2023 Guber: Pastor Umo Eno Assures Christians of Good Governance
...As CAN vows to support candidate with Capacity, Passion to Further Peace
Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno has assured the Christian community, his primary constituency, of good governance and that he would always consult with the church when elected into office in 2023.
Pastor Eno gave the assurance during an interactive meeting with senior gospel ministers in Uyo.
He noted that the church and Christians should not be indifferent but must actively get involved in the choice of leaders in the state adding that the choice of a governor will affect the welfare of everyone positively or otherwise.
According him, "I believe this is one election that, if nothing has brought the entire church in the state together before, this election should, so that we can at least speak with one voice. When people say the church should not be involved in politics I’ve always disagreed. I disagree because we’re shepherding the flock and we care about their welfare, we want them to live better. So as pastors, we should be interested in who governs us. Pastors play a major role in advocating for the kind of people that should govern us.
He noted that in some developed countries, the church is always actively involved in their leadership recruitment process, adding, "you cannot have the moral justification to condemn what you’re not part of; when the church keeps quiet and looks the other way, then the church cannot have a voice. God has given the church an opportunity to be the moral compass of the world and to correct the wrongs of the past.
"I believe that this is a call of God upon my life and I’m here for a purpose. My daily prayer is for God to help me not to fail Him, and not to fail Akwa Ibom people. I am not unaware of the burden of leadership. I am not unaware of the work that we have ahead. I’m not unaware of the responsibility that God, through all of you, is about to place on my shoulders.
"Sometimes I really weep because while some may see it as a razzmatazz, for me it’s a huge responsibility. I don’t take it lightly at all and it’s only through God, through your prayers that this will be sustained. God has given the church an opportunity to rewrite Itself and to correct the wrongs of the past. He, through a prophet, delivered Isreal, through prophets, He sustained Isreal.
"That is why the place of the church now is very critical because if we miss this opportunity I don’t know when we’ll have it again. So I come in humility to ask the church to please stand up for what is right, to stand up for the truth, to stand with me on this journey.
"One thing I can assure the church is good governance. Governance with good conscience and we will consult widely with the church. If there is good governance, everyone would be happy, and we will improve on what Governor Udom Emmanuel has done, the Governor has put the church on a high pedestal and I will take it even higher," he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Christian Nyong noted that the peace currently enjoyed in the state is not accidental but a deliberate effort by Governor Udom Emmanuel whom he described as a peace-loving governor.
He maintained that the church must support a God-fearing candidate who has the capacity and passion to further on the peace and security in the state.
According to him, failure to vote in a governor who will further on the peace, would affect the state and the Christians might have no place to worship.
Alluding to the scriptures in Philippians 4:4-5, "rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men," he said the church must be decisive and its position made known to all men.
Also speaking, the President of Fathers In Faith, Prelate Isaiah Issong thanked God for choosing a pastor from their fold to lead the state stressing that they were determined to pray and mobilize their members in support of Pastor Umo Eno.
In attendance were very senior pastors in the state including Dr. Sunday Mbang, Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church and many others.
