Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has said he will not contest for a seat in the Nigerian Senate after completing his tenure as governor.
He made this known during the opening of a one-day business concept note workshop for applicants of the Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (EAP) 4.0.
Governor Eno, who is from Nsit Ubium in Uyo Senatorial District, explained that his focus after office would be to retire quietly rather than seek another political position. His first term ends in 2027, and if re-elected, he will complete his tenure in 2031.
Speaking on the idea of former governors moving to the Senate, Eno said: “How can I finish as governor, leading the whole state, and then go to the Senate just to raise my hand? Except I want to be Senate President, which I know they don’t give to first timers unless the rules change. How will I finish governing three senatorial districts and then go and be raising my hand for others to tell me where to sit?”
The governor also stressed that he had achieved financial comfort before coming into politics.
“Every property I have today, I had them before I came into government. Please, search and show me one thing I acquired after coming into government. I had a house in the US while running my business. My children were all trained in the US before I joined government. So, there is really nothing I am looking for. When I retire, I want to go back to my village, farm, and live quietly. My ambition is only that.”
Governor Eno added that his administration had surpassed its campaign promise of raising new millionaires across local government areas in the state.
“Some people said I promised to create millionaires. If they look closely, we have actually made more millionaires than we promised,” he said.”