Remarks by officials puncture Eno’s claims that his defection to APC attracted federal housing project to Akwa Ibom

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, recently claimed that his state received a new federal housing project because of his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). But a remark by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, contradicts Mr Eno’s claim.

Mr Eno also stated that Akwa Ibom State University received federal approval for a law faculty due to his defection, a claim that has been contradicted by a public document and a federal official.

Governor Eno made the claims on 19 November during an emergency meeting with all 783 of his aides, where he demanded political loyalty from them after two of his aides defied him by attending the Ibadan PDP national convention.

The governor sacked the two aides shortly after the PDP convention. This action caused political tension in the state as the opposition questioned Mr Eno’s pledge to run a cross-party administration.

Anietie Usen, a prominent journalist, author, and media aide to Mr Eno, published excerpts from the governor’s meeting with his aides on Facebook.

Mr Usen said Mr Eno reeled out his administration’s achievements, including paying “N709 million” monthly as salaries to his 783 aides.

He said Mr Eno, at the meeting, stated that Akwa Ibom has benefited from his defection to the APC, and that the governor mentioned the new federal housing project, called Renewed Hope Estate, and the approval for the law faculty at Akwa Ibom State University as some of the benefits.

“What just happened takes a lot of relationship building and relationship