Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has promised to back his successor, Governor Umo Eno, to surpass his record in office.
The former governor also revealed that one of the secrets of his success as governor was the support he got from Christian fathers in the state, noting his happiness that they are extending the same support to his successor, a statement from his media office said yesterday.
At a New Year State service to usher in 2024 in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Emmanuel said, “I don’t have any doubt or fear, I still stand on what I said from Day One that you’ll do 200 times better than me in all ramifications and God will give you the enablement and capacity to make that happen.”
Dismissing concerns over the capacity of his successor, Emmanuel said, “When God sends you, he gives transportation money. He equips, he gives you the capacity, and he gives you everything to keep it up and running.”
He thanked the people of the state for supporting his successor and stressed the need to ensure unity in the state.
“I don’t have any doubt or fear, I still stand on what I said from Day One that you’ll do many times better than me in all ramifications and God will give you the enablement and capacity to make that happen.
“Let me thank the youth, women, elders, and all those who believed in us. I believe that as the Preacher today said, we need one mind, and we must be strengthened together. The governor alone can not do it.
“May God unite all of us together, strengthen us as a people to know that Akwa Ibom is beyond one man.”
He thanked the governor for inviting him to come and join in the celebration.
Relishing on the vision behind the worship center, Mr Emmanuel said he was moved by that fact that despite being named after God, the State had no befitting place of worship.
“Probably today, we would have been under the sun, but we now have a place that we can all gather, an altar where we can gather to worship God.”
“I remember in one of my commissioning, I made a statement that the birds have their nest in the air but we christians do not have a place to worship but today,we give God all the glory.
“Thank you, our Governor, for making this day a success.
“I want to use this opportunity to sincerely thank the Fathers of Faith. Once there is a king succeeding, watch the back, and you’ll see a priest.
“I really want to thank them. These are the priests that really backed me and are backing you up also.
“I can guarantee you that all of us will give you the support you need. “
“Once again, I stand here to give God all the glory for energizing and the sustainance of our beloved Governor , Our leader, that God has graciously given to us at a time like this. The same God that raised him up will sustain him no matter what happens. God does not send someone on an errand and forsake him”, Udom added.
In his remarks at the event, Governor Eno expressed delight over the array of attendees and venue of the event, which he described as, not just a Worship Centre but a tourist attraction, particularly expressing gratitude for having the immediate past governor and initiator of the Worship Centre project at the event.
The governor assured that he would ensure the maintenance of the facility as a valuable asset of the state and to maintain the spiritual component of the Worship Centre as an altar of the State, by daily prayers in the centre throughout the year.
He therefore announced the appointment of the Uyo Field Superintendent of the Apostolic Church, Pastor Ime George, as coordinator of the prayer roaster and Rev. Hilkiah Eliatha as Secretary, as well as a technical crew to maintain the facility
The event had in attendance clergymen across various denominations, government officials in the State and from the Federal Government, including the Minister of State for Petroleum, (Gas), ObongEmem Ekperikpe Ekpo, Senator Ita Enang and Commissioner of the NDDC from Akwa Ibom State, among others, as well as sociocultural groups and people from all walks of life, who jointly offered praises, worship and prayers for the state, country and leaders at various levels of governance.
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