Elder statesman accuses Governor Eno of forcing lawmakers, others to join all progressives’ congress

A former Minister of Lands and Housing, Nduese Essien has accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of forcing state, federal lawmakers, and council chairmen to join All Progressives Congress (APC).

Penpushing reports that Essien, a former federal lawmaker, who also attended the defection ceremony of Eno pointed out that his(Eno) action calls into question the sincerity of his commitment to inclusiveness and political tolerance.

The elder statesman in a statement on Tuesday, explained that he attended the defection ceremony in solidarity with the governor, and added that it has led to several misrepresentations, which he aimed to correct.

Penpushing further reports that he said his presence at the event was not a declaration of party affiliation, stressing that he had resorted to offering advice, promoting peace, and standing for what is just and equitable in our state and country since 2014, when he turned 70.

The former Minister described Eno’s defection as a personal decision backed by the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Governor’s desire to prepare himself for the next election.

“Seeing the unending nature of the controversy, Governor Eno has taken the right decision to secure his next election in a party platform that is relatively stable, for now, at the national level. Joining the APC naturally takes him to work with the government at the centre with envisaged ancillary benefits. It is my wish that his hopes be fulfilled in this regard’.

“However, the decision of the governor to coerce Members of the State, National Assembly, and Chairmen of Local Governments calls into question the sincerity of the governor’s commitment to inclusiveness and political tolerance. These elected officers are operating on a separate and independent mandate and should be free to make their decision’, he stated.

Penpushing also reports that Essien pointed out that Eno had, before defection, demonstrated an admirable level of maturity in navigating party lines by endorsing the reelection bid of President Bola Tinubu and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, despite being a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member then.

“Sadly, such magnanimity has not been reciprocated by the Senate president or his political machinery. Appointments, empowerment programmes, and political opportunities have remained exclusive to APC loyalists, leaving out PDP members and even those who have chosen neutrality for the sake of peace. This lack of inclusion has continued despite the governor’s overt gestures of goodwill and cooperation’, he said.

“In contrast, Governor Eno has empowered citizens across party lines, ensured that appointments reflect the state’s diversity, and resisted the temptation to weaponise government against perceived opponents. That is commendable. But the current moves to exclude or sideline those who refuse to defect with him could erode that legacy of fairness and compromise’, he added.

Penpushing reports that it is recalled that Eno formally defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) last Friday at an event in Government House, Uyo, attended by Governors of Edo, Imo, Ebonyi, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, and Cross River states.

The Governor, months before his defection, had told the people he was executing governance across party lines, emphasising that political parties are only vehicles to contest elections, and when he finally confirmed he was leaving Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) about two weeks ago, he promised to work with everybody, irrespective of party affiliations.

Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that, he, however, declared and warned cabinet members unwilling to join him in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prepare their resignation letters.

“Prepare to resign the day I announce that I am moving because you cannot; you are an appointee, and your loyalty is fully to me. You can’t be in my cabinet and play anti-party. It is what it is’, Eno had said.

“I am even begging you to come, you normally don’t expect it. You have the right not to support me again, but the right you don’t have is to remain in my cabinet after I leave. I am making it clear’, he declared

Penpushing also reports that Eno in his defection speech, stated that, despite joining All Progressives Congress (APC), he would continue to govern the state through a bipartisan prism, while equally declaring to his cabinet members that joining All Progressives Congress (APC) was non-negotiable, a development which led to resignation of one of the commissioners.

“For our team members, I have said it before, particularly for my first eleven (Exco members), I am not hiding it. While we talk and persuade the politicians and those who contested elections to see the need to join this movement, I demand from my first eleven complete loyalty’.

“I will not negotiate that. You are an appointee at the pleasure of the governor, and I will not permit that you serve without joining my party. Let me make it clear so that you can hear it’, he threatened

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