By Egufe Yafuborghi & Chioma Onuegbu

UYO- GOVERNOR Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state has thanked the citizens for the prayers and support they have given to his administration in the last 18months.

  Eno who gave the appreciation in his Christmas day message on Wednesday, assured the people that in the year 2025 he would continue to focus on their needs.

  He described Christmas as a period where Christians should redouble their efforts in looking out for the vulnerable and the downtrodden and inspire in them a spirit of hope and faith that just as Jesus Christ was born in a manger,  their circumstance today may change.

  His words , “Today, we join millions of Christian adherents to celebrate Christmas which signifies the birth of the Prince of Peace and Saviour of mankind, our Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas is a season of love, of giving and of unity.

 “Let me thank you my dear people for the  prayers and support you have given us in the last eighteen months as we work to deepen the growth and prosperity of our dear State. We have been humbled greatly by what we have collectively achieved across sectors.

 “And as we get ready to usher in the New Year, we will continue to roll our sleeves and work harder to ensure we produce enough food to feed our people, extend more development to the rural areas, expand our infrastructure, ensure our State remains an oasis of peace and tranquility and get our children to remain focused in their educational pursuits, so they may compete with their peers all over the world, in the spirit of our Arise Agenda.

  “We will continue to focus on the needs of our people, while challenging them to Arise and flourish through the creative application of the talents and creativity God has embedded in us all”

 Noting that the state government released 20 bags of rice for each of the 2, 272 gazetted villages in the spirit of the Christmas celebration, governor Eno expressed the hope that other stakeholders across the 368 wards of the State would complement the effort to touch the lives of people in their respective communities.

    He also noted that the 13 month salary popularly known as ‘Eno-mber’ has already been paid stressing, “Together, with the Organized Labour, work on the verification exercise of actual number of public service employees is ongoing and we hope the process will end very soon so we may commence the payment of the N80,000.00  minimum wage we have agreed on”

 Speaking further, he reminded the citizens especially the youths of the need to maintain the existing peace in the state.

  “Our State is peaceful, safe and secure, and I urge our great and resourceful  youths to help maintain this status during the Yuletide. I enjoin them to shun anti-social tendencies or acts capable of disturbing public peace.

  “Let us wear our unity and love as badges of honour and continue to celebrate our bonds of kindredship, which, thankfully,  is currently in full display at the Christmas Unplugged 2024 edition.

   ” I am aware of the extraordinary cultural display and renaissance currently on going at the Christmas Village and the thousands of visitors that are trooping in daily.

   “This is who and what we are all about- the spirit of Akwa Ibom: Happy, industrious, united, creative and God-fearing people,  bound by shared aspirations, hopes and dreams. As we celebrate Christmas today, may this spirit of unity and oneness lead us safely and triumphantly into the New Year”,  Eno stated.