I won’t run for senate after my tenure as governor – Umo Eno
Pastor Umo Bassey Eno has stated that after the expiration of his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State, he will not contest for a seat in the Nigerian Senate.
Governor Eno stated this on Monday during a one-day business concept note workshop & opening ceremony for applicants of Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (EAP) 4.0.
Governor Eno’s first term ends in 2027 and if he is elected for a second term, he will leave office in 2031. He is from Nsit Ubium in Uyo Senatorial District.
Since the return of democratic government in 1999, only one governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has transited to senate. Former Governors Obong Victor Attah and Mr. Udom Emmanuel refused to vie for senate after their tenures.
“How can I finish as a governor, governing the entire state and then go and run for senate where I will be raising my hand. Except I want to be a senate president and I know they don’t give senate president to first timers. Except if they change the rules. If they change the rules, then I can think of it. But so long as the rules have not changed, how will I finish governing three senatorial districts and go and be raising my hands. Then they will say keep down your hands or you go one money and they have changed your position. And they say you are no more sitting there, this is where you are sitting”, Governor Eno said.
The governor boasted that every property he currently has, he had them before he came into government.
“Please, search and come out to show me one thing I have had that I did not have before coming into government. Modesty will forgive me. I had my house in the US while running my business. All of my children were trained in the United States of America before I came to government. So, there is no really nothing I am looking for. When I retire, I want to go back to my village and stay and do my farm in my quiet retirement and enjoy myself by the grace of God. And my bills will be very few. I don’t have ambition other than that. Because, at a time, you are almost getting to the end of your journey, so what are you struggling for?”, he said.
Speaking further, the also revealed that he has made more millionaires across the local government areas than he promised during his campaigns.
“Some people said ‘oh, when he came, he said he was going to turn around millionaires. I think if they look well, we have made more millionaires than we promised”, the governor said.