Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying the ongoing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda should be allowed to continue.
Eno made the declaration on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the centenary celebration of the Yoruba Tennis Club in Lagos. His lecture was titled “Democracy and the Imperative of Good Governance: Renewing Hope in Challenging Times.”
The governor said democracy should be judged by the quality of governance it delivers, not just by the conduct of elections. According to him, citizens experience democracy through better roads, healthcare, education, security and economic opportunities.
He described good governance as being built on accountability, transparency, participation, the rule of law and equity. He said his administration promotes these principles through regular delivery review sessions, town hall meetings and public engagement.
Eno acknowledged that President Tinubu’s economic reforms have been difficult for Nigerians but argued that they were necessary to restore fiscal discipline and stabilise the economy.
He said the removal of fuel subsidy, tax reforms and exchange rate policies had increased federal allocations to states, enabling sub-national governments to embark on major development projects.
The governor cited the ARISE Palm Resort, road construction, housing, healthcare and airport expansion in Akwa Ibom as examples of projects made possible by improved state finances.
He also praised Tinubu for supporting the establishment of state police, saying the constitutional amendment marked a major step in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
According to Eno, Akwa Ibom has strengthened its own security architecture by creating a Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways and recruiting 2,272 Village Youth Presidents to improve intelligence gathering and community surveillance.
The governor said his administration has paid more than ₦88 billion out of the ₦111 billion gratuity backlog inherited from previous governments and plans to clear the balance before the end of its first term.
He disclosed that over 461 solar-powered compassionate homes had been built for vulnerable families, while grants and low-interest loans had been provided to farmers, traders, artisans and young entrepreneurs.
Eno also said the state had recruited thousands of teachers, healthcare workers, technical instructors and civil servants, while billions of naira had been spent on WAEC fees, bursaries and youth development programmes.
On infrastructure, he said the government had completed 1,346 kilometres of roads and 41 bridges in three years without abandoning inherited projects.
The governor said Akwa Ibom was also investing in agriculture, aviation, healthcare, tourism and industrial development through projects including the Ibom Model Farms, Victor Attah International Airport terminal, Ibom International Hospital and ARISE Palm Resort.
He stressed that governments must sustain projects across administrations instead of abandoning inherited programmes, noting that continuity remains critical to development.
Eno urged Nigerians to strengthen democratic institutions by demanding accountability, rejecting corruption, respecting the rule of law and supporting peaceful democratic processes.
Congratulating the Yoruba Tennis Club on its 100th anniversary, the governor praised its founders for building an institution rooted in integrity, inclusiveness and self-reliance, saying their example reflects the principles of good governance needed for Nigeria’s future.
