A frontline governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State in last elections, Senator Ita Enang has applauded Governor Umo Eno over his unprecedented political inclusiveness in the first almost 40 days in office.
The APC chieftain registered his gratitude when he led a delegation from the recently approved Federal College of Education, Ididep, Ibiono Ibom (FCEI), on a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Uyo, the state capital.
Enang, who represented Akwa Ibom North East district in the eighth National Assembly and served as Senior Special Assistant in two capacities in the APC administration of the then President Muhammadu Buhari, specifically commended the governor over his visit to President Bola Tinubu and for his reception of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, saying that the gesture has underscored his political inclusion drive and has distinguished him as one who means well for the state.
Enang assured that the Federal Government is ready to kickstart the FCEI in September and admit successful candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for the session.
He promised to reciprocate the gesture by projecting the state to the central government to attract more development projects, and promised to present the governor with the full brief of the status of Calabar-Itu Road project to clarify on lingering issues affecting the completion of the remaining part of the road project.
Enang congratulated Eno on his swearing in as governor and thanked him for the warm reception granted him and his team despite their different political affiliation.
In his remark, the governor expressed the readiness of his administration to collaborate with the indigenes of the state in positions of authority to attract development down home to grow the state economy, enhance job opportunities, and add impetus to the ARISE Agenda of his administration.
He stated that politics should be devoid of partisanship and bitterness, but geared towards engendering socioeconomic benefits for the constituents.
The governor appreciated Enang’s efforts in securing the establishment of FCEI in the state, maintaining that the gesture would be of enormous benefits to the people in terms of education, job creation and other socio economic advantages, given the value chain that comes with it.
According to him, “we commend you this afternoon for coming to see us and to deliver the letter from the Federal Ministry of Education, informing us of the approval and establishment of the Federal College of Education in ldidep, Ibiono Local Government Area.
“I thank distinguished Senator Ita Enang for succeeding to bring something back home for his people. I have followed all the attempts you have made and all your struggles. I am happy that the first project is going to your home Ididep. It is a development to our people. It means more education and more job creation and more development to our people.
“To me, this is what it should be that our sons and daughters, wherever God has placed them should work in synergy to make sure that our people have the dividends of democracy.
“It is about us working together, State and Federal. We are not too many. So if God places anybody anywhere, we need to support such people to help develop our people because God in His infinite mercy didn’t make a mistake by putting some of us at strategic places .
“I am happy at this collaboration this afternoon because it is one of the things we have actually been talking about. We can work together irrespective of wherever we are, across party lines and when it is time for politicking, we can do politics without bitterness.
“For me, politics is about idea and views for development. So that’s why I am really happy to host our brothers this afternoon and to thank him most sincerely for doing his best by using the privilege and position God has given him to bring something back home.
“The Ididep community and its neighbouring communities would never be the same again. You will see the economic activities that will spring up because of the presence of this school. For me, I look at the economic benefits of all of these things; what we gain is our balance return in our investment and it is very numerous. So we welcome you and I would like to assure you that we will do whatsoever we can to give you the support”, he stated.
Receiving the document conferring the establishment of the school , Eno thanked the delegation for the visit and requested for more collaborations for possible expansion of the institution.
Enang was accompanied on the visit by an APC leader, Otu Ita Toyo; Chaplain of National Christian Centre, Rev. Ini Ukpuhu; Provost of the Federal College of Education, Dr. Edem Ntuk; and Registrar of the college, Mr. Nsemeke Udoakpan, among others.
