong Uko; Prince Enobong Uwah and Dr. Imo Moffat Commissioner for Science and Technology; Campaign  spokesperson, Prince Chris Abasieyo.

Presenting Pastor Umo Eno to the women who were in unending jubilation to receive him, leader of the delegation, Amb. Assam Assam, said introduction of the aspirant to the women was no formality but an entrenched culture of respect and inclusiveness in PDP as well as the gender-friendly disposition of Governor Udom Emmanuel who champions the cause of participatory democracy.

"We know you already know this excellent steward, entrepreneur, steward and proud Akwa Ibom son. We are here today on your invitation and insistence that you want to openly identify with the choice of His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, and endorse the preferred choice of Akwa Ibom people, Pastor Umo Eno. Because of his antecedents and huge contributions to the growth and development of Akwa Ibom State even at individual capacity, we have no fear to present him as a good product to lead the State in continuation of the good governance of His Excellency. Here now is that that man, Pastor Umo Eno, to whom the vote of all women in the State must go come 2023", Assam Assam said.

In his remarks, Barr. Enoidem described Umo Eno as a rounded  businessman, administrator and public steward to be trusted and  thanked Governor Emmanuel for leading Akwa Ibom people on the right track.

The governorship aspirant, Pastor Umo Eno, in his note of appreciation said he was humbled by  the women's unanimous decision to identify with the Governor in adopting and amassing support for his ambition. He also gave hints of the blueprint of administration when he is eventually sworn in as Governor of the State on May 29th, 2023.

"i may be unqualified in the sight of man, but it is God who qualifies the unqualified. I say with a deep sense of appreciation that His Excellency, Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, has also laid foundation for practically everything that will shoot the forward. 

Giving hints of his plans, the aspirant added: "I shall therefore continue to consolidate the momentum of socioeconomic renaissance through industrialization, empowerment of women and youth in the area of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, peace sustainability and employment generation"

He said he needs now was for the women to take the message to the grassroots and turn up enmasse with their PVCs on the election. 

High point of the occasion for  the adoption formalities was a motion for the adoption of Pastor  Umo Eno,moved by  Hon. Dr.  Charity Ido,Member representing Ukanafun State Constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and was  ably Supported by Senator Dr. Akon Eyakenyi, Senator  representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District and former Minister for Lands,Housing and Urban Development .  

Senator  Akon Eyakenyi also took time to extolled the sterling leadership qualities of Pastor Umo Eno and assured him that Akwa Ibom Women will mobilize massively to ensure Pastor Umo Eno's Success in 2023 Governorship elections. 

Present also were  Member of the House of Assembly, Dr. Charity Ido; Commissioner of Education and that of Rural Development, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet and Mrs. Ebobong Mbobo respectively;  former House of Reps. Member, Mrs.Owoedighe Ekpotai, Commissioner of  Health, Dr. Umoh;  wife of Head of  Service, Mrs. Essien; wives of Commissioners and wives of Chairmen of Councils", political appointees, women leaders and groups.