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Ex-governor, Victor Attah, throws weight behind Eno, flays Okon

By Ayoyinka Jegede, Uyo
30 June 2022   |   2:43 am
Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, has said that of all the aspirants jostling to take over from Governor Udom Emmanuel, major stakeholders preferred Pastor Umo Eno

Obong Victor Attah

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Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, has said that of all the aspirants jostling to take over from Governor Udom Emmanuel, major stakeholders preferred Pastor Umo Eno because of his humility, capacity to deliver and experience in the private sector. 

Attah added that Eno was the only aspirant not fronted by any group, saying his only constituency is Akwa Ibom State. 

The ex-governor, who spoke in Uyo, explained that having identified these attributes, stakeholders opted for Eno and were happy when Emmanuel also gave him his nod. 

He said: “It is the stakeholders that identified Umo Eno along with a few other names and the governor also adopted him as the one he would like to succeed him and we are very happy.

“I can tell you there was the issue of some people belonging to groups, Umo Eno didn’t have a group. He has Akwa Ibom as his group and as his community,” Obong Attah said. 

He said as a father figure, he was expected to welcome all aspirants on consultation and only raise the hand of the preferred candidate at the right time. 

“What we saw in Eno was his sense of commitment, ability, loyalty and the humility to know that he has to ask questions,” he said.

Attah, who ruled during the same period Senator Bola Tinubu ruled in Lagos State, said Lagos State has benefited largely from continuity. 

Citing Winston Churchill, Attah maintained that where there is a fight between the present and the past, the future is lost. 

“In this state, we picked a quarrel with the past, my science park was abandoned, my seaport project was abandoned, my University of Technology was abandoned, several other things were abandoned, and we started new things like Tropicana,” he lamented.

Attah disclosed that Eno has the willingness to embrace the past and build on the achievements of the present and past administrations.

“Umo is someone that would love to consult. He has brought his blueprint and he sought my input and I am impressed with his humility.

“I might be out of office but not out of ideas, I see Umo Eno being humble and willing to seek advice,” he stressed.

Reacting to the insinuation of certificate forgery by Mr. Akan Okon against Eno, Attah, a former national chairman of Nigeria Institute of Architects, said only a man, who feels threatened by the success of another, will put up efforts to eliminate or create doubts in the minds of people.

“When I learned about the certificate forgery case, I quickly put up a call to verify and was satisfied, the outcome from the court will tell further.” 

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