The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno has promised to withdraw from the gubernatorial race if the West African Examination Council (WAEC) affirms that his certificate tendered at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was forged.
Eno also explained that he would quit pastoral duties if the examination body confirms that the West African School Certificate is not authentic. The Trumpet Gathered
Speaking in Uyo on Tuesday at “Citizens Square” an event powered by the Pure Umo Royalty Eno campaign group (Sad da Initiative), the PDP governorship candidate told supporters to ignore certificate trending on social media adding such document does not belong to him.
“Anything you see on social media about my WAEC certificates is a mere distraction. If WAEC says that I, Umo Bassey Eno, have forged my certificate in 1981, or 1983 and it is proven, I will not only quit being a gubernatorial candidate, I’ll quit being a Pastor.
“Let people rant all they want to rant but let them also know that it is emboldening me and empowering me to go on.
“Everything they do is not going to distract me, what they are doing is the fuel needed to move me to the next level. There is no other commitment anyone would give than that which I have said today; my pastoral calling is not less important to me than serving the people of Akwa Ibom state.”
Umo Eno said his strict parental upbringing would never have permitted him to forge his certificates.
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He explained that there was nothing wrong in resitting an exam to make up for papers he had failed to pass in previous examinations adding that his life experience is occasioned by resilience and focus despite the situation he found himself.
He, therefore, charged youths in the state not to be afraid of failure but be resilient enough to pick themselves up and move on.
“In 1981, 41 years ago, I never planned to be the governor of Akwa Ibom state, I was barely 17 years old and knowing the kind of parents I had, I would never have thought of forging, it never crossed my mind, it was not even in the lexicon at the time.
“There is nothing wrong in trying an exam under the circumstances I grew up in and then you go to take the exam again and pass the same subject.
“There is nothing wrong in failure, what is wrong is staying down. There is something good about falling and rising, that is the story every young person must learn from me; that you can fall but you do not stay down, you grow and move on.”
The PDP flagbearer in Akwa Ibom state encouraged the people to inquire what developmental plans others seeking to lead them would bring to the table if given the opportunity to serve in any capacity.
He advised them to choose someone who will champion job creation, eradicate unemployment and lead the state to prosperity.
Recall that the PDP governorship candidate is standing trial in Uyo Federal High Court on allegation of certificate forgery waiting to be determined before the expiration date for substitution of candidates by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in September
Meanwhile, the presiding Judge Justice Anulika Okeke of the Federal High court in Uyo has adjourned the matter to Thursday 21 July 2022 for hearing.
