By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Uyo
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term bid in 2027, calling on citizens to embrace unity and avoid divisive politics.
Eno made the declaration on Tuesday in Uyo during a statewide broadcast to mark the 38th anniversary of Akwa Ibom’s creation. He said the support was to enable the President complete his economic and social reforms, which he noted were already yielding fruits nationwide.
“As the political season unfolds, I urge us not to allow the flaming passion of politics to divide us. Elections will come and go, but the Akwa Ibom spirit of love and brotherhood will remain. We are running Akwa Ibom United across party lines,” the governor said.
He appealed to leaders and stakeholders to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, urging them instead to “rise beyond ethnicity” and “build with love our promise land,” as the state anthem enjoins.
“We should eschew bitterness in our political engagements and embrace the ennobling ideals of love and unity,” he added.
The governor also warned youths against being used to instigate violence, stressing that “the law will take its course on anyone who flouts the rules and the sanctity of public peace.”
Eno thanked President Tinubu “for the love he has shown us and the cooperation he has equally extended to our dear son, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, GCON.”
He continued: “We pledge our unflinching support to him as he submits himself again in 2027 for Nigerians to return him to Aso Rock to complete his audacious reforms that have already started to bear fruits across the Nigerian economic and social sectors.”
Highlighting his administration’s strides in agriculture, security, tourism, road construction, and hospitality, Eno said greater attention would be focused on education and healthcare.
“Our schools and healthcare services remain major areas of attention. We will continue to build model healthcare centres across the State as well as model primary and secondary schools in the three senatorial districts. The emergency we recently declared in the healthcare sector will address the gaps in that sector,” he said.
He added that government was determined to reduce dependency on oil by expanding the tourism sector, describing it as “the new black gold.”
“We hope to flag-off the construction of our 350-bed Ibom International Hospital along the medical corridor as well as the commissioning of the Arise Elders Care Centre, also along the same corridor,” the governor stated.