June 21, (THEWILL) – The President of the Federal Republic, Bola Tinubu, has promised that the government at the centre will stand to protect the interest of Akwa Ibom State, as the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, joins the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tinubu made the promise in Uyo on Saturday, when he formally received the state governor and all his followers into the APC, saying that he will not be abandoned, even as he will not regret his progressive movement to the ruling party.
The President, who was represented at the event by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, noted that a political party is more of the people than the party slogan and assured the governor of a new Akwa Ibom, saying that his new family was committed to its own.
“We are here today because we understand the fundamental truth that for any political party, the most enduring power does not come from division, it comes from unity of purpose.
“This friend we seek is not found in standing alone, nor in fighting amongst ourselves, but in standing together. And that strength grows with every voice that joins this cause. That is how we move forward, not by clinging to what divides us, but by running around what leaves us.
“We are here because we believe in building bridges, not walls, in mending fences, not erecting new ones. And above all, we are here because we know that the political party is more than a political party is its people. The people are the party.
“I’m telling you this, Your Excellency Pastor Umo Eno, because I want you to know that President Tinubu is a bridge-builder, a democrat. And so your decision to come home to the APC is one that you will never regret.
“Mr President, ask me to assure you personally, no one will question your place here. The party is at your home. You will not be humiliated. You will not be forsaken. We are your brothers and sisters in the high tide.
Speaking, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said Umo Eno’s action can best be described as a movement, not defection, and the decision to move to the APC was a political maturity for the benefit of the Akwa Ibom people.
He saluted Eno’s courage to move to the APC, saying he had proven that Akwa Ibom is ready to work with President Bola Tinubu and the APC administration to deliver a renewed hope agenda to Nigerians.
He appealed to President Tinubu to grant the state’s request on the Ibom Deep Seaport to develop the blue economy of Akwa Ibom and empower the youths.
“What is happening is not just a political movement, it is political maturity; not just a generational responsibility, but the language of statesmanship, and because you have been faithful with a little entrusted to you, your step is ordered by God.
“You have placed the unity and progress of Akwa Ibom State above party lines, you have chosen partnership over partisanship. So to the men and women of Akwa Ibom State who have followed you diligently in this defining moment, our leaders, our thinkers, our patrons, I say to you, welcome home to the progressive family.
“We are not just here in numbers, you are not coming to add to the number of progressive members, but to add value to the progressive family. You are bringing capacity to bear because you are a performing governor, the entire state is with you, then who are those that would have caused trouble, there is none, they are not here.
“Let us now move from mere handshakes to hard work, from celebration here we are going to move to collaboration, the path ahead may be steep but the reward is certain so long as we work together, so long as we speak together, and so long as we move together.
“We are here coming to you, the APC with loyalty with competence, and with strategic importance to our youth who are living in this country, and we will insist respectfully that our state be given its rightful place in our national equation.
“So our dear president, we plead with you that you extend your grace and support to the request that the governor will make, including the deep sea ports, so that we can develop our blue economy, lead to empowerment of our youths and the elevation of our women across board”, he stated.
In his speech, Governor Umo Eno said his purpose for joining the APC was to get the Ibom Deep Seaport running, saying that previous state governors have struggled to get the seaport started.
Eno said he took a risk to abandon the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to join the Senate President, Godwill Akpabio, in the APC to plead for the Ibom Deep Seaport, saying that the movement is from a position of strength.
He expressed his willingness to face the political storm ahead as long as he secures the Ibom Deep Seaport for Akwa Ibom, and reassured the people that he would remain a governor for all, despite party affiliations.
He emphasised that his government is the implementation of the ARISE agenda, and urged all factions within the APC to sheathe their swords and close ranks to reunite the party and move it forward.
“Let me reassure all Akwa Ibomites that regardless of my political alignment, I will remain a governor for all Akwa Ibomites as we continue to progressively implement the Arise Agenda, which is our social contract with the Akwa Ibom people.
“Today, Your Excellencies, we step out bold, fearless, brave, courageous, and happy. This is an uncommon but progressive move from a position of strength.
“For we are not afraid of the future, nor afraid of the storms ahead. As I’ve been making a good decision, we have taken a risk by joining our son, the distinguished Senate President, to work with him and to deliver our President in 2027”, he stated.
While receiving Governor Umo Eno and all his cabinet members and others into the party, APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said the movement of Governor Umo Eno into the party was from national political isolation to political relevance.
Ganduje said the movement of South-South governors into the APC was a signal that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies were inclusive and worth aligning with.
He assured Governor Eno that with his movement to the APC, President Tinubu would begin to implement programmes that would solve the environmental problems in the state and region, as well as provide employment opportunities for the youths.
“Today is a historic moment because the governor has decided to join our party with these millions of followers, including all his political party structures. You are most welcome to a progressive party.
“In fact, from your antecedent, from your disposition, you are a progressive governor. We welcome you for coming home. Those that he met at the party don’t regard him and his followers as newcomers. No, regard them as your brothers and sisters who went for sabbatical leave and now decided to come back home because they are progressive, and they are meeting progressive party followers.
“We assure him that our party believes in internal democracy. Our party believes in progressive ideas. Our party believes in discipline. Our party believes in orderly progress. Our party believes in the overall development of democracy.
“So you are most welcome to our party. We have to acknowledge Mr President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. People are coming into our party, our political agenda, our renewed hope agenda for the South-South geopolitical zone is working”, he stated.
A total of 24 APC governors were on hand to receive Governor Eno into the APC.
