Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has cautioned indigenes against making or circulating narratives capable of creating division among the people of the state.
Eno gave the warning at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, after returning from Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, where he inspected the latest aircraft acquired by Ibom Air before its delivery.
The governor urged Akwa Ibomites to disregard claims capable of stirring ethnic or political sentiments, stressing the need for unity and collective commitment to the development of the state.
He said the administration’s “Akwa Ibom United” philosophy was reflected in the distribution of government projects, appointments and opportunities across the 31 local government areas.
“This state moves as one. Previous leaders had led the state as one. Since I came on board, I have deepened the Akwa Ibom United mantra, and we are operating as one all around,” Eno said.
The governor said the broad representation within his administration demonstrated its inclusive approach to governance, noting that key officials, including the deputy governor and chief delivery adviser, come from different senatorial districts and parts of the state.
Eno maintained that his administration had not allowed ethnic origin to determine how individuals were treated or the opportunities available to them.
He described attempts to portray Akwa Ibom as divided as distractions from the work of government.
“I don’t think I have ever defined anybody by where they come from. So, I ask Akwa Ibomites to ignore all of those things. There is nothing like division anywhere. People just want to distract government,” the governor declared.
He also urged political leaders, traditional rulers, community stakeholders and other opinion leaders to be mindful of statements and narratives capable of sowing discord among the people.
According to him, division could undermine the collective progress of the state and distract the government from its development agenda.
Eno called on citizens to sustain their cooperation and support for the administration, stressing that peace, mutual respect and unity remained essential to consolidating the achievements recorded by the state.
On his trip to Canada, the governor said the pre-delivery inspection of Ibom Air’s latest Airbus A220-300 was part of efforts to expand the state’s aviation capacity and establish an ecosystem capable of generating employment and stimulating economic activity.
Eno expressed satisfaction with the consistency of the administration’s investment in the airline, saying the latest acquisition brings the number of aircraft procured under his administration to five.
“This is the third aircraft we are getting from Airbus since we came in 2023, and we also got two CRJ 900, fully paid for. So, we have done five, and that shows consistency,” he said.
The governor disclosed that work was also progressing on an aviation village intended to provide accommodation for airline personnel, while the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility was nearing completion.
He said the completion and full operation of the aviation facilities would expand the economic benefits of the sector beyond air transportation through job creation and increased commercial activity.
“When this ecosystem begins to function at full capacity, you will appreciate the jobs it will create and, of course, the effect on our GDP as a state. That is when all these will begin to bring dividends, by the grace of God,” Eno stated.
The governor expressed optimism that the combined investments in Ibom Air and supporting aviation infrastructure would generate wider economic benefits for Akwa Ibom through direct and indirect employment, increased commercial activities and stronger contribution to the state’s economy.
