Ministers council asks Emmanuel to halt Eno endorsement as successor

Ini Billie, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Council of Ministers has called on Governor Udom Emmanuel to rescind his endorsement of Pastor Umo Eno, Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources as his successor in 2023.
President of the group, Apostle Joseph Nyong and Secretary, Apostle Elijah Usoh said the choice of Eno was bereft of equity and fairness, adding that the selection was an imposition designed to outsmart majority of the Akwa Ibom people.
Speaking on Thursday in Uyo against the action of the governor, the group criticized former governor, Obong Victor Attah for spearheading the endorsement, and wondered why the statesman connived with the governor to scuttle the zoning arrangement he (Attah), had started.
According to them, the endorsement was skewed against the zoning arrangement which produced Attah and Emmanuel and should in fairness be micro-zoned to Itu/Ibiono Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom North East senatorial district.
“We also express our disappointment and dissatisfaction at the pivotal role played by the duo of Obong Victor Attah and Oku Ibom Ibibio on the said endorsement. Attah as an elder statesman and a beneficiary of zoning can not blow hot and cold at the same time.
“Moreover, the Oku Ibom Ibibio as the custodian of our traditional institution is expected at all times to be a father to all and maintain neutrality in the political affairs of the state.
“Such endorsement does not only smack of imposition and direct affront on the political will of majority of Akwa Ibom people, but is also a clear violation of the long standing and immutable zoning arrangements in the state.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that it is only Itu/ Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency that is yet to produce the governor of all the Federal Constituencies within Uyo Senatorial District. It is therefore equitable and fair that it should be micro zoned to the federal constituency of Itu/Ibiono,” the group stated.
They dismissed the claim of Gov. Emmanuel’s choice as a revealation from God, describing the assertion as a bare face lie to give Umo Eno credence.
They lamented that if the public outcry against Gov. Emmanuel’s endorsement is not well handled, it might degenerate into avoidable crisis in tje 2023 general election.
The group insisted that the church would not stay aloof and watch few individuals mortgage the peace and stability of the state, adding that the right thing must be done by reversing the imposition of Umo Eno.
“The God we worship is not an author of confusion, not purveyor of crisis and disunity. As a God of orderliness, equity and fairness, it is incongruous and unconscionable for the governor and the so called fathers of faith to use his name to seek validation of an obviously unpopular and unacceptable choice.
“We want to categorically states here that for the purpose of emphasis that as a church, we will not fold our arms and watch few individuals mortgage the peace and stability enjoyed in the state,” they said.