Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has said there is no division among the people of the state irrespective of their political affiliations.
The governor, who said this yesterday during a special thanksgiving service held at Government House banquet hall ground following his victory at the Supreme Court on Wednesday night, said after the announcement of the judgment, the All Progressive Congress (APC) supporters were the ones that came first to congratulate him.
“Let me say here that one thing I appreciated yesterday was that Akwa Ibom is one. Let nobody deceive you. Immediately they made the verdict, the first group of people to come to government house to greet me were those that were carrying brooms.
“They even heard the announcement before me and threw the brooms at the circus and ran towards government house. No single division. We just could see how God is. That is why I said it has nothing to do with man but with God,” he said.
The governor, however, pledged that if, prior to his victory at the Supreme Court, he was 99 percent committed, he would be 100 percent obligated to the cause of the state as his victory had further affirmed that God had handed over the mantle of the state to him for a purpose.
Meanwhile, the PDP chairman in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Paul Ekpo, said the party and the people have forgiven their compatriots for the tension-soaked judicial battle they made the state passed through after the 2015 general elections.
Ekpo, who addressed jubilant indigenes at Akwa Ibom House, Abuja Wednesday night shortly after the victory of Gov. Emmanuel said the All Progressives Congress (APC) inflicted so much pain on the state, noting that money that would have been used in developing the state was spent on unnecessary election litigations.
He said though they have forgiven but that they would not be quick in opening their doors for opposition members who would wish to return to the fold.
“One thing that I am seeing today is that all the rebellious sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State are returning home. When we get to Akwa Ibom, we’ll bury APC forever. Whether we like it or not, we must acknowledge the fact that they are rejoicing with us. We cannot begin now to discuss their return but we acknowledge that they’re rejoicing with us”, Obong Ekpo stated.
Wife of the governor, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel dedicated the judicial victory to God whom she said was their only hope, especially as the APC in the state had repeatedly boasted that they will use the federal might to secure victory at the courts.
Mrs. Emmanuel described the victory as “supreme judgment from the supreme God,” noting that the apex court has made her spouse an “elected and judicially confirmed governor of Akwa Ibom State”.
She assured the people that the governor would not let them down, since to whom much is given, much is expected.
In a related development, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said Supreme Court’s judgment on the governorship elections in Akwa Ibom and Abia States is a victory for democracy and a triumph of patriotism over dictatorship and harassment.
The governor stated this in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, when he reacted to the legal victory of Governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), at the apex court and noted that all hope was not lost as far as people see the judiciary as their last hope.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor commended the justices of the Supreme Court, who dispensed justice without fear or favour despite subtle intimidation and harassment.
