•PHOTO: Governor Eno (L) and Senate President Akpabio at state banquet in Uyo last night.
ANIETIE USEN, Uyo reporting
Last night there was a state banquet in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State.
The event was held in honour of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, courtesy the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
Recall that the two belong to different political parties. While Akpabio is APC, Eno is PDP.
The Frontier reports that the governor used the occasion to inform his predecessor of some things about the state. The Senate President listened, digested it and responded promptly.
Below is the chit chat between the two sons of Akwa Ibom State:
Governor Umo Eno to SP Akpabio
Your Excellency, I wish we had a thermometer to test the temperature of Akwa Ibom tonight. You will understand that everyone is happy because you have come home to see your people, and that we can receive you again in this banquet hall, and this facility that God used your hand to build many, many years ago.
We want to thank you for your decision to come for this courtesy visit; we have just held this banquet in your honor. It is a tremendous privilege for me as a person to have the honour to host the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Your Excellency, I had some requests while we were in my office, and I want to please make it public, they’re just three.
•Your Excellency, the first thing I want to request is that you please help the federal government to partner with Akwa Ibom State on the Ibom Deep Seaport. Don’t bother about roads in this state; we will do the roads for you.
I know you can always walk into the office of the President. No state can develop the Deep Seaport. If we miss it now, we don’t know when next God will smile on us. Let it be to your credit that when you were the Senate President, we got the Deep Seaport. We are prepared to work with you in that area.
•Your Excellency, the second request is that Akwa Ibom is blessed with oil palm; it is one of the biggest; naturally, it just grows. We want to partner with the federal government to develop our oil palm plantation and to have an industrial oil mill in this state. I know this is the kind of thing that will also bring employment and will benefit our people.
•Finally, Your Excellency, we would like to pay a THANK YOU VISIT to Mr. President across party lines. We would like to go thank him for standing by you and supporting you. We would like to go as a state to show that appreciation, and we know you can make that happen.
Your Excellency, please, at your very earliest convenience, you can help us put this together so that we can go thank Mr. President and also share some moments with him led by your humble self across our party lines.
These are our simple requests.
You are our Grandfather, Your Excellency, as a Grandson most times I’ll be coming to have breakfast with you, so please indulge me, and when I bring Akwa Ibom issues to your table, please look at them passionately.
Thank you, Your Excellency!
SP Akpabio’s response
I must let you know from my heart that you are a good man…continue to be yourself. You have told me what to do. So I bless you. I bless your government. I bless Akwa Ibom State. And I bless all our endeavours. No evil shall befall you. Those who do not want you to exist, will not exist. God will continue to guide you and grant you the wisdom to do the right thing for Akwa Ibom people.
As you have celebrated me tonight, you will be celebrated in future. As you have honoured me, you will be honoured and the honour will remain for generations to come, in Jesus name. Amen!
*Anietie Usen is Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor, Akwa Ibom State.
