Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and his Wife, Martha, posing with the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Mr. Umo Eno and his wife, Patience, during the thanksgiving Service of Pastor Umo Eno on Saturday 25th September.
By Abasifreke Effiong
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has dispelled rumours that his Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno, lobbied for appointment into the State Executive Council while serving as Secretary of Akwa Ibom Christian Assembly, ACA.
Mr. Emmanuel said he appointed Pastor Umo Eno, because of his capacity and an impressive presentation he made during a retreat of the Exco in 2015.
“Let me dispel all kinds of thing people say, Pastor Umo Eno has never lobbied for any office ever in this life.”
“I hardly score people very high but this one man, we invited him only ones to our retreat – and all Exco members will give you exactly the same report – he impressed everybody at that retreat the way he made his presentation. We told him to help us handle agric investments.”
“Absolutely he never called me that he wanted anything in this life. So please let people not say so because that is not correct”, Mr. Emmanuel emphasised.
The Governor made the assertion at Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium local government area, at the 35th marriage anniversary thanksgiving service of Pastor Umo Eno.
Pastor Umo Eno, his wife, Patience, with members of their family during the thanksgiving service.
He said Pastor Umo Eno has capacity and loves his people that is why God has chosen to reward him.
“I want to thank God for his life, he is somebody who has capacity, who loves his people. God looks at the heart to reward people and I’m sure God looking into his heart and seeing the sincerity of his heart and his love for people, God has decided to make him serve his people right now. And I think that is the way it works.”
READ : Osinbajo flag-off 557 low density luxury estate in Akwa Ibom
The thanksgiving service was also to commemorate the one year memorial of the Commissioner’s mother, Late Deaconess Eka Eno as well as celebrate the appointment of Pastor Umo Eno, as Commissioner.
Governor Emmanuel while congratulating Pastor Umo Eno and his Wife, Mrs. Patience Eno on their 35th marriage anniversary also commiserate with the family over the loss of their mum last year.
“The attachment of sons to their mothers is a mystery you cannot explain. I understand the emotions in your heart about your mother, especially that she was not ill at all, but departed within few hours. It could be so painful, so traumatic and she was still very strong, very agile and very useful to you especially in the place of prayers. I now know the sentiment you share in remembering her”, the Governor said.
Pastor Umo Eno and his wife, Patience, cutting a cake at a thanksgiving service to mark their 35th anniversary of marriage.
Pastor Umo Eno thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for giving him the privilege to serve in public service and promised to use his office to serve the State.
“Thank you my Governor for giving me the space to learn in your cabinet. Thank you for the privilege to learn about public service, my career path never went along that line but by your appointment you changed my career path. Thank you giving me the opportunity to serve Akwa Ibom people. I see this appointment as opportunity to give my all in service to my people.”
The Commissioner said his family decided to thank God in memory of his mother Late Deaconess Eka Eno because of the great roles she played in raising him.
“My mother meant a lot to us. Our father left us at a very tender age, my mother took up the roles of a father and mother. She made the best our of us.”
Pastor Eno said his 35th marriage anniversary with his wife is a milestone for his family and thank God for sustaining his marriage.
The wife of the Commissioner, Mrs. Patience Umo Eno, said her marriage is still strong after 35 years.
“35 years is not a joke. We are still strong together. God has blessed me with children. He has blessed me grandchildren, He has blessed me with sons in-law. He has blessed me with daughters in-law. In this marriage God has shown us mercy, His mercy has sustained us”, Mrs. Eno said.
Pastor Umo Eno and his wife are blessed with six children and eight grandchildren.
The thanksgiving service received messages of goodwill from the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Adeyinka Asekun, former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, the Inspector General of Police, the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Chairman Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs, All Nations Christian Ministry Int’l, Christian Association of Nigeria, among others.
