REAL HEROES OF VICTORIES

The Evangelist News Edition, April 19, 2023. By Ima Nkanta

As Pastor Umo Eno and Senator Dr. Akon Eyakenyi receive their certificates of return from INEC today, the heavens truly deserve thunderous shouts of acclamations for the outstanding help granted the duo throughout their travails that greeted them as they leaped over the various stages outlined by the electoral act to resounding victory.

For Pastor Umo Eno, God has endowed him with sufficient grace to endure the myriads of insults, attacks and mindless vituperations by hirelings of the opposition elements. They heaped piles of opprobium on him as a sworn foe. But as human, a time came he thought, “Oh God, is this really what I have been prepared ahead to face?” No answer came to him as heavens kept mute because grace was already released for strength against the numerous arrows that were hauled at him; just because he blazed the trail of moving from the pulpit to the podium to serve Akwa Ibomites.

As we celebrate, we must remember that there are unsung heroes – the real heroes of the epochal victories of Pastor Umo Eno. These heroes are Governor Udom Emmanuel and his dear wife, Dr. Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel. This couple put down their lives, staked their reputation and resources for the victories we celebrate today to happen.

How? What if after God impressed Pastor Umo Eno on the heart of Governor Udom Emmanuel as his successor and he declined? What if the governor’s wife had disuaded the husband against the choice of Pastor Umo Eno due to the quantum of litigations? Recall that Udom Emmanuel has come under a heavy battery of attacks not known before in the history of Nigeria’s democracy. No sitting governor has ever been so abused with glee.

We saw how the governor’s friends abandoned him. Those who wined and dined with him; some even swore to die for him, yet turned behind to betray him and went to town with all sorts of deodorizing lies against him. They made unimaginable jests of him and spat on his face. They swore “he will leave the government house in shame and reproach.” They mocked him as the iPad prophet. They ganged up against him and swore the choice of Pastor Umo Eno was dead on arrival.

To back up their determination to frustrate Governor Udom Emmanuel, they busied themselves with litanies of court cases and boasted to high heavens of a truck load of evidence in their possession that they will deploy to throw Pastor Umo Eno out of the race.

Those who cannot stand up to look at Pastor Umo Eno’s overnight became celebrated social media influencers by spewing up mires at the person of Pastor Umo Eno and Governor Udom Emmanuel. Some went to the extent to manufacturing lies that, “Ha, Udom Emmanuel is regretting his choice successor; he’s looking for immediate replacement.” They bought front pages of local tabloids and swashed the streets with their fake news, such that the lily-livered were extremely afraid and began to doubt the governor’s succession plan.

I recall how many men of God themselves expressed doubts over the victories of Pastor Umo Eno. Many came to my office to avail me with several revelations and prophecies they purportedly had about how the enemies have truncated the succession plan and how terrible the shame will rub on those of us who staked our necks and faith in the project – all in an attempt to kill our faith but we stood still.

How frightening they described their filthy dreams and prophecies. But thank God for Nehemiah who said, ‘How can a man like me run and hide in the altar because of lies the enemies were orchestrating.’

My resolve was akin to the Nehemiah’s; I refused to bend because I knew the God of Pastor Umo Eno would not fail. But today, I’m applauding Governor Udom Emmanuel and wife for their firmness, faith and commitment to their vision of Pastor Umo Eno as successor.

Yes, Udom Emmanuel and the wife deserve a lot of applause. They are the real heroes of these victories. If the enemies succeeded at wounding their heart to succumb to blackmails, today’s celebration would have been stolen away. Thank God Gov. Udom Emmanuel stood firm to his conviction. He never swerved to the right or left in all the troubles the detractors instigated. They are my real heroes of victories.

I recall during the Campaigns how Martha Udom Emmanuel bestrided the entire LGAs of Akwa Ibom State to promote the cause she believed in. In one of those campaigns, I observed from a distance how tired this godly woman was, yet she never showed any signs of weariness. Her faith in God and the succession plan kept her going. She was focused despite the cacophonous rows that the opposition elements instigated.

She’s really a woman of strength; a model of determination, faith and pursuit of a cause one believes in. She’s the real heroine of faith. I salute this great woman! I salute Governor Udom Emmanuel; Your Excellency you’re the real hero. Your faith, your confidence, your forthrightness and tenaciousness have brought unbelievable victories to Akwa Ibom State.