By Abba – Eku Onyekachi
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has Saturday, promised to continue keep party politics apart and work for the peace, unity and development of Akwa Ibom state and by extension Nigeria in general.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Jackson Udom, quoted Akpabio made the promise while speaking at the thanksgiving mass held in honour of Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, at Our Lady of Mercy Chaplaincy, in Abak Local Government Area of the state.
“I am not interested in any kind of war. I am more interested in bringing development to the state. If there should be any competition amongst us, let it be in the overall interest of our people, like competing for development and life changing projects for our people.
“If the governor is bringing a project to street or road A, as the president of the senate, I should be seen working on bringing water or electricity to street or road B. That is the kind of competition I want to see and not unnecessary bickering that brings no good to our people,” he stated.
Lauding Hon Ekpo for thanking God after his nomination and swearing-in as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and member of the Federal Executive Council, he noted: “We are who and what we are today because God made it possible. It is therefore, imperative that we thanks God always. I thank you for remembering God who made it possible for you to be who and what you are today.
“Let me also use this opportunity to once again, thank President Bola Tinubu for supporting an Akwa Ibom son to occupy the number 3 position in the country. It has never happened since the creation of our dear state.”
Speaking at the mass, Governor Umo Eno enjoined Akwa Ibom people to unite behind any indigene of the state in any position of authority for the benefit of the state. He also stated his government’s readiness to put the state first without any political or religious considerations.
Earlier in his speech, the Minister said his introduction to President Bola Tinubu by Akpabio, as the ministerial nominee from the state looked like a joke to him.
He said: “When I was formally introduced to President Tinubu by the Senate President for this ministerial appointment, it looked like a joke to me. Subsequently my name was announced as a nominee and when I appeared before the Senate, I was told to take a bow. Today, I am a Minister of the Federal Republic.”
Speaking further, Ekpo said he was in God’s presence to return all thanks to God for using President Tinubu and Senator Akpabio to make his appointment possible.
“We are here today l to God for making today possible. We also thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Godswill Akpabio, for the appointment, Ekpo stated, even as he pledged to do his best for the state, its citizens and Nigeria as a whole, to ensure that Nigeria reaps from its enormous gas resources for the country’s development.
