20/05/2025
WORLD PRESS BRIEFING BY THE FORUM OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADMINISTRATORS AND INFLUENCERS, AKWA IBOM STATE, 19TH MAY 2025
Gentlemen of the PRESS
Within the last two years God has been so kind to the people and residents of Akwa Ibom State, and so we must begin today by giving Him all the thanks and praise, for all the great things He has done. May His name be highly exalted in Jesus' name.
It is with a sense of pride in the positive trajectory of our State, coupled with our resolute determination to be active participants in ensuring the seamless continuity of the ongoing success story in Akwa Ibom State, that we welcome you to this epoch defining press briefing.
I trust that your time with us will be remarkable.
Gentlemen,
Akwa Ibom State is on the threshold of history!
Never in the history of our dear State have we achieved so much in so short a time.
Never before have we experienced the unlimited power of peace and the force of unity like now.
Through uncommon but intentional peace and unity, the government of Akwa Ibom State has concentrated on the deployment of our resources to provide development, empowerment, and transformation of the entire State.
From 29th May 2023 till date, our dear State has experienced a near total amalgamation of political parties into a unity government resulting in the creation of a neutral political ecosystem conducive for friendship, trust, brotherliness and inclusive development. It has been a season of governance over and above party configurations. We should not take this atmosphere for granted but work to cultivate, encourage, and reinforce it.
Gentlemen of the Press, we are here today because duty calls, a sacred duty to side with a government of intentional and uncommon peace, a government of development, empowerment, transformation and strategic pivoting to the national arena to build alliances and bridges for economic transformation, deepening of national political capital and engagement with the renewed hope agenda. As leaders and members of the Social Media Administrators and Influencers in Akwa Ibom State, we consider it our civic and professional responsibility to educate, sensitize, analyse, and promote government policies and projects to the public, feel the pulse of the people and relay same to the government.
It is worth noting that we are not doing this because the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD, needs publicity, the reputation of his excellent performance is already speaking for him.
We are however compelled by the need to provide independent copious documentary evidence, listing the many interventions and innovative governance provided by His Excellency, and of course, the need to silence the mouth of mischief makers with facts and figures.
Perhaps, we should state from the beginning that the performance of His Excellency is such that party or no party, the people are prepared to reward him with a second term to consolidate and reinforce the giant strides in people centric dividends of democracy he is providing across the State. It is safe to say that available data and comparative analysis show that Pastor Umo Eno, with his level of infrastructural, economic and human development does not need a political party for the 2027 election, it is a wise and organized political party that needs him. His teeming army of supporters, admirers, associates, and team members are sold out and totally committed to giving him another four years to solidify the Umo Eno philosophy of administration. Let us be clear, the Forum of Social Media Administrators and Influencers are rock solid behind every strategic political thinking of His Excellency.
The performance of Governor Umo Eno has given us the solid ground and firm shoulders on which to stand to report the superlative progress and inventive leadership in Akwa Ibom State. We make bold to itemise some of the laudable projects and programmes initiated and implemented by Governor Umo Eno using the key elements of the ARISE Agenda as guidestones:
Starting with the Agricultural Revolution, we observe that the government has launched the construction of the Ibom Model Farm in Nsit Ubium, modelled on the Songai Farm, and set to be replicated in other parts of the State. It has also established the ARISE Home Farmers Scheme, which provides beneficiaries with farm inputs, processing equipment, and capacity development. This administration has given about 4 billion in grants to farmers and entrepreneurs, including agripreneurs.
In the area of Rural Development, Governor Umo Eno has delivered 206 fully built ARISE Compassionate Homes to indigent citizens, with a target to build 400 of such well furnished modern residential quarters across the entire State. Over 500,000 households have benefitted from subsidized food under the Bulk Purchase Agency.
Across the 31 Local Government Areas, this administration has executed fully equipped people-centric projects, including Model Schools and Model Health Centres. It is pertinent to note that each of the projects was nominated by the community concerned. For the first time in the history of Akwa Ibom, every local government has a State government project ongoing or commissioned.
Several rural roads have been rehabilitated, with more earmarked or undergoing construction.
For Infrastructural Development and Maintenance, over 163 roads covering more than 700 kilometres are under construction or already commissioned. The State has become one giant construction site! In recognition of the potentials of the Blue Economy, the government is engaging vigorously in the development of the Ibom Deep Seaport and Industrial City project. The Solution Hub in Ibaka is undergoing construction, while the Oron Maritime Project with its proposed new terminals, jetties, ferries, warehouses, and recreational parks on completion will reinforce Akwa Ibom's status as a strategic marine commercial hub in the country.
In the Aviation subsector, Ibom Air was recently strengthened with two newly acquired Bombardier aircrafts. The new terminal of the Victor Attah International Airport is getting its finishing touches, while there is a massive push to complete the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for aircraft maintenance. A brand-new Aviation Village is under construction, while the 18-storey Ibom Towers in Lagos is also undergoing construction to improve internally generated revenue. The abandoned 5,000-capacity Ibom Conference Centre is being rebuilt and set to contribute to our State's status as a tourist haven. A state-of-the-art AKBC Broadcasting Complex and 200-bed Elderly Home are in various stages of construction. All these are value adding infrastructure projects. We have never had it so good.
Considering the security of lives and property, His Excellency understands that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of insecurity and restivenes. To buttress the seriousness he attaches to security, he has established the Ministry of Internal Security to oversee internal security and set up assets to complement national security infrastructure. He has also procured gunboats, patrol vehicles, and other support for security agencies. It is not by chance that Akwa Ibom State is rated as one of the safest in the country.
Educational advancement is a key component of the ARISE Agenda. Through the Model Primary School project, Governor Eno has communicated his vision for wholesome and impactful education.
The government is therefore building Model Primary Schools in all the Local Government Areas, one school at a time. He is funding free primary education, increasing student bursaries, and has endowed a 100 million naira fund to support persons with disabilities.
Distinguished members of the press, what we have listed above are just summaries. Today is not the day to talk about more than 400 million naira invested in the Ibom Led program or more than 750 million naira disbursed to youths through the ARISE portal. You can forgive us if we fail to mention the Town Square meetings and empowerment series to the ten federal constituencies with about 3 billion naira in business grants already disbursed. Do we need to mention the more than 10,000 entrepreneurial equipment given to more than 2000 beneficiaries?
Governor Umo Bassey Eno has redefined politics and leadership in Akwa Ibom State. Right from his first day in office, he instituted a policy to create peace, unity, inclusivity, and a people based government.
He is building strategic bridges of development across the country.
His approach to governance has given the Senate President His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio GCON, our former Governor and leader, the peace of mind to focus on drawing development and appointments to Akwa Ibom State.
His diplomatic, loyal and humble demeanor has endeared him to His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the progenitor of the Renewed Hope Agenda, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, resulting in more federal government project, appointments and investments including the Ibom Deep Seaport, ecological interventions, construction of section 3A and 3B of the Lagos - Calabar Coastal Highway, and rapid implementation of the Human Capital Development Strategic Roadmap amongst others.
Why would right thinking people not support such a leader?
Again as people of good conscience, justice and fairplay, we believe that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, therefore it is only fair that President Tinubu, a Southern President must be supported to complete his constitutionally allowed two terms in office.
Pastor Umo Eno has repeatedly openly spoken of his unconditional support for the re-election of President Tinubu and has also openly endorsed Obong Godswill Akpabio to be re-elected to complete a second term as the Senate President. Our Forum, the external forces of the social media community is therefore ready to support any decision the Governor thinks is the best strategy to actualize these noble objectives, which are all in the overall strategic interest of Akwa Ibom State.
Note that as a leader, he sees farther. As the incumbent Governor, he has more information and knows bumps to avoid as he navigates Akwa Ibom closer to the promised land.
We therefore state unequivocally that we are resolutely behind the Governor’s vision for a peaceful, united, educated, and prosperous State.
Let us put on record that, for a Governor who is leading with compassion, competence, experience, integrity, courage, and a well defined vision as encapsulated by the revolutionary ARISE Agenda, the real saboteurs and betrayers are those who are looking for excuses to oppose the leadership of Pastor Umo Eno. As recently confirmed by the Senate President, Pastor Umo Eno is a true Christian who does not know how to speak from both sides of his mouth. It is, therefore, a disservice to his integrity, humility, and transparency that his open endorsement of President Tinubu and Senate President Akpabio should draw flakes.
We would like to end this press briefing by asking us to reflect on three anonymous quotes;
"Loyalty, trust, and support—three things that make any relationship unbreakable."
"The greatest strength comes from knowing you have someone who believes in you."
"When you support others, you become a part of their success story."
There are only three persons in Nigeria who need our unflinching support and loyalty as we head into the political season, namely Governor Umo Eno, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and President Ahmed Tinubu. For Akwa Ibom people, they represent the success keys to the future we dream of. As an organisation, we restate our commitment to their success stories. We are therefore calling on all lovers of democracy and good governance, critical stakeholders, traditional institutions, Christian bodies, women, and youths to sincerely throw their weights behind the second term aspirations of these leaders.
Long live Forum of Social Media Administrators and Influencers !!
Long live Akwa Ibom State !!!
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria !!!!
