Gov Eno Restates Commitment To Lead With The Fear Of God
... Receives Seventh-day Adventist Church Leader
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has restated his unwavering commitment to leading the state with the fear of God as a true and loyal servant, acknowledging that he would render account of his stewardship.
Governor Eno was exchanging views with the World President General, Council of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Pastor Ted N.C. Wilson, who was on a courtesy visit at Government House, Uyo, on Wednesday.
Receiving the delegation, the Governor expressed appreciation to the clergy and his entourage for the visit, acknowledging that the State is blessed to receive such a high-ranking church leader within his five months in the saddle as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
“Together, we receive in audience the President of the World Council of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and on behalf of the government and good people of Akwa Ibom State, we thank you for visiting us at this time. We are just about five months in office, so your visit is significant to us as a world leader. We cannot take it for granted,” he stated.
Affirming his calling as a Pastor and the Governor of a God-centric state, Pastor Eno encouraged the delegation to maintain their spiritual stance with God and grow from being just religious people to true Christians by replicating the life of Christ on earth, noting that, as a pastor, he was conscious of his spiritual stance with God the day he swore the oath of Office as governor, knowing that he will one day stand before his creator to give an account of his stewardship.
“I know in my heart that I will stand before God and answer the oath of office I took. I am not perfect, and I cannot claim to be perfect. That is the whole idea I bring into governance because, for me, Christianity is not just about the name of the Church. It is about your life, who you are, and what you do,” he noted.
The Governor expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the entire Christian community in the State for their unwavering support during his electioneering campaigns and the votes that made his victory possible.
“We would like to thank you and the Seventh-day Adventist Church because, again, you are part of the Christian body that rose and spoke out for my candidature and chose one of your own to become a governor.
“Yes, it may not have been possible for you to go out and campaign because pastors may not play politics on the pulpit, but people watch their body language, understand what and who they stand for, and follow suit”, he stated.
Governor Eno wished the August visitors a happy stay in the State, assuring them of comfort and safety throughout their stay for the centenary celebration.
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Earlier, the cleric, Pastor Ted Wilson, who was accompanied by his wife, Nancy, and the church delegation from the Eastern region of Nigeria, said he was in Government House to notify and invite the Governor to the upcoming centenary celebration of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, holding on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium and the Four Points by Sheraton Hotels, Ikot Ekpene.
He said the church has over 22 million baptised members and has spread across over 212 countries of the world and enumerated the growth and positive impact the church has contributed to humanity and the world at large, describing the Seventh-day Adventist Church as comprising of people whose doctrine emulates the exemplary life of Jesus Christ, having impacted the physical, mental, social, and spiritual lives of the people through the establishment of higher institutions such as Babcock University, secondary schools, and the provision of other humanitarian services to people of diverse religious backgrounds across the globe.
He particularly acknowledged the serenity of the State, commending the aesthetics of the State Exco Chamber and expressed delight to the Governor for his humility, warm reception, and exemplary leadership qualities, which has proven his spiritual calling as a pastor, a title of which he also proudly shares, and thanked the people of the State for the display of religious tolerance and freedom of worship, which is the bedrock of the peace experienced in the state.
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of a memento by Governor Umo Eno to the Seventh-day Adventist Church leader, Pastor Ted Wilson, who also conveyed his blessings to the Governor, and, by extension, the people of the State.
