Why Udom hosts ex-Akwa Ibom govs — Commissioner

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Charles Udoh, has explained why Governor Udom Emmanuel hosted ex-governors and their deputies in the state.

He said the meeting was to share experiences with them for the development of the state.

Speaking yesterday in Uyo, the commissioner said the gesture signified Governor Emmanuel’s victory for his sincerity and steadfastness in providing a meeting point for all stakeholders to share in the task of repositioning the state for greater days. 

Those who attended the recent meeting included the second democratically elected governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah; his deputies, Obong Chris Ekpenyong and Sir Michael Udofia and the immediate past deputy governor, Noble Lady Valerie Obot, as well as the first elected deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Sir Etim Okpoyo. 

The commissioner said for Obong Victor Attah, it was a return to government house publicly for the first time, 10 years after he left office.

Daily Trust reports that Governor Emmanuel told his guests that he came to power with a five point agenda of which economic and political inclusion stood out.

According to Udoh, two years into his tenure of four years, the governor had redefined leadership by opening the doors to the government house for all Akwa Ibom people, irrespective of political affiliations. 

“This, to me, is a study in politics without bitterness, politics of sportsmanship, politics of no winner no vanquished and it shows where the interest of the people formed the fulcrum of leadership,” he said. 

He said Governor Emmanuel had earlier played host to Engr. Ben Ukpong, the former deputy governorship candidate of the APC in the state who is now a commissioner in the National Population Commission.

He said the recent meetings may not come as a surprise to many, as that was noticed during the visit of Mr Umana Okon Umana, his former opponent and governorship candidate of the APC in the 2015 general elections.