By Emmanuel Uffot
The electoral fortunes of Pastor Umo Eno, the Gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has further brightened with his endorsement by a prominent socio- political group, National Value Intact/ Dynamic Mothers Initiative.
The endorsement took place over the weekend in Uyo during the formal Inauguration ceremony of the state, chapter and ward executives of the group.
At the event which attracted over 2000 members, the National President and promoter of the National Value Intact/ Dynamic Mothers Initiative Pastor Stella Umo, said the decision to formally endorse the candidacy of Pastor Eno, the PDP governorship candidate after long sensitisation of people for him in the past six months, stem from the vision she had years ago which pointed to the fact the entrepreneurial guru will become the next governor of Akwa Ibom in 2023.
Reiterating that her decision to rout for Pastor Eno equally emanates from his humble background which he weathered the storm of coming from a poor background and fatherless in a tender age to become an international entrepreneur and highest employer of labour in Akwa Ibom State after government.
According to her, it was her conviction that being a Pastor, he will rule with the fear of God and sustain the prevalent peace enjoyed in the state.
She said with current strength of the group which include market women, women mobilisers in the 31 local government areas in the state, youths and opinion molders and grassroot politicians who are all rearing to go and mobilise the people in the rural and urban areas to actively participate in next year election with the primary mandate to vote the PDP gubernatorial candidate, there is no doubt that the group will contribute significantly to the election of Pastor Eno as the next governor of the state.
Earlier in his remark, a clergy and patron of the group Pastor Ekerete Isong who chaired the occasion, commended the promoter of the group Stella Imoh for her foresight and commitment to bring together the calibre of people for a cause she believes in which is borne out of vision. He said what Stella Imoh has embarked upon is a fruit of over eight years vision, noting that what one sows today is what will be reap tomorrow.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Welfare Dr Ini Adiakpan who also graced the occasion commended her for her selfless efforts and her group to further the course of the PDP governorship candidate and advised them to remain focus till the goal of Umo Eno winning next year election to become governor is realise.
Dr Adiakpan promise her support to tge group which she noted is populated by highly placed people and industrious youths and women. For her, the credibility of the group has already endeared her to the group.
At the event, executives to pilot the affairs of the group in the state, local government areas and wards across the state were sworn in.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of awards to distinguished persons in the state. Prominent among the awardees most of whom were unavoidably absent due to the tight schedule of the ongoing activities marking the 35th anniversary of the creation of the state were Pastor Umo Eno, the PDP Gubernatorial candidate, his wife Pastor Patience Umo Eno, the deputy governorship candidate of PDP Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare Dr Ini Adiakpan, her counterpart in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Hon Frank Archibong and Barrister Assam Assam ( SAN).
Others were Dr Glory Edet, former Commissioner of Women Affairs and later Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, now PDP candidate Ikono/ Ini Federal Constituency, Pastor Ekerete Isong, District Pastor Apostolic Church, Hon Akaniyene Ikott, Chairman Eket Local Government Council, Obong Paul Ekpo, former State Chairman PDP, now candidate Etinan Federal Constituency, Hon Grace Ebito, Vice Chairman Oron LGA and Ben Udobia, Political Leader of Esit Eket LGA. Also given the award for her commitment to service was the promoter of the group Pastor Stella Imoh herself.
It could be recalled that during the last concluded voters registration exercise, the promoter of National Value Intact/ Dynamics Mothers Initiative had embarked on a sensitisation of people especially market women across some local governments to go out and register so they can vote for their endorsed candidate.
According to her she did this patriotic service with her resources bearing in mind the qualities and pedigree of the PDP candidate which she is convinced will consolidate on the good works of the incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel.
We gathered that her sensitisation Initiative, took her to many major markets where she harped on the need for the disillusioned ones among the market women and the widows to register as there was hope.
Beyond her politically driven nature, she is also a philanthropist who has touched many lives ranging from widows, market women and youths.
For instance, she said during the Covid_19 lockdown, she embarked on the distribution of essential food stuffs to people around her on a daily basis at huge cost.
Apart from that, she said many students, widows and young girls are beneficiaries of her philanthropic gestures.
Like she noted about, the PDP candidate, Imoh said coming from a poor background motivated her to be lending a helping hand to the needy with her little resources, and given the fact that Pastor Eno share the same story, knowing what a poor background means, he will do same to the people hence her interest and commitment to support him whole heartedly.
As the campaign is set to kick off, Stella Imoh says her Pro- Umo Eno group which has been registered in PDP both in the state and national is fully rooted on ground in all the local governments, units and wards with the coordinators in place to do the needful.
Before the Inauguration of the state executives, local government and ward executives, the National President according to her had gone round the local governments In the state to inaugurate the group. Which has market women and widows populating the Dynamic Mothers Initiative, an arm of the group which she says draws not less than 5000 members in each local government.
Similarly, she said prior to last weekend Inauguration of State exco and LGA, Units and Wards Inauguration, she had gone on a ward to ward sensitisation tour, urging members and others to keep faith with the group’s cause and remain focus to avoid been ensnared to go astray.
The endorsement of the PDP governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State by Stella’s group is one of those major endorsement he has received recently. Barely a week ago, Barrister Onofiok Luke, former governorship aspirants in the primaries that Eno emerged as the flagbearer and Member Representing Etinan Federal Constituency, had endorsed him urging his teaming supporters to vote for the governorship candidate during the forthcoming governorship election.
These endorsement from credible fronts like Luke, a grassroot politician with huge followers and National Value Intact/ Dynamic Mothers Initiative piloted by a resolute grassroot political mobiliser of repute, is seen by political pundits as a good omen for Eno’s quest to occupy the Hilltop Mansion next year.
