Reactions as Udom announces preferred successor

Reactions have continued to trail the announcement by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, of his successor, come 2023.

According to the governor, the state Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Mr. Umoh Eno, would wear the cap, come next year as the governor of the state.

Reacting to the governor’s action, the immediate past national legal adviser to the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem, said the choice of Pastor Umo Eno came after series of consultations with relevant stakeholders in the state and prayers to God to reveal the right individual that will continue on the legacies of Emmanuel.

“God has revealed to our dear Governor Udom Emmanuel that Pastor Umo Eno will be the right person to succeed him after his tenure in 2023,” ha said.

He described the choice of Umo Eno as a dream come true for the organisation (Maintain Peace Movement), which has been praying to God to give Akwa Ibom a successor like Udom Emmanuel to sustain the peace in the state.

“We all know that Udom Emmanuel was not the most popular politician in 2015 when he was brought to us by God to contest for the position but he got the acceptability of the people and finally emerged the governor of the state in 2015 and 2019. So, it is the grace of God and His will also that Umo Eno should succeed Udom Emmanuel and we stand by that.”

He assured that Umo Eno would finally emerge the PDP flag bearer in the 2023 Gubernatorial primary, noting that Akwa Ibom would remain PDP as the state could not afford to experience another party.

Also reacting, one of the contenders to the office of the governor and member, representing Etinan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Onofiok Luke, said he was not against the choice of the governor, though they are from the same federal constituency.

“I am not against the choice of the governor coming from my local government, Federal Constituency or the aspiration of my brother. However, as a fellow aspirant from the same local government, my aspiration to serve the state in the capacity of the governor remains on course.

“Out of respect and as a loyal party man, I honoured an innocent invitation from the governor for a meeting at the lodge, at the meeting, my brother from my local government and Federal Constituency, Pastor Umo Eno was presented as the choice of the governor for succession.

“It was at the meeting that I heard of the agenda and choice for the first time and no one held any discussion with me prior to the meeting,” he said.

In his reaction, a lecturer in the Department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo, Dr. Herbert Batta, queried, “Did they pray for the paramount ruler to handpick a successor? Or did they pray for him to provide guidance and a level-playing field for the best homegrown politician to emerge?

“This handpicked one was reportedly awarded a contract before his appointment as commissioner to rework Idua road in Eket, a town he lives in, has his businesses and church; but he messed up the road, made it worse, and abandoned it! Did the government fail to fund the contract?”