By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met behind closed doors with Akwa Ibom state governor, Umo Eno of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, Eno revealed that he was at the seat of government to congratulate the President on his electoral victory and to seek a bipartisan collaboration with the President now that the elections are over.
Said he: “We came to visit the President, to congratulate him on the election and his swearing-in and to pledge our support, our commitment and our loyalty to the President and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Politics is over and governance has started.
“So Akwa Ibom is an integral part of Nigeria and we have to work with the federal government to ensure that Akwa Ibomites will see the benefits of democracy and we cannot do that if we work standing apart.
“And so we came to visit the President like I said, to congratulate him and pledge our support to work with him and our commitment as a state so that Akwa Ibomites will derive the full benefit of democracy.
Explaining further the governor said:
“There are lots of things we expect from the federal government and it’s only with that cooperation that we can work together and achieve the common good, whatever I know I can do, to bring the dividends of democracy to my people, I will do it. Thank you so much”.
Asked if he made some requests on Mr. President during the meeting especially on the poor state of federal roads like Ikot Ekpene-Itu- Calabar road, Eno said: “Of course, as we talked about the road you have just mentioned, the Calabar-Itu road.
“We will need the President to help us intervene and let’s get that finished the road. We talked about our Ibom Deep Seaport, we will need the President to also intervene and let’s get the Seaport up and running”.
“I also also mentioned to him the export license, the free zone for our airport, so that the maintenance, repairs, and overhauling facility there, we will be able to bring in spare parts to service the airplanes.
“These are strategic partnership that we want with the federal government. So, I talked about it and he has promised to look into it, and I believe him”.
Meanwhile, the governor has disclosed that his state has embarked on various ways to give palliatives to Akwa Ibomites to cushion the harsh effects of the subsidy removal, pointing out that the people will be taken into consideration.
According to him, “Yesterday (Wednesday), my Deputy governor distributed some palliatives to all the Local Government. And as I go back, I’m scheduled to have a meeting with all the petroleum marketers in Akwa Ibom.
“So we’re looking at those ways whatever we need to do to ameliorate the sufferings of our people and the President has directed that state governors of course, should work on palliatives for the citizenry.
“We will do just that there are a number of things and as we get into early next week if you focus on Akwa Ibom, you will see various things we are going to put in place to support our people and shield them from the effects of the subsidy removal”.
