Mr. Essien Ndueso, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Research and Documentation, has vehemently refuted claims suggesting that Governor Umo Eno’s choice to travel via Ibom Air because the State’s official private jet was in use by the previous Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
The QUEST TIMES reports that Gov Eno boarded the mid-day flight, QI0202 from Uyo to Abuja from the Victor Attah International Airport on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
Addressing these allegations during a radio interview in Uyo, Ndueso expressed his dissatisfaction with the negative comments that have trailed Governor Eno’s recent decision to opt for the State-owned air carrier.
He described the allegations as frivolous and likened them to casual beer parlour conversations devised to tarnish the reputation of the former Governor.
Ndueso urged the public to dismiss these baseless accusations, highlighting their utter lack of credibility. He took a moment to clarify that the previous Governor, Udom Emmanuel, had demonstrated no signs of overbearing behavior toward his successor.
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He even recalled an instance during the Akwa Ibom Dialogue, a recent event hosted within the state, where the former governor explicitly asserted that only one leader could prevail at any given time in the State.
Ndueso said, “Governor Umo Eno is living up to his promises of encouraging Akwa Ibom State Government’s investments to thrive and expand to meet up the demands of the present economic realities in the country.
“This was one of the reasons the Governor used the State-owned airline, Ibom Air, during his recent trip for official engagements outside the State. It is rather unfortunate that the good intention of the Governor, in having first-hand experience with the State airline, is being negated.
” Governor Umo Eno’s decision to fly Ibom Air was a simple way of telling the story of Ibom Air, and I urge those spreading falsehood on the matter with the aim of tarnishing the image of the Governor and his predecessor to desist from such acts.
“Recall that Mr Udom Emmanuel was the one who told everyone to support the Governor as the new leader of the State
“Others would be coming to the government house every day, or even lodge in the Government House guest house, but the immediate past Governor has kept his promise by returning to his private practice, allowing His Excellency the incumbent Governor to freely run the business of government”
Furthermore, Ndueso, who previously served as an Aide to the immediate past Governor, reiterated that Governor Eno leveraged the occasion of flying with Ibom Air in his official role as the state Governor to gain insight into the perspectives of fellow travelers.
Expressing his bewilderment, Ndueso questioned the rationale behind certain individuals choosing to misconstrue this action and attach baseless allegations to it.
“Remember His Excellency Pastor Eno said he is not a Governor who sits in his comfort zone in the office to receive reports from the fields, but one who will go out to feel and experience the realities of investments and public utilities funded with public funds.
“The entire country has come to appreciate Mr Umo Eno as a simple and down-to-earth leader who has not allowed the aura of his position to have a negative influence on his humble nature.
“The Governor has told his people that he in appointing aides, he is not appointing aides that will carry his umbrella and phones since he is carrying them himself, but he would rather appoint people with capacity to add value to his administration.
“Even at the airport, you could see him subjecting himself to thorough check and other airport procedures, and that is because he wishes to lead by example. Such actions should not be misinterpreted, but seen as actions that make him more connected to his people”, Ndueso noted.