Despite Being a Staunch PDP Member, I’ll Not Oppose Tínubu’s Government, Says Gov Eno

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has said that despite being a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he will not oppose President Bola Tinubu’s government.

The governor made the assertion when receiving thoúsands of defectors from opposition parties into the ruling PDP in the state at the weekend in Uyo, the state capital.

The defectors comprised former top office holders, such as the former House of Representatives member, representing Oruk Anam, Ukanafun Federal Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Ukoette; former state APC Publicity Secretary, Nkereuwem Enyongekere; former Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hon. Samuel Effanga; former Youth Leader of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ubong Edem; former Transition Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Area, Abasiono Udonfuk; among others from the All Progressives Congress (APC), YPP, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Governor Eno, in a very exciting speech, while receiving the defectors, spoke of his spirit of inclusivity.

“A lot of people have asked repeatedly: Are you in PDP? Yes! I am in PDP but my PDP is not the type that insults people. So, I want to beg you as you come back, one of the things you must drop is let’s not attack leaders.

“From the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we will and must show him support and respect. That is the PDP I run. We don’t attack leadership because what goes around, comes around.

“If I have a suggestion, I have access to the president, we will go and give our suggestions. We will support our leaders and we will not fight them.

“I am a pastor trained to respect people and we must continue to show that all-important character of humility, compassion, and respect to constituted authority.

“That, I shall continue to do. I and our party will continue to collaborate with the centre so that we can bring dividends of democracy to Akwa Ibom. I will not fight the centre. Nobody will fight the centre. That is the point and now that you are coming back, that is what we will maintain. We will give peace a chance.

“The last administration that God made me to take over from was peaceful and so there is a continuity.

 “Without peace, there can be no progress. So, please for those of you that were abusing us, don’t bring that spirit of abuse and begin to abuse people in authority. Please, drop that spirit, and let’s work together. We have only one President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we owe him our allegiance.

“We must show respect, decency, and loyalty. That’s why, everything that the president had promised us, God will touch his heart and he will give it to us. You don’t abuse somebody and then turn around and want to go and benefit from the person. Is that good?

“But for PDP, we are standing firm in PDP in Akwa Ibom State. Don’t let anyone deceive you. Don’t attend any illegal meetings; don’t go. They call you in the night and say come to this place, someone wants to see you. That is a lie.

 “This is me, and I will take care of you in Akwa Ibom. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you.

“When we give you good governance, that is what we mean by taking care of you. We are giving out free food through palliatives.

“We are creating jobs and ensuring that our young ones have something to do.

“You voted for good governance and I am sacrificing everything to ensure that we do good to our people.”

Earlier, the state PDP Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan, welcomed the defectors to the party and enjoined them to work for the continuous growth and expansion of the party.