Hours after the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki led some members of the Senate on a consultation visit to former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital on Friday, the Akwa Ibom state governor, Emmanuel Udom was also at the Presidential Hilltop residence to pay similar visit.
This time, the delegation was led by his predecessor and close ally to Obasanjo, Godswill Akpabio and former Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Rev. Sunday Mbang. The trio arrived at the residence at about 3.43pm.
After about two hour closed door session that had only four of them in attendance, Udom in an interview with newsmen, said the visit was an appreciation call to Obasanjo, whom he described as “the father of the nation.”
According to him, “as a former President he is a father to all. You don’t assume office (he is like you going into hunting and you catch a big animal, you must come to show your father). It is just an act of courtesy and respect to come and show the father of the nation, that see, I consulted you before going into the election, and now that I won, I have to come and say see my efforts yielded positive fruits. As is appropriate to thank God, it is also to thank man, who you see everyday.”
On his plans to change things in the Akwa Ibom state, Udom, said his new government was looking at “varieties of blue prints and we have a direction. First of all, we need to see what capacity do we have on ground and that must be accessed. And we have also discovered that it is one state so blessed by God. So, we’ll equip the people with the right capacity to build, since we have a solid foundation and with that foundation that we have on ground, we believed that we want to set up a solid structure that can actually take us higher.
Akpabio who also spoke said he was delighted “seeing him (Obasanjo) in good health ( despite his very busy schedule in bringing unity to African), I am very delighted. So, this is my home, I am sure that you know that I am not new here; the only difference is that it is an uncommon visit since I came with an uncommon visitor in the person of the new governor of Akwa Ibom state.
