Continuous Maintenance Of Peace Is A Task That Must Be Done – Gov. Umo Eno
...Warns Against Indiscriminate Press Statements By Officials
The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has charged citizens and government officials to always work towards maintaining the prevailing peace and unity in the state.
He also tasked government officials to maintain decorum by discharging their responsibilities devoid of chaos and actions that could be inimical to the peace and harmony in the state. He, therefore, prohibited indiscriminate issuance of press statements by State Government officials other than by the Commissioner for Information and the Chief Press Secretary, except by express permission of the Secretary to the State Government.
Governor Eno gave the charge during a Sunday worship service at the Uyo Archdiocesan Headquarters of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Itiam Etoi, Uyo, on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
He clarified ahead of the constitution of the new Executive Council that he is not building a war cabinet but a delivery team to interpret the ARISE Agenda and further build bridges across the various fabrics of the state.
He urged all appointees to emulate the disposition of Joseph as a member of the Egyptian cabinet, imbibe a forgiving spirit, and work towards the development of the state.
“No appointee of government has a right to issue a press statement without clearance from the office of the Secretary to Government. There are only two people who have the right to issue press statements on behalf of the Government of Akwa Ibom State: the Commissioner for Information and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor; nobody else, please.
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“Let us allow the decency and the decorum in this state to continue and to grow. We can work together and continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. We are called to deliver on the promises of the ARISE Agenda. We are all enjoying the peace we have in this state; let’s do all we can to maintain it.”
He commended the Church for its organisation and the homilist’s admonition for peace and harmony and reassured everyone of his commitment to supporting the Christian community.
The Methodist Archbishop of Uyo, Most Rev. John Ene Koko-Bassey, speaking on “Forgiveness,” culled from the Bible book of Genesis 45:3-5, referred to the story of Joseph’s encounter with his brothers who sold him into captivity in Egypt and urged Christians to emulate Joseph’s disposition in the face of offences and cultivate the virtue of forgiveness.
Situating his message to the happenings in the state, the archbishop acknowledged the godly and forgiving disposition of Pastor Umo Eno as he admonished Christians, politicians and the entire people of the state to see his reign as God sent to unite the state.
The cleric urged the people to emulate the governor’s disposition by joining him to unite the state and the Christian community, adding that unforgiveness is a devil’s tool for propagating bitterness, divisiveness and a hindrance to progress.
