By Nelson Utip
Mr Udom Emmanuel, the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State has pledged his unweaving support to his successor, Pastor Umo Eno, to perform better than him as governor of The State.
The ex- governor affirmed that the support of Christian Fathers in the state was the secret of his success as a governor and thanked them for extending the same support to his successor.
Ex- governor Emmanuel said this at a New Year State Thanksgiving service at the newly completed International Worship Center in Uyo The State Capital.
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“I don’t have any doubt or fear, I still stand on what I said from day one that you will do 200 times better than me in all ramifications and God will give you the enablement and capacity to make that happen,” he stated.
Vouching for the capacity of Governor Umo Eno, his successor,the former governor said “When God sends you, he gives transportation money. He equips, he gives you the capacity, and he gives you everything to keep it up and running,” while thanking the people of the state for their support for the incumbent governor, he called for the maintenance of the existing unity in the state.
“Let me thank the youth, women, elders, and all those who believed in us. I believe that as the Preacher today said, we need one mind, and we must be strengthened together. The Governor alone can not do it.
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“May God unite all of us together, strengthen us as a people to know that Akwa Ibom is beyond one man,” Emmanuel said.
While thanking the governor for inviting him to the occasion, he relished the vision behind the worship center as a provision of a befitting worship center for a state named after God.
“Probably today, we would have been under the sun, but we now have a place where we can all gather, an altar where we can gather to worship God.
“I remember in one of my commissionings, I made a statement that the birds have their nest in the air but we Christians do not have a place to worship but today, we give God all the glory. Thank you, our Governor, for making this day a success.
“I want to use this opportunity to sincerely thank the Fathers of Faith. Once there is a king succeeding, watch the back, and you’ll see a priest.
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“I really want to thank them. These are the priests that really backed me and are backing you up also. I can guarantee you that all of us will give you the support you need. “
“Once again, I stand here to give God all the glory for energising and the sustenance of our beloved Governor, Our leader, that God has graciously given to us at a time like this. The same God that raised him will sustain him no matter what happens. God does not send someone on an errand and forsake him,” he added.
Governor Eno expressed his happiness for the quality of recognizing the venue as a tourist attraction particularly expressing gratitude for having the immediate past governor and initiator of the Worship Centre project at the event.
Governor Eno promised to maintain the facility as a valuable asset of the State and maintain the spiritual component of the Worship Centre as an altar of the State through daily prayers in the centre throughout the year.
At the occasion, Governor Eno appointed The Uyo Field Superintendent of The Apostolic Church, Pastor Ime George, as Coordinator of the prayer roaster and Rev. Hilkiah Eliatha as Secretary, as well as a technical crew to maintain the facility.
Clergyman across various denominations graced the occasion which also had State and Federal Government officials, including the Minister of State for Petroleum, (Gas), ObongEmem Ekperikpe Ekpo, Senator Ita Enang and Commissioner of the NDDC from Akwa Ibom State in attendance among others, as well as sociocultural groups and people from all walks of life, who jointly offered praises, worship and prayers for the state, country and leaders at various levels of governance.
