Eno: Why I Shunned Official Jet for Commercial Flights

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Umo Eno, has said the reason he rejected the state’s official governor’s jet and used the state-owned commercial airline, Ibom Air, during his recent official engagements outside the state was to promote the brand.
Eno debunked speculations that he travelled with public transport because the immediate past governor, Udom Emmanuel, was in custody of his official jet, describing such as unfounded and baseless.

Fielding questions from journalists at the Victor Attah International Airport shortly on arrival from official engagements in Abuja, the governor said aside promoting the brand, his choice of the state airline also offered him more insights into the operations of the airline.
Eno maintained that his predecessor was not in custody of the official jet, as being insinuated in some quarters. He urged the citizens to desist from maliciously induced and baseless allegations that served no good intent and purpose.

According to him, his position as governor of the state has made him the chief marketing officer of Ibom Air, which is fully owned by the state.
Eno explained that his decision to travel on board Ibom Air was equally to observe the airline’s standard in service delivery, which he described as spectacular and world-class. He said this was the reason the airline was the most preferred by air travellers in the country.

Eno wondered what the people would say when he would travel in the soon-to-be-launched palliative buses being introduced to cushion the harsh effects of fuel subsidy removal.
“Will the people then turn around to insinuate that the immediate past governor has taken over his official vehicles?” he asked.
He stated that his style of administration was to demystify governance, to enable him connect easily with the ordinary people.