Monday June 9, 2025|
By AmanamHillary UMO-UDOFIA and Charles AKPAN
“In two years, since my inauguration as Governor, I have not worn a toga of a political party rather it has been my passionate commitment to pursuing the larger interest of our State and our people. The Arise Agenda, has been our Governance Blueprint, and that’s what it will be as we make this movement. I therefore, appeal to you my people to join me in this necessary movement to align our State with the Centre and to facilitate more development to our State”.
The above quote reverberated at the banquet hall on Friday June 6, 2025 marking a watershed moment in the political landscape of Akwa Ibom State and, indeed, Nigeria’s democratic trajectory following the decision by His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, to realign with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Finally, what was merely a rumour in the mouths of many ‘had come to pass’ following months of sustained consultations. Some pundits view it is merely a partisan maneuver made on the altar of political expediency; others see it as a visionary step, rooted in the enduring quest for unity, development, and strategic engagement with the centre for the good of Akwa Ibom people.
But as individuals privileged to serve closely with His Excellency as his Media Aides, and having watched with admiration his unwavering commitment to people-centered governance, grassroots empowerment, and a politics of peace and performance, such decision could only been deliberate, courageous, and deeply rooted in his unwavering commitment to the people of Akwa Ibom State.
This is because since assuming office, Governor Umo Eno has demonstrated that leadership is not about slogans or showmanship, it is about service, results, and sustainable transformation through “ARISE Agenda” which serves as his blueprint for rural development, human capital investment, infrastructural renewal, and economic inclusion.
However, in Nigeria’s highly centralized federal structure, interfacing effectively with the Federal Government remains indispensable for unlocking greater resources, partnerships, and influence. The move to the APC, which currently controls the government at the centre, is a calculated and courageous choice to position Akwa Ibom State to reap greater dividends of democracy.
Akwa Ibom State has, for decades, occupied a paradoxical position – rich in potential, yet underrepresented in the federal equation. Governor Eno’s decision to join the ruling party is guided by one goal: unlocking the doors of federal collaboration that have too often remained shut due to partisan divides.
With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s open-door policy and renewed drive for national inclusion, there has never been a better time for Akwa Ibom to secure its rightful place at the table. Governor Eno saw the opportunity and rightly seized it.
Chief among the projects that will benefit directly from this realignment is the long-anticipated Ibom Deep Seaport. This is not just a project but a legacy to bring to life one of the most viable deep-sea facility in West Africa, with the potential to transform Akwa Ibom into a major maritime and logistics hub.
For years, despite relentless efforts, the project languished on the edge of realization, caught in the web of federal inertia. Now, with Governor Eno firmly aligned with the centre, the path is clearer than ever.
Governor Eno’s transition should not be seen as a betrayal of party loyalty, but as a testament to his higher loyalty – to the people of Akwa Ibom. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gave him a platform, and history will remember that with gratitude. But the mission to build a more prosperous, peaceful, and competitive Akwa Ibom transcends party lines. This decision, painful as it may be for some, is anchored in the long-term interest of our state.
Already, this move is set to open up strategic channels for collaboration with federal institutions, attract more federal presence, and strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position in national discourse. In security, infrastructure, industrialization, and social services, the potential benefits are immense.
More importantly, Governor Eno’s politics of peace, humility, and inclusiveness will serve as a healing balm in the national political space, promoting reconciliation and bridging partisan divides.
To our dear citizens, this is not a time for division, it is a time for deeper reflection and unity. Let us judge leadership not by party tags, but by performance and integrity. Umo Eno has proven himself as a leader for all, not just a faction. His shift to the APC is an alignment of interest, not an abandonment of values.
As we move forward, it is incumbent on all Akwa Ibomites – home and abroad, to stand with the Governor in this new phase. Let us amplify his message of development without bitterness, politics without violence, and service without self-interest. In the end, the only party that truly matters is the Akwa Ibom interest.
* Umo-Udofia, PhD and Akpan are Media Aides to the Governor of Akwa Ibom
Governor Umo Eno’s Strategic Realignment: A Pathway To Greater Prosperity For Akwa Ibom State
