Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has appreciated members of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN), for their contributions to his administration and support for good governance through unceasing prayers and advocacy for morality, probity and social welfare.
The governor made the remark while addressing participants at the PFN’s National Executive Retreat held yesterday, Wednesday, May 14, 2025 on the theme: “PFN Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” in Uyo.
“We commend PFN for being a strong platform of inserting morality within the corridors of power by speaking truth to power, and demanding from us the leaders, certain level of accountability and concern for the poor and the vulnerable,” he said.
He appreciated the commitment of the body for always standing and advocating for good governance in the last forty years, saying that the stance has greatly helped refine governance for the better.
Pastor Eno noted that PFN has been a major platform in the Body of Christ that has always planted the seed of salvation and redemption while ensuring the growth and expansion of the Lord’s vineyard.
The governor acknowledged that Nigeria as a nation is benefiting greatly from PFN through its laudable spiritual work, and encouraged the body to continue steadfastly in its counselling and guidance works for the overall good of all.
“The nation has benefitted immensely from your wise counsel to leaders; and, the great thing is that, you have consistently provided this counsel in an atmosphere of civility, humility, and love in accordance with Christian values.
“You have always been presenting your messages in a way that leadership could easily see the love by which the message is passed. You have distinguished between the Ministry of John the Baptist and the Ministry of Prophet Nathan which is always helping leaders to assimilate messages,” he stated.
The governor acknowledged that the retreat is beneficial to the state and the fathers of faith who have gathered to brainstorm and gain from the robust interactions from the experiences and knowledge of respected servants of God in Nigeria.
Pastor Eno, who is also a member of the PFN, encouraged members to take part in politics in order to correct what needs to be corrected in governance, rather than standing aside to condemn and see politics as a dirty game.
“It is impressive that some clergies are part of politics now as opposed to the popular slogan that we should not get soaked in the murky waters of politics. I think the more we get the courage to get our people involved, the more we can collectively change the narrative of governance for the better.
“So, I am of the opinion that if we do not get involved on the inside, we can only criticize from the outside, the people inside will not listen to us. But, the more we get ourselves inside, the more we can, from the inside, begin to change the narrative.
“From there, we will begin to have women and men of conscience and morality to clear and clean the murky waters of politics,” he stated.
Earlier, the National President Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, thanked the governor for hosting and attending the occasion, and prayed to God to continue to enrich him with more wisdom, strength, and grace to lead the state to greater heights.
On his part, the PFN National Vice President, South-South, Archbishop Emmah Isong, commended the magnanimity, generosity, humility of the governor, and extolled his inclusive, unifying and exemplary leadership style in the state.
Highpoint of the event was special prayers for the governor and state led by one of PFN’s founding fathers and host, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai.
