Eno confesses to joining APC to prove his love for Tinubu

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has described it as an aberration and anti-party. He referred to professing love and loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

However, this is done without fully believing in him and joining his party.

Eno emerged as the Akwa Ibom State Governor under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The party has held power in the state since 1999.

He declared his official defection to the APC on Friday, June 6, at government house. He stated that the only constant thing is ‘change’. He would not be supporting the president from a distance.

The governor noted that the official declaration would put to rest several months of speculation and analysis. He prided himself as the first person in the state to move party. He also made wider consultations.

Eno solicited support from Akwa Ibom people. He demanded total loyalty from his appointees. He described them as the first 11. He stated that their loyalty is non-negotiable.

He announced that he had already secured support from President Tinubu, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and other APC governors. His movement aimed to link Akwa Ibom to the centre. It would transform the region completely.

His words “I thank the PDP for their support. This is a defining moment for me. I have fully consulted critical stakeholders along the length and breadth of the state. I needed to explain my reasons for moving. As children of Isacchar, we must be able to interpret the times. We must run with the time and not against it.

“I have decided to move to the APC. I want to make it clear that I have changed my political affiliations. However, my values and moral fibre remain the same. I will always work with you regardless of party affiliation. We are not joining the APC from a position of weakness but from a position of strength. We are bringing value to the APC in the state. We are building back a party that was once torn apart. We are supporting President Tinubu.

“I am not known to talk from both sides of my mouth. People who know me will know that if I believe in a thing, I will go all out for it. I can’t be visiting the president in the night and be saying something else in the day. That’s why I’ve decided to join the train of the president. I support him so I will not be accused of anti-party. Let me assure you that our government has always been inclusive. It shall continue.

“You are first an Akwa Ibom person, no matter the party you are. A political party is only a vehicle. We have our state to live in. Therefore, I call on all Akwa Ibomites, especially the APC faithfuls wherever you are. Let’s return and build together. Whatever the issues have been, let us shield our differences. Let’s begin to renew and build together. We must ensure we return our president in 2027.”

In a goodwill message, the president of the Senate, Mr Godswill Akpabio, was represented by his wife, Ekaete Unoma. He commended the governor for taking the bold step to join the APC. He prayed that the governor’s entrance would bring good tidings to the state.

The Senate President also encouraged him to develop a thick skin against criticisms. These would surely come. However, he reassured him that with God and Mr. President behind him, he would succeed.

“Your excellency, they will malign you and abuse you that you will be surprised, but because God is with you! Fear no one. You have a lion in Mr President. There’s another lion in the person of Mr Senate President. You shall fear no one. God will give you peace and protect your family. Don’t bother about what they will write. If it’s about what they will write, our own has filled the GP tank. We have not been deterred.

“Thank you for taking this bold decision. It’s not an easy one, let nobody kid you. You are not going to regret it because you did it for the Akwa Ibom people, not for personal gains. When our senate president took that decision in 2019, it was like crucify him. There was no name he was not called. But today, all of us are reaping from it. He is your brother, your friend, your father, and our leader. May God continue to bless him for leading on this track. We didn’t understand him at first.”

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, led other APC governors in receiving Umo Eno. He noted that the new trajectory of socio-economic development in the country is set by President Tinubu. This trajectory would continue to endear many to the party.

“We have a new trajectory of development and growth in the country. Other presidents left with a learner’s permit. But Mr President has the driver’s licence, and he is driving us well,” Uzodinma noted.

APC stakeholders in the state were present. The attendees included nine governors of Edo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Cross River, Ebonyi, Lagos, Delta, and Imo States.