Governor Eno Wins Widespread Support During Strategic Meeting with Appointees

Governor Eno Wins Widespread Support During Strategic Meeting with Appointees

By Anietie Usen

The Banquet Hall of the Akwa Ibom Government House was filled to capacity as political appointees gathered for an unexpected meeting convened by Governor Umo Eno. The crowded hall created mild tension, made worse by the recent dismissal of two aides the day before. Many attendees waited anxiously as the Governor arrived directly from Abuja.

Although the day carried an air of unease, the Governor entered the hall with a calm demeanour, smiling and waving as he moved towards his seat. The mood began to ease as the band performed the national and state anthems, followed by a short prayer.

Stephen Ntukekpo, State Chairman of the APC, opened the meeting with a spirited address that praised the competence and loyalty within the hall. His remarks were met with loud applause. He was followed by Assam Assam, SAN, former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia and a close ally of the Governor. Assam stressed the need for complete loyalty to the administration, describing loyalty as indivisible and urging appointees to be fully committed to the Governor’s leadership.

Senator Ekong Sampson, widely respected for his long record of consistent loyalty, expressed surprise at the size of the Governor’s team, noting that the total number of aides was 873. He assured the Governor of the full support of Akwa Ibom lawmakers in the National Assembly. According to him, legislators were united behind Governor Eno and would work collectively for his success over the next six years.

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Rt Hon Udeme Otong, also affirmed the loyalty of state lawmakers. He recalled that the Governor had previously urged appointees who did not intend to follow him to the APC to leave. Otong declared that the House stood firmly behind the Governor due to his performance in office.

More expressions of solidarity followed. Representatives of local government chairmen, honorary special advisers, personal aides, and other political groups pledged continued support. They highlighted the Governor’s impact across the state, noting the development projects carried out in both rural and urban areas and the empowerment initiatives that targeted vulnerable groups and unemployed youths.

A major highlight of the meeting was a detailed audiovisual presentation showing the breakdown of political appointees across the thirty one local government areas. The data covered their ranks, place of origin, and the financial implication of their salaries. The presentation revealed that Nsit Ubium, the Governor’s home local government area, had the highest number of appointees with fifty one. The Governor responded jokingly to long standing complaints from his constituents by asking whether they had now seen the number of their representatives in government.

The Governor then began his long awaited address. He reflected on the recent crisis at the PDP national headquarters and said he felt vindicated for leaving the party months earlier. He explained that leadership required foresight and the courage to take difficult decisions in order to avoid avoidable crises. According to him, he acted in the best interest of the state when he moved to the APC.

Governor Eno also highlighted the scale of responsibility the administration carries. He disclosed that the government pays salaries to seven hundred and eighty three aides, which translates into support for thousands of dependants across the state. He further reminded the audience that every local government area had benefitted from development projects within his tenure.

He stressed the benefits of aligning with the APC at the federal level, pointing to recent achievements such as the launch of the first Renewed Hope Estate by the Federal Housing Authority in Akwa Ibom and the accreditation of the law faculty at Akwa Ibom State University. He attributed these successes to effective relationship building and cooperation with the federal government.

The Governor then turned to the subject of loyalty. Drawing from Mark chapter three verse fourteen, he explained that aides must stand by the leader who appointed them and work in unity. He followed this with a famous quote credited to Elbert Hubbard, which urges loyalty to established institutions and advises critics to resign honourably if they cannot support their organisation.

Governor Eno made it clear that his administration is an APC administration and that appointees are expected to show loyalty to the party. He stated that anyone who cannot support the government’s direction is free to step aside. According to him, he would not retain anyone who works against the administration while earning from it.

Towards the end of his speech, he called for unity, commitment, and readiness for the political tasks ahead. He encouraged those present to avoid double loyalties and to join the effort to promote the party and support the President and the Senate President.

The Governor’s speech, delivered within an hour, drew continuous applause for its clarity, data driven arguments, and firm call to action. Many aides who had previously remained undecided were moved to openly align themselves with the administration.

The meeting concluded with strong endorsements from aides and commissioners. Some described the Governor’s second term as already assured, citing what they called a strong winning strategy.

By the end of the session, the Governor had not only addressed concerns within his administration but had also secured overwhelming support from his team, firmly setting the tone for the political period ahead.