Fellow Akwaibomites

I stand here, humbled yet energized by the massive support and overwhelming vote of confidence in my capacity to be your Servant-Leader in the next four years that you showed me yesterday, at the polls. It was peaceful, credible, fair and a ringing expression of the will of our people.

You came out massively to vote for the continuation of the peace and security of lives and property we have enjoyed in the last almost eight years; the continuation of a Christ-centric leadership, of humility in governance, compassion, competence, character and development across all sectors. You did this, so our children and generations yet unborn will enjoy the dividends of democracy and live happily, in brotherhood, love and unity.

I dedicate this victory to God, for the grace He has shown me, for the strength to carry on, in the face of several challenges and for the inner peace to keep moving with my eyes clearly set on the ball and not to be distracted. To THAT SAME GOD be all the glory!

Let me specifically thank my Political Father, the Leader of our Party, our dear Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, for seeing in me, what others may not have seen. Thank you Your Excellency, for standing by me, for leading the troop for the continuation of good governance, for insisting that what God has started in Akwa Ibom State, must continue and the story be told in more enchanting chapters.

To our First Lady, and our Campaigner-in Chief, Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs.) Martha Udom Emmanuel, thank you for the long hours, the soaring speeches at campaigns which ultimately manifested in the massive victory we got yesterday.

I pledge to you, Your Excellency and our dear people who have bought into your vision that I will not disappoint in this onerous task God has placed on my shoulders. Like you have shown, I am coming thoroughly prepared to hit the ground running from Day One.

Let me thank my family, my dear Wife, Pastor (Mrs.) Patience Umo Eno, my wonderful children, their spouses, my siblings and grand-children, my extended family for providing me the comfort and unwavering support and prayers in the face of vile and manufactured lies and propaganda that were concocted against me. I know how emotionally traumatized those moments may have been, but the battle is over now, and I bear no grudges.

Let me thank the Church, and Fathers in Faith for your prayers and intercessions. I am one of you, and I pledge to continue to run a Christ-Centric administration where good will always trump evil, and where morality and good conscience will form the building blocks of oupli>To our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), our Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan and the State Executive Working Committee, our Campaign Council Director General, H.E. Ambassador Assam Assam (SAN), the members of the Campaign Council and all the Directorates, you all deserve a huge pat on the back for staying true to our convictions and your unyielding dedication to our victory at the polls.

To the youths of Akwa Ibom State, thank you for maintaining the peace and taking ownership of the collective destiny and aspirations of our people to live in peace. By your avowed dedication to end violence and embrace peace, we were able to have a very peaceful elections yesterday. Kudos to you all!

Let me commend my opponents for putting up a good fight. In any political contest, a winner must emerge and today, it has pleased God to place me as the winner of this contest. I hereby extend an olive branch and my hand of fellowship to all my brothers who contested with me, to join me in building the Akwa Ibom State where the symphonies of peace, development, love, unity and brotherhood would continue to ring louder and bind us all even deeper together.

As a pastor, I harbor no hate or animosity towards any one. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “with malice towards none, with charity for all”, I promise to run an all-inclusive government, where no one would be punished or victimized on account of holding a different political opinion.

We are all Akwaibomites first and foremost before our political labels. Political parties are vehicles to attain power, they cannot substitute the bond of unity and brotherhood we have all shared for centuries.

It is a known fact that politics may have created a gulf of alienation in some sections of our society. I hereby pledge to set up a Reconciliation Committee to bring our brothers and sisters together and look at things that deepen our unity than those that divide us.

We have enjoyed peace and security, development across all sectors in the past almost eight years. Governor Udom Emmanuel has given us world- class infrastructure, industries, great healthcare services, tourism, aviation, through Ibom Air, among other great and enduring achievements. We will deploy our resources to the task of building our people, engendering agricultural revolution, stem rural-urban migration and other avenues of wealth creation as clearly outlined in our A.R.I.S.E. Agenda.

Akwa Ibom is Rising and it will always be! As we all join hands with one voice to kick-start this journey of our next phase growth and development as a State, I therefore, once again implore us all to jettison all forms of bickering, hatred, malice, blackmail, pull-down syndrome and their attendant retrogressive tendencies, so that we can jointly build the AkwaIbom of our dreams.

Thank you for this great opportunity to serve, God bless Akwa Abasi Ibom State, God bless us all!

Mbon Akwa Ibom Nnyïn

Nda mi ke nsuhöidem, ado nnie uko atoho akwuök-udïm ibededem me mbödidem ke ukeme andufo ekïtte ke idem mmi ebo yak ami nnam utom nte adad usüñ ke isua inaañ adihe k'iso. Ndufo ekewöt ami ñkpöñ ke mme itie ufiik-ubök. Akedo ke emem, unyïmme mme nnam-ñwöt afïd nnyïn.

Ndufo emaewuö edi, edifiik ubök ete yak emem mme ukpeme uwem-awo mme inyene abaha ke isua itiaita aboiyokedo akaiso aba; enyüñ emaana ebo yak ukem ndadusüñ Christ, nsuhöidem ke ukaada, mfön, ukeme, eti-edu mme uforo akaiso aba ke afïd itie. Ndufo ekenam ami nam ato do ntək ayïn nnyïn mme mbon s'idiimanake dion ediikob inem ufön ñwaana-ñkada-ukada enyüñ edüñö ke inemesïd, ima mme edidiana keed.

Edikan ami, ami nyaak nnö Abasi ke ntak mfön anye annöhö mien mme adudu adisük-nkaiso ke afïd mfïna s'ikiba; amaana annö mien emem adikaiso ñwuuk anyen nse sekenaa ate nnam. Ekööm asük anie "Kpasük Anye Abasi Ado"

Yak ami nnekke ñkööm ete mmi ke mbre ukada, adad usüñ ke ñka ubre ukada nnyïn Governor nnyïn, Ete Udom Emmanuel ke anye adikikït ñkpö se mbon mfen imikikanna ikït ke idem mmi. Bö ekööm Mfön-mma Ete, ada-ukada ke adida mme ami, ke adidad mme atu-eköñ usüñ ke ñkaiso eti ukada; ke adisöññö nda mbo ke se Abasi aketüññö ke Akwa Ibom ana akaiso nna umiañ inem mbük akaiso aba.

Nkööm Mfön-mma Eka, Dr. (Mrs) Martha Udom Emmanuel, Adaiso ke atu Ibaan nnyïn, öbööñ asuan-etob; ke mme umiañ ini anye akebiatta, mme nti ikö ke usuan etob amö, anamma nnö inie akwuök-udïm edikan anyïn ikiniehe ñkpöñ.

Mfön-mma Ete, ami meñwöññö unö fien mme mbon nnyïn ekenïmme se afo adaakït ke akpanikö ke ami ndiyakka nnö idodenyen mfo akpa mfühö ke utom Abasi ayakka andod mien ke afada. Daña ndufo enyüñ enam, ami nko ndi mme ata mbeññe idem adimüm isöñ nnam utom ayöhö-ayöhö tüññö ke akpa usen.

Yak ami ñkööm mbon ufök mmi, añwaan ima mmi, Pastor (Mma) Patience Umo Eno, mföön nditö mmi mme ebe mme ibaan nditö mmi, nditö eka mmi mme nditö-nditö mmi, mme mbon ekpǝk nnyïn ke adikiinnö mien nsöñönda ibededem mme akam ke idaha eketaaña me nsu-nsu ikö ubiat awo anyïñ embaña mien. Ami mediöññö daña akefïna awo ke akikere ke me ini ado, ado afid ado aboiyo afeb, ami nnyüññö nsïn awo ke esïd.

Yak ñkööm ufökabasi mme me Ete adadusüñ ke mbödidem ke akam ndufo mme ñkpeubök ke iwuod mmi. Ami ndo keed ke atu ndufo, menyüñ ñwöññö adikaiso ke adinam ukada nnö aba nte ukada Christ ami eti udöñ adïhi ikan idiök ñkpö; nti edu mme nti akikere adido sekama mböb ukada.

Ama-ado akammba ñka mbre ukada nnyïn (PDP), Atie-iwuod Akpokodo, Elder Aniekan Akpan mme afïd ikpö mbon utom kömiti, ñkpon-ñkan adad-usüñ usuan etob itök mbre ukada, H.E. Ambassador Assam Assam (SAN) mme afïd mbon mboho usuan-etob itök mbre ukada mme afïd mme adad usüñ, emedod ekööm ke nsöñönda annyïn ikiniehe tutu nnyïn inie edikan ke umek awo.

ñkpadawa mme uboikpa Akwa Ibom State, isösöñö ke adinam nnö emem aba mme adinyüñ ntüm müm akikere ini iso afïd awo ñkama nte inie ndufo na nnyïn idüñ ke emem. Daña ndufo ekeñwöññö adimüm emem ñkama eyüñ etre afai akenam nnyïn inie ata süñsüñ umek awo ñkpöñ. Ibö ekööm do.

Yak ñkööm mbon ekemiaha nduba mbre ukada mme ami ke adikiñwana eti añwan. Ke nduba mbre ukada, ana andikan aba; ndion anem Abasi esïd adinam nnö ami ndo andikan. Ami mmenyan mfañ (Olive) emem mme ubök nsaña utom nnö afïd nditö eka ekemiaha nduba mbre ukada mme ami mbo edi nnö iböb Akwa Ibom State ami inem ikwuö emem, uforo, ima mme adidiana keed nte nditö eka adïhi ikaiso isöñ uyio inyüñ iböb inyïn idian keed ikan daña akedo.

Nte Akwödöikö, ami iniehe idiök esïd mbaña awo nyüññö nsïn awo ke esïd. Ami mbo daña Abraham Lincoln akebo ate "nniehe idiökesïd mbaña awo ndomokeed, nnie mfön nnö afïd awo". Mmeñwöññö mbo ke ukada ami ndïhi-ikama adido ukada afïd awo ami idimiaha awo ndomo keed ufen ke ntak awo adinie isio-isio akikre ukaada.

Nnyïn ido nditö Akwa Ibom ke akpa ifed mbemiso anyïñ ñka mbre ukada. ñka mbre ukada ado ñkpö siben awo ika ukaada, ikemeke adidad itie adidiana keed nditö eka anyïn iwanake keed tüññö ke esed.

Imidiöñö mfön-mfön ibo ke mbre ukada ado ñkpö akemeke adisïn ubakka, asuan ke mme ikpehe ke idüñ. Ami mmeñwöññö adisio kömiti unam-emem adïhi kood nditö eka ibaan mme ideen idian keed inyüñ ise mme ñkpö se idiinam nnö idiana keed ikan se idiisuan nnyïn.

Nnyïn imikop inem emem mme ukpeme, uforo ke afïd itie ke isua itiaita aboiyoke do. Governor Udom Emmanuel ainö nnyïn mme akan-afïd nti ñkpö-uñwam ke idüñ, itie ndubehe, nti itie usöbö idem, itie udia uwem, ukaisañ ke afïm ke Ibom Air dian ke umiañ nti adinam mfen. Nnyïn iyaisïn ukeme nnyïn ke adinam nnö mme awo edakka eda, ke adinam utomiñwañ afönakan akpa, ñko mme awo etïde adiwuöñö ke esïd idüñ ñka ikpö abio mme usüñ inyene mfen ke daña iwet ke uduak nnyïn akedeke "A.R. I. S. E. agenda" .

Akwa Ibom asük-adakka ada, adisük ikaaka iso! Daña nnyïn idian ubök ke uyio keed aditüññö isañ ami ke ñköd mme uforo nte sted (State), ami maana ñkpeiye afïd nnyïn mbo yak eyaak usua, ubiad-anyïñ, ido udüd awo ntïmme edem mme mfïna mfen, nna ato do nnyïn ikan iböb Akwa Ibom annyïn iniehe ke akikere nnyïn.

Isösöñö ke akammba ufañ unam utom andufo ennöhö mien ebo nnam, Yak Abasi adiöñ Akwa Ibom State, anyüñ aidiöñ nnyïn akpaimö.

Translator - Ini Mbebeng.

Eyo Akwa Ibom enyin

Nla momu ku nzughöreile, onu ma uko omu osi ogbogïm ubeiadai ma mvamva mbuödile omu ennyi ku ukïme omi idinu Oyuto ma Alannyi inö evu ku izughë iniañ omu odi ku onnyi onu. Evu egewö omu mgböñ ku uvi-ubök umek-oñwi. Ogonu emëm-emëm, öwö unën, alagha ënïñënnyi öwö uduak eñwi enyin.

Evu egewöñö edi awakiwak-awakiwak, edivi ubök egu yak emëm, ma ugbïme eñwi ma unnyi, omu enyin innyi ku izughë itañaba omu ëfei omu, agannyi abak; elagha esö edöghö egu yak udë-odïghi omu ökiöñö ku Krais, utïghëile ku ugra, unnyi ogïd isïghë, ukïme, ëdïghë ndu ma uforo agannyi abak ku tatai igbïghë. Evu egenë omu mbak osi konu eyentïghitek enyin ma ima omu nama ezemana kaña edelië ufö ugra omu osi umek-oñwi, elagha eduñ ku uniogïd, ku ëmë-nyekë ma adianidiana ki.

Ami nyak okike omu, ku ugbono, nnö Abazi ku ntak mfö omu Onyi önö mi, ma ulu idizuk igannyi, ile ma ku ima awakiwak mfana omu egebak; alagha önö mi ifrë-ifrë ogïd idigannyi iwöu onnyi ise su agana nnë. Uföñ ozuk onnyi "Kpazuk Onyi Ukëm Abazi Onu."

Yak nnö sañazaña ekö ezök eti omi ku mbrë-ugra, alannyi ku ñga mbrë-ugra enyin, ëmimë Ala-ubughu-ugra enyin, Ata ëdïghë Ote Udom Emmanuel, ku onyi igidigïd ñkpö omu ima onuñ nama egekïme egïd ku ilemi. Böghö ekö Ata ëdïghë Ala-ubughu-ugra, ku idila ma ami, ku ididë ima udïm-eguñ odïghi ku ugannyi ëdïghë ugra; ku iditu ila idöghö ku su Abazi ögötöñö ku Akwa Ibom ana agannyi mbak awakiwak idïghë mbuk egannyi ebak.

ñkö alannyi kotu eñwimani enyin, ma ogbono azuan-etu mbuba mbrë-ugra enyin, Ata ëdïghë Dr. (Mrs.) Martha Udom Emmanuel ku ubiad-ini ovu, ima inninni nsïñi utuogïd ovu kini mbuba mbrë-ugra omu ënë enyin innyi ogbogïm okike omu iginnyi mgböñ onu.

Ami ññwöñö nnö vi Ata ëdïghë Ala-ubughu-ugra enyin ma ima imimë eñwi enyin omu enïm su ovu ala ogïd ku agbanikwö, ku ami ama ondinyak uduonnyi evu akpa mvughö ku ogbono ubiöñ-uto omu Abazi ayak odu mi ku afra om-ou. Sughu ovu ënë öwö, ami ñgo ndi ma ata mbëñëile iditöñö uto öyöghöyöghö töñö ku ata agba use.

Yak ñkö ima uvök omi, ëmimë ññwa omi, Pastor (Mma) Patience Umo Eno, idïghë eyo omi ma ima ebi ma ññwa emu, nyekë omi ma eyo-eyo omi ma ima iman omi, ku igidinö mi udöñögïd ma otuitu ubeiadai ma agam kini omu egezughu ima nyok-nyok nsïñi ubiad-oñwi-enyiñ edian mi. Ami mvak sughu agafana evu ku ogïd ku ima ini onu. Onu, ukiö onu ëfei, ami önöñ ondio oñwi su ki ku ogïd-ou.

Yak ñkö ima uvök-Abazi ma ima eti alannyi ku mbuödile, ku agam evu ma mkpeubök ku ubughu omi. Ami nnu ki kotu evu, nnöñ ññwöñö idigannyi ku ugra omu ökiöñö ku Krais, omu ëdïghë uduak ozuk odigagannyi ike udiökkpö; idïghë ndu ma idïghë ogigre edinu su idiga ifuö ugra.

Munu ogbono ñga mbrë-ugra enyin (PDP), ëtei-ubughu-ogbogro, Elder Aniekan Akpan, ma tatai igbono-eñwi kömiti, ogbono ëdë-odïghi ñga uzuan-etu mbuba mbrë-ugra enyin, H. E. Ambassador Asam Asam (SAN), ma tatai ima ñga uzuan-etu mbuba mbrë-ugra ma tatai ima ëdë-odïghi, evu edo ekö ku ntunla evu ma enyin tutu okike enyin kini umek-eñwi.

Nlabeyo ma ntañeyo Akwa Ibom State, ezözöñ-o ku idinë yak emëm abak ma idinöñ itam imuö ogigre ini-onnyi tatai eñwi iga su unnyi evu, mbak enyin iduñ ku emëm. Ntak omu evu egewöñö idimuö emëm iga elagha etre avai ëgënë enyin innyi ata ifrë-ifrë umek-eñwi mgböñ. Eböghö ekö no-u!

Yak ñkö ima omu egeñmai [egenyaña ilagha ugra] mbuba mbrë-ugra ma ami ku igidiñwana ëdïghë ifuo. Ku mbuba mbrë-ugra ogononu, ana okike abak; mvïn omu, önöñ onni Abazi ogïd idinë yak ami nnu okike ku mbuba omu. Ami nnya mvañ emëm ma ubök nzañ-uto nnö tatai nyekë omi omu egeñmai mbuba mbrë-ugra ma ami, ñgu edila ma ami yak ifuö Uduñ Akwa Ibom omu onninni ikwö emëm, uforo, ëmë ma adianidiana ki su nyekë odigannyi itu usi ilagha ifuö enyin idian ki ike sughu ogonu.

Su ökwöröikwö, ami onnyi udiökogïd ambaña oñwi, anlagha ondio oñwi ku ogïd-ou. Ami nzughu sughu Abraham Lincoln ogozughu ini ki ogu, "Onnyi udiökogïd ambaña oñwi su ki-ou, nnyi mfö nnö tatai eñwi." ññwöñö ñgu ku ugra omu ndigra odinu ugra tatai eñwi, omu nama ediñmai oñwi su ki uvën ku ntak omu onyi onnyi ezïghi-ezïghi ogigre ugra.

Enyin inu eyo Akwa Ibom ku agba ivëd kpañ enyiñ ñga mbrë-ugra odi. ñga mbrë-ugra onu mkpö omu ëbei oñwi aga ugra; ekïme ididë utei adianidiana ki nyekë omu enyin ibuana ki töñö ku eki-ou.

Inïñënnyi ivak ku mbrë-ugra onu mkpö omu okïme ididio nzuana ku ima igbïghë ku uduñ. Ami ññwöñö idisiak kömiti unë-emëm omu odiku nyekë eñwimani ma eñwinini idian ki, ilagha ise ima mkpö su odinë enyin idiana ki ike su odizuan-azuan enyin.

Enyin igei inëm emëm ma ugbïme, uforo ku ovïd ufïne ku izughe itañatë omu ëfei omu. Ala-ubughu-ugra Udom Emmanuel önö enyin ima idïghë mkpö-uñwam ku uduñ, uzughu mbubïghë, idïghë uvök-ibök, uzughu ulië-ndu, ugaizañ ku ovïm ku Ibom Air, dian ima awakiwak unë onuñ. Enyin ma idio ulu enyin ku idinë ima eñwi elagha ela, ku idinë uto-ukö öfö oke sughu agala; ñgo ima eñwi etre idiwöñö ku ima övöghö-uduñ igiaña igbono-uduñ, ma ima avañ unnyi onuñ, sughu iwïd ku uduak enyin omu ëgrë "A.R.I.S.E. agenda."

Akwa Ibom alagha ala, odizuk igagannyi! Sughu enyin idian ubök ma usi ki iditöñö izañ omu ku mbek ma uforo su Uduñ (State), ami nsö mbïñë tatai enyin ñgu yak iza ëzughë, ubiad-oñwi-enyiñ, ndu udë oñwi usö adai, ma mfana onuñ iyak, mbak osi konu enyin iköd ifuö Akwa Ibom omu innyi ku ogigre enyin.

Ezözöñ-öu ku ogbono uvañ unë-uto omu evu enö mi, edöghö nnë omu. Yak Abazi ödiöñ Akwa Ibom State, alagha ödiöñ tatai-tatai enyin.

Translator - Rex Bassey.