2023 governorship: Senator Ita Enang’s camp swells

…As more groups declare support

Senator Ita Enang has urged other candidates in the governorship race for the 2023 election to base their campaigns on their track records and not on blackmail and character assassination.

The APC governorship aspirant said this as a build-up toward the race to the Hilltop Mansion gathers momentum; more support groups have drummed support for Enang who is also Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs.

The group under the aegis of the Integrity Transformation Agenda (ITA) on Saturday, April 16, 2022, declared their unalloyed support for Senator Enang to take over the mantle of leadership of Akwa Ibom State in 2023 under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC.

While presenting his address, the National President of the Group, Hon. Emem Archibong Uboh said the group was established in June 2020 by people with like-minds to voluntarily mobilize support for Senator Ita Enang at the grassroots.

He disclosed that the group have Coordinators across the 31 Local Government Areas of the State.

Uboh described Enang as a man of integrity who loves and is willing to transform the state because he is the only politician that has brought human developmental projects to Akwa Ibom State.

He assured Sen. Enang of the group’s unalloyed support towards ensuring that he is sworn in as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State come 2023.

Also speaking were the Senatorial Districts Coordinators of the Group namely: Mr Godwin Udoh who spoke for Ikot Ekpene; Obong Daniel Okpo, Eket and Hon. Archibonhg Brown spoke on behalf of Uyo.

They described Ita Enang as a man of integrity, a gentleman, noiseless achiever, peace lover, job giver and the only politician who has brought unprecedented developmental projects from the Federal Government to the State.

Meanwhile, Hon. Ikop Udoh who spoke on behalf of all 31 Coordinators of the group, thanked Senator Ita Enang for answering the clarion call of the grassroots by accepting to contest the 2023 election.

He emphasized that grassroots people were waiting for his governorship declaration and attested that after Obong Victor Attah, it is Senator Ita Enang who has fought more battles of the state, without compromising especially when the issue of onshore, offshore dichotomy emanated.

In her address, Obonganwan Dora Ebong assured the group of Senator Ita Enang’s victory in the 2023 guber poll, urging those who have not joined the Enang’s Camp to do so. She pointed out that only a blind person may not be able to see the handwriting on the wall, stating that Senator Ita Enang’s victory is unnegotiable.

The Federal Character Commission Commissioner also described Senator Ita Enang as a man whose emphasis is on job creation that can last throughout a lifetime, not basically on peanuts that cannot take care of a day.

According to her, “Senator Ita Enang is a man that gives out nets and boats to fish, not fishing for the people. The 2023 election is going to be issue-based, not sentiments.

“Present your scorecards and track records for people to vote for you. It is very unfortunate that many who are eyeing the governorship positions in the state do not have a clue about governance. Give those that understand governance opportunity to serve”.

While responding, Senator Ita Enang thanked the group for voluntarily mobilizing support at the grassroots for him, since June 2020, despite the fact that he did not make his intentions known.  He specifically thanked them for having confidence, and trust in his ability to transform Akwa Ibom State.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs assured his people that, he has finally answered their call to contest for the governorship of the state which he would win in 2023.

He also advised those seeking position of governor of the state to tell the people what they have brought to the state and its people which warrant their ambitions to govern the state.

Ita Enang said, “I, a former councillor, House of Assembly Member, former Secretary of Akwa Ibom Rural Water Agency, three-time House of Representatives Member, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Affairs and currently, Senior Special Assistant to President on Niger Delta Affairs do hereby assure you that I am contesting the 2023 governorship election”.

He mentioned some of his achievements while serving the state and country which according to him are enough reasons for him to seek the number one position in the state in 2023.

Enang said that as a councillor, he brought electricity to his Ward which most councillors today cannot achieve. As a House of Assembly Member, he was a voice in the House that made the executive arm think twice before taking any action.

He said he was the one who openly opposed the idea of selling of generator of the Champions Breweries, which his action gave him State honour.

Enang stated further that during their tenure as House of Assembly Members, they were not after what “Ette”, the Governor will say which is very common in today’s House.

“As a Federal House Member, I stood out and I was recognized as the best legislator in the history of Nigeria. I helped Obong Victor Attah in the abrogation of onshore, offshore oil dichotomy, together with my brother Senator Udo Udoma in the senate.

I also helped in restoring sanity and dignity to our democracy when the third-term agenda came up. NDDC Act was possible through my efforts in conjunction with the Senate President, Senator Chuba Okadigbo and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’abba.

If you go through the Act, you will discover the President’s veto power was overridden because of his refusal.

“As Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, I brought Federal Polytechnic, Ukana to Akwa Ibom State. As Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legislative Affairs, I ensured that there was a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and Legislature arms of government, despite the majority of the lawmakers supporting the opposition Party, PDP.

“I also ensured that Calabar-Itu road was budgeted for which the road is motorable today and very soon it will be completed.

“As Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, I am working tirelessly to ensure that Niger Delta benefits from the Presidency”, Senator Ita Enang explained.

The governorship hopeful also stated that he is not interested in giving peanuts to the people, rather, he is very concerned about human development and added that he has secured employment opportunities for many Akwa Ibomites and Nigerians more than any politician in the State.

Prayers for the protection and successful emergence of Senator Ita Enang as the next Governor of Akwa Ibom come 2023 were offered by the group.