Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has admitted that many people are upset with him for reconciling with political rivals who once opposed his emergence.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service in Uyo on Sunday to mark the 38th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State, Eno urged forgiveness and tolerance, insisting his priority is unity and the overall interest of the state.
“A lot of people are angry with me. They say oh, people that fought you, you’re now greeting them. People that did this, did that. And I say if we live in a country or a state where it is ‘an eye for an eye’, we will soon all go blind,” the governor said.
Eno explained that he cannot stop embracing all Akwa Ibomites, regardless of past political battles. He asked those offended to forgive him, and those unable to forgive to “tolerate me for a few more years, I will soon leave.”
He continued: “Let’s learn to put the past behind us, learn to be magnanimous in victory. Let’s learn to understand that all of those things (political conflicts) happened so that the glory of God, the supremacy of God will be revealed. The moment we fail to understand the place of God in our lives, then we want to take on our battles. My Bible tells me the battles belong to the Lord. There is time and season for everything under the sun.”
Calling for peace, the governor cautioned against endless political squabbles. “What are we fighting for? Too much meetings. You finish holding a meeting, they start another one. People want to control structure. The moment you want to control structure in this government, you’re a suspect,” he warned.
On state agitation, Eno dismissed campaigns for the creation of Obolo State, vowing: “You will not have any other state other than Akwa Ibom. Even those struggling to split Akwa Ibom will not succeed because Akwa Ibom remains one. Am telling you now.”
Eno reaffirmed his stand, “Those I’ve offended one way or the other, find it in your heart to forgive me. It is because anything that stands between me and the interest of Akwa Ibom state, I will choose interest of Akwa Ibom. So if in doing that I’ve offended you, forgive me. Tolerate me for a few more years, I will soon leave, then another governor will come. Note that anything that stands in the overall interest of the state, I will be on the side of the state, not on the side of an individual.”
