2023 Guber: Why We adopted Eno, Eyakenyi – Akwa Ibom Students
By The Evangelist edition
October 14, 2022
Akwa Ibom state students, mostly drawn from Oron extraction, have given reasons why they adopted Pastor Umo Eno, and his running mate, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as their candidates ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.
The students under the aegis of Oro Confederated Students’ Forum (OCSF) during the official adoption of the candidates, Thursday, in Oron Local Government area, noted that their reasons stem from the pedigree and track records both candidates possessed for public service.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Comrade Samuel Duncan, described Eno as a student-friendly person, a trusted and reliable friend of the Oron people, noting that Senator Eyakenyi also remains the right choice because of her excellent performance and selfless service to the people.
According to him, “We choose to support you (Pastor Umo Eno) because of your pedigree of succeeding at whatever you put your hand to do and because of the life-changing programmes enunciated in your Policy Document- The Arise Project, especially concerning the education sector and teaching our young people the practice of enterprise.
“Your policy on entrepreneurial development is dear to us as it is hard to find white-collar jobs these days.”
Duncan, who is the convener of the group, expressed optimism that with the former Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, infrastructural development, entrepreneurship, and human capacity development will witness an upsurge in the state.
The convener appealed to Eno to ensure regular payment of students’ bursaries award of scholarships to students in special areas of study, as well as the upgrade of Maritime University of Nigeria, Oron, to a full-fledged university when he assumes office next year.
He thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel and stakeholders in the state for the choice of Senator Akon Eyakenyi as running mate, assuring that “she will serve diligently, devotedly and with utmost loyalty.”
Responding, Eno vowed to run a student-friendly administration when voted into office, adding that he will critically work to sustain and improve upon the level of development in the education sector.
The gubernatorial candidate also promised to support students in the state with business loans that will enable them to become economically viable in society.
“We will develop entrepreneurship and we will use the students. The billionaires traveling to Europe and Japan are not bigger than those of you here. All you need is to be empowered to do so. We will empower our young people to rise to greatness.
“We will empower people to stand on their own, support small and medium enterprises and give loans to young students who are prepared to take their destinies into their hands. My administration will be student-friendly administration.
“We will listen and work with the student community. As a father and grandfather, I know the value of education and I can assure you that I will do everything within my power to ensure you go to school with ease. That is the best I cannot assure you”, he noted.
On her part, Eyakenyi promised to champion the interest of the students as she called on them to remain steadfast with the PDP while shunning acts capable of ruining their future.
She congratulated the newly inaugurated leader of the group and urged them to carry all members along in the scheme of things.
