Gov Eno Commends House Member, Selong for Balancing Leadership, Marital Roles

Gov Eno Commends House Member, Selong for Balancing Leadership, Marital Roles

… proscribes masquerade display across State

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has commended the member representing Urue Offong/Oruko State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Precious Selong, for successfully striking a balance between her marital responsibilities and public service, distinguishing herself as a model of a contemporary African woman.

Governor Eno made the commendation during the 25th wedding anniversary of Rt. Hon. Precious Selong and spouse, a Permanent Secretary in the Akwa Ibom State civil service, Barr. Edem Selong, held at Methodist Church Nigeria, 67 Udo Umana Street, Uyo.

He said that his decision to identify with Rt. Hon. Selong on the special occasion was inspired by her ability to maintain a stable and balanced growth in both her political life and marital role to creat positive impact in the State.

He congratulated the couple on their 25th anniversary, thanking God for keeping them together in the past 25 years, with her union blessed with healthy grown up children, as evidence of God’s blessing and fruitfulness.

“I thank God for what he has done to Mr/Mrs Selong, and we  bless God for your lives. To me, I am here today to rejoice with you, that’s why I told the Archbishop that I came for a Thanksgiving. Anyone who understands Thanksgiving will not want to miss it. I celebrate with you for 25 years, not 25 days.

“God has kept you through. The preacher has made a very strong point. It is particularly for your wife, elder Precious.

“She has grown politically, so she has grown her home maritally. Not many women would grow politically and still maintain their homes. That should be the lesson we should take home today.

“To hold political office as a lady, if God does not help you, you will lose your home. The aspect of honouring your husband would be thrown to the dustbin because as at that time, you are the voice. In fact, they could even refer or address your husband by your own name. So that would mean going back home and always reassuring the man that he is in charge.

“For twenty five years, you have done that, I want to thank God for you. That your husband could agree to come with you after 25 years to thank God, it shows that you are doing well. That’s the lesson,” he said.

Governor Eno acknowledged and thanked the Methodist Church Nigeria for its role and unwavering support during his electioneering campaign leading to his emergence as the Governor, and promised to serve as a true servant of God and representative of the body of Christ.

“We thank the church for the support that they have given to us. Methodist Church is one of the churches that led the crusade for my election from the time of His Eminence, Prelate Sunday Mbang who has gone to be with the Lord.

The State Chief Executive admonished Christians to desist from unnecessary negative criticism, but join hands to build a peaceful and united Akwa Ibom where dividends of true democracy thrives.

He reassured of his commitment to rendering transperant and accountable service, with a promise not to fail them.

“As a Government, I can tell the Church that we are on course, and you can do that assessment yourself. We are not perfect, we cannot be perfect, no one government can solve the problem of the entire people, but we will keep building concept upon concept, block upon block and we believe that so far we are doing our best, and we are giving our all,” he said.

He announced the formal opening of the state Christmas festival Celebration from December 1, 2025, and banned masquerade display in the festival, cautioning  Local Government Chairmen to exclude them from their cultural presentations, stressing that the status of Akwa Ibom as a Christian State must be maintained at all cost.

“This year’s Christmas celebration opens up tomorrow. We will begin with Christmas Unplugged. We will be at the Christmas village. Please I stand in this alter to say, no masquerade in that place. I am not endorsing it. Don’t bring tradition where people carry mask and smoke is oozing out of their mouth and their heads. This is a Christian state and let us not go and awaken something that would not edify God.

“Let me say today as the Governor of this State, we ban masquerades in our streets. They are using it to terrorize people, using it to extort money and terrify innocent citizens in the State.

“By my office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, I am issuing an order, anyone that would be caught would be arrested and prosecuted. They have used it to cause havoc in some local governments. As the chief security officer of the State, I am directing the commissioner of police and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute masquerades. Let it stop terrorizing people, and let people have peace. We will continue to promote our culture, but we will not promote tradition,” he said.

On the  Christmas celebration,the Governor directed the Accountant General to pay the 13th month salary popularly known as Eno-mber, to workers before December 20, 2025.

He also assured that rice will be sent to all the villages across the State through the local government council, and will be supported by political office holders during the December home going event.

Preaching on the topic “Two are Better than One,”  drawn from Ecclesiastes 4:11-14, the Archbishop of Uyo Diocese, His Grace, Most Rev. John E, Koko-Bassey described Rt. Hon. Precious Selong as a testament of great woman, blessed with the divine capacity to handle a matrimonial responsibility without derail or interfering in her leadership role.

He described their marriage anniversary as a great reminder of the biblical golden principle which states that “two are better than one,”  and charged christian couples to emulate them for the growth of the society.

The cleric defined marriage as an institution where destiny is grown,  knowledge is multiplied, nurtured and life created and impacted.

Rev Bassey  congratulated the couple for respecting the sanctity of marriage irrespective of the distinctive critical leadership roles in the State.

In his remark, the celebrator, Rt. Hon. Selong expressed appreciation to the Governor for leading the entire state Government structure to grace the occasion.

He thanked the Governor for his people centric administration, vibrant leadership policies which, according to her, have endeared people to him and promised to stand by him beyond 2027 to continue in his good works for the State.