The Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday November 8, 2022, flagged off its Governorship campaign for the 2023 gubernatorial elections.
At the event held at the 30,000 capacity Nest of Champions, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the PDP flagbearer for the Governorship election, Pastor Umo Eno, declared that he will fly on a sustained altitude of accelerated development and progress across diverse sectors to enable the state reach a golden status.
The PDP Governorship flagbearer who made the vow while addressing hundreds of thousands of Akwa Ibom people at the Nest of Champions shortly after receiving the flag of the party, maintained that as contained in the well-laid out document of his social contract with Akwa Ibom people called the “Arise Agenda”, his administration will vigorously pursue programmes of jobs creation through the attraction of more Foreign Direct Investments, agricultural revolution and educational advancement, industrialisation, infrastructural maintenance and expansion and security management, among others.
Pastor Eno, who also revealed to Akwa Ibom people that he has already undertaken an expansive and thorough study and analysis of the development trajectory of the State under Governor Udom Emmanuel for the past seven years, said he hopes to build a solid structure of good governance on the already impressive legacies that Governor Emmanuel will be leaving behind in 2023.
In his speech titled ‘My Contract with Akwa Ibom People’, the Nsit Ubium-born successful entrepreneur noted that he is in a pact with the people to meet their collective aspirations, be a solution to challenges and work towards actualising the much-desired future of Akwa Ibom, while re-emphasizing his resolve to campaign strictly on issues.
“I want to assure you that the future you desire for yourselves, and your children is the future I am totally committed to working to make real. I know I can count on you to collectively make this future a reality.
“After I had won the nomination to be our flag bearer at next year’s gubernatorial elections, I made a solemn pledge to run an issue-based campaign that would be devoid of mudslinging, or the resort to vile and incendiary rhetoric, where people’s character and integrity would be mindlessly attacked. I pledged to run a campaign where propaganda and blackmail would have no space on our Victory Train”, he said.
On his part, incumbent Governor Emmanuel gave the gubernatorial candidate a thumbs up for what he described as an excellent and realisable blueprint and pointed out that the 2023 elections are not about the candidates contesting, but about the destiny of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.
Udom used the opportunity to debunk news of his resignation as Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, saying that the task of rescuing Nigeria is mandatory on PDP and that he remains the chairman of the Campaign Council and committed to the party’s cause as a true faithful of PDP.
Earlier before presenting the party’s flag to the gubernatorial candidate, the State Chairman of PDP, Rt. Hon. Elder Aniekan Akpan, pointed out that as the only preferred party of the people in the state since 1999, Akwa Ibomites are eager and ready to return PDP in 2023, adding that Eno is a fine product of the party that will not disappoint.
“It has always been PDP in Akwa Ibom since 1999 and it is going to be PDP again in 2023. PDP has produced quality leaders that have served Akwa Ibom well and meritoriously.
“Today, as I present this flag as a symbol of victory, we have affirmed that Pastor Umo Eno will be the next governor of Akwa Ibom State,” he stressed.
