From Joe Effiong, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has said the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, deserves the respect of the entire people of the state irrespective of their party affiliations.
Eno said his cordial relationship with Akpabio is as a result of such a respect for the Office of the Senate President which should be a thing of pride to the entire people of the state.
Speaking at a media chat prelude to the 37th anniversary celebration of the state’s creation coming up today, the governor said his closeness to the Senate president should not be misconstrued in any way to adversely affect his loyalty to his political Party, the PDP.
“I don’t have any body language. I’m working for the PDP. I must continue to respect the Senate president though we may disagree when it comes to our respective parties’ issues. But we must give him the respect deserving of that office.
“It is an honour for this state to have the number three citizens in the country. So, we must work in synergy for the benefit of the entire state irrespective of party affiliations.”
Governor Eno also reiterated his commitment to paying the new national minimum wage recently passed into law by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
“The Federal Government is still working out modalities for the payment. Once they finish it, we will adopt it. As a state, we will pay the minimum wage.”
He promised to dissolve the current state executive Council which he inherited from his predecessor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, about 16 months ago.