Eno pledges respect for predecessor Udom Emmanuel, past A’Ibom leaders

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has declared that he will never disrespect his immediate predecessor, Udom Emmanuel or any past governor and leader in the state.

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Eno stated this on Saturday during the second memorial service in honour of his late wife and First Lady, Patience, which was held at All Nations Christian Ministry International, in Eket Local Government Area of the state.

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The governor noted that his upbringing is rooted in respect, and such a value will eternally remain with him.

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He stated this while reacting to misinterpretations trailing his response to a request by the Paramount Ruler of Onna LGA during the commissioning of a 14km road in the area.

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According to him, the monarch had appealed for intervention in some moribund industries in the LG, including the syringe factory and flour mill.

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Clarifying his Ibibio response, Governor Eno said the word “Unadot” simply means “people” and is not derogatory.

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He said, “Since he spoke in Ibibio, I responded in Ibibio, that if they have a problem, let them tell us through the Commissioner for Special Duties, who is an indigene there.”

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He stressed that his statement had nothing to do with his predecessor, noting that government has no shares in the factories and cannot jump into private businesses without invitation.

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“I never, standing on this altar of God where I have preached for over 20 years, mentioned or had Udom Emmanuel in mind. It didn’t even connect to him because he is not a shareholder in that business,” Eno said.

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“In the Efik Hymn Book, Hymn No. 246, the last stanza has ‘unadod,’ and if this was derogatory, I don’t know how it would have found itself in the songbook. It is an Ibibio word that means ‘the people.’ I was simply referring to the people who own the businesses.

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“Let me say this for the last time: I will never have a problem with my predecessor. I have shown, both privately and publicly, the respect I have for Deacon Udom Emmanuel. I will never disrespect him or any past leader in this state,” he added.

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The governor paid tribute to his late wife, describing her as a woman whose life was woven into the fabric of their family and whose legacy will endure forever.

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“There are some people whose lives cannot be adequately measured by the number of years they have spent with us. Their presence becomes woven into the fabric of our families. My beloved wife, Kemi, and mother of our children was such a woman,” he said.

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He recalled their 40-year union as one built on companionship, love and faith, and commended his daughter, Helen Eno-Obareki, for authoring a book in honour of her mother titled “The Patience to Build: Lessons from my Mother.”

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Patience’s death was announced by the state Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong.n

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She died at a hospital on September 26, 2024, surrounded by family members.

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