Olayiwola Matthew
The Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Umo Eno, on Saturday formally joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and made demand from President Bola Tinubu on realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project for the state.
Eno was received at a ceremony to receive him into the ruling party, which had in attendance some Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) including Lagos, Edo, Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Gombe, Ekiti, Jigawa, Ondo, Kogi, and Delta states,
The Governor, who had earlier dumped Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a platform he used to win election to become the Governor, added that he was not afraid of joining the APC, and unafraid of the future and the storms ahead.
‘We are not afraid of joining the APC, for we know that with the APC we would realise our Ibom Deep Seaport. That is our plea. For over 30 years, Akwa Ibom has struggled to have a seaport, but today we are reassured that the federal government will help us to realise the seaport,” he said.
The Governor thanked the people of the state for supporting him and promised to remain the governor for all, irrespective of his political alignment.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu at the ceremony, just as Eno appealed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the state to close ranks and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation so that they can work together and arise to renew the hope of the people.
Eno expressed optimism that the President who he described as a man of his word, would honour the state on the request, stressing that even if it is one terminal, his movement to the ruling party would have been justified.
The Governor said Akwa Ibom people are looking at the federal government as the bride looks at the face of his bridegroom, and listed infrastructure built by his predecessors stating that he believes the Ibom Deep Seaport will be added to the state’s infrastructure list by the time he leaves office.
The National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje shortly after Eno was received into the party handed over the party flag and a broom to Eno.
The Vice President, in his remarks, assured Eno that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a family, and thanked the governor for his decision to join the ruling party, but was silence on the governor’s request for the Ibom Deep Seaport.
Recall that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, speaking earlier, welcomed Eno to the party and described the event as a unification for Akwa Ibom.