By Solomon OKPO | The Evangelist News Desk
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports Development, Elder Paul Bassey, has commended God and Governor Umo Eno for sustaining peace in the state, describing the prevailing atmosphere as unprecedented and a critical foundation for development.
Bassey made the remarks during a goodwill message at the 25th Annual Convention of The Apostolic Church, Atabong Area, in Eket Local Government Area, where he challenged critics of the Eno administration to acknowledge the importance of peace in the state.
“If naysayers pretend they cannot see anything Governor Umo Eno has done, can they deny the peace we are witnessing in Akwa Ibom today? Unprecedented peace,” the commissioner queried.
He noted that the convention’s theme, “The Peace of God,” was particularly significant, saying it offered an opportunity to reflect on the peaceful atmosphere the state currently enjoys under the Eno administration.
Recalling the security challenges of the past, Bassey said there were periods when worshippers faced attacks, abductions and killings, while residents lived in fear of violence, arson and other threats to their safety. He urged parents and community leaders to educate younger generations about the difficult experiences of those years and the value of preserving peace.
The commissioner, who is also a leader in Eket Ward 2 Urban, described Governor Eno as both a son of Eket and a spiritual son of The Apostolic Church, urging the congregation to embrace and support the governor for a second term. His appeal reportedly drew a thunderous “Amen” from the large congregation.
Bassey stressed that peace was indispensable to meaningful development, adding that, as a member of the governor’s team, he was familiar with the administration’s programmes aimed at improving the welfare of residents, particularly the less privileged. He highlighted interventions in health and education, as well as youth empowerment through sports development.
He described Eno as a grassroots-oriented governor whose policies, in his view, were designed to improve lives and create opportunities for young people, noting that sports remained an important platform for talent development, empowerment and social advancement.
In his sermon, the Eket Field Superintendent of The Apostolic Church, Pastor (Dr.) B. E. Okon, urged Christians to embrace the peace of God, which he said helps believers overcome fear and life’s challenges. Drawing his message from Matthew 5:9, he emphasised the biblical injunction: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Bassey later joined other dignitaries, including Pastor Etangkanga, Vice Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Council, and the Village Head of Atabong, Dr. Ikwang, alongside the Eket Field Superintendent and the host Area Superintendent, Pastor O. D. James, to cut the anniversary convention cake.
