03/01/2026
Governor Eno Pays New Year Homage To Akpabio, As Both Leaders Pledge Support For Tinubu
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno has said that Akwa Ibom people across party lines were united in their resolve to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Renewed Hope agenda for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Pastor Eno made the declaration on Friday when he paid a New Year homage to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio in his home in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. He used the opportunity to reiterate the support of Akwa Ibom State for the administration of President Tinubu.
Speaking during the visit, Governor Eno said he came to pay the traditional New Year homage to the President of the Senate and to thank him for his leadership and making Akwa Ibom proud at the national level.
"We pray for more wisdom upon you to keep supporting President Tinubu because you are all tied together. We also assure you that we are holding the ground at home for you. That is one assurance you need to know.
"Akwa Ibom is united for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Akwa Ibom is united for you, Chief Akpabio. In fact four days ago the youths of Akwa Ibom State held a massive rally to endorse the President, yourself and my humble self.
"Akwa Ibom is united across party lines. We may have some storms in the teacup, they will always be there. But when you see at the general outlook, you would know that the State is very united as far as 2027 is concerned," he said.
Pastor Eno commended Akpabio for the New Year gesture of ordering the withdrawal of all cases he had instituted against those who defamed and slandered him, saying such gesture showed a strength of character.
“It gave me so much joy because that is leadership. Beyond what you did, it is a great encouragement to Pastors that our leaders can listen to a message and be inspired by it.
“It was Mahatma Ghandi who said that forgiveness is not for the weak but for the strong. It takes a strength of character to rise above such feeling of hurt to let go of the past. So I commend you for that,” he said.
On his part, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio commended Pastor Eno for his support for President Tinubu and said the success of the President is the success of Nigeria as a country.
"We are behind you just as we support President Tinubu. His reform agenda may be painful but it is working. I want to thank you for your support for the President and also uniting the whole State to support him. We are focused on assisting the President to succeed because if the President succeeds, Nigeria succeeds.
Akpabio thanked Governor Eno for the New Year visit and quoted Chinua Achebe to buttress it. "When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so," to underscore the current unity in the State.
"I commend you for the peace that we are enjoying in the state. You have done well in terms of the projects that you have executed. You have done well in terms of infrastructure. You have done very well in terms of human empowerment.
"I have seen joy on the faces on Akwa Ibom people. The joy that you have brought to this State, the unity that you have brought to this State will outlive you. Generations yet unborn will benefit from it. I wish you a happy new year," Akpabio said.
