By Nelson Utip
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has urged Pastor Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom State to unite the state across party lines for development and progress to endure, while describing the governor as a man of peace and an Apostle and disciple of peace, he noted that “Akwa Ibom is a very easy state to rule and govern, but also a very difficult place to unite.”
The Senate President gave the charge came on Friday when he paid a courtesy call on the governor in his office, in Uyo.
Jackson Udom, Special Assistant on Media to The Senate President in a statement quoted the Senate President as saying, “it is a major duty bestowed on you by God to unite the whole state. Let your actions speak unity to the state.
“As a governor, I united the state by appointing people into key positions without considering where they came from.
“I want you to unite your people without any political considerations. Even if you inherited a policy that was not in the best interest of the state, have the courage to change it.”
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Akpabio advised Governor Eno to see himself as a surgeon in governance with three attributes of being brave as a lion, soft in heart as a maiden and having the eye of an eagle to see what others cannot see.
“Do not inherit the enemies of your father. Make your friends and enemies by yourself and remember always that it is one thing for you to get to the top and you must learn the balancing act in order to remain at the top.”
“We are very happy to be here in your Council Chambers. Akwa Ibom is a state of class. I would like all states in Nigeria to be like us.
“With what I have seen here today, the act speaks for itself. Thank you for the warm reception and private audience you had with me, which I will communicate to President Bola Tinubu.
“I want to extend the felicitations of the Federal Government to the government and people of Akwa Ibom State and I want to assure you that if there is anything the Federal Government would do for other state governments, Akwa Ibom State will also be highly considered for the same.”
Akpabio noted.
“because of the love and honour you have shown us today and the respect my colleagues have for me, all your requests for the National Assembly’s interventions shall be duly considered.
“My prayer for you is that since you have decided to maintain the projects executed by others, God will also give you the strength to put in place legacies that will outlive you.
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“From the airport to the Government House, we saw no potholes. It shows that you have keyed into the maintenance culture of the Bola Tinubu-led government.” He continued.
He advised Governor Eno to be aware of confusionists around him, saying, “I have seen some faces of those who will add value to your government and those who will add confusion. But, all must come together for the betterment of the state.
“Elections are over. We are now into governance. We must work together in the overall interest of Akwa Ibom people.
“I am here today as the Senate President of Nigeria, through God and the support of my colleagues here. I owe them a lot and I go nowhere without them.”
Governor Eno, thanked the Senate President and his entourage for visiting the state and more importantly, the seat of power in his welcome address.
He was full of praises for President Tinubu and the Senators “for rallying round our son and beacon of light to make him the President of the 10th Senate. That is our joy and our pride.”
