UYO: Senate President Godswill Akpabio has revealed how he played a role in securing an ambassadorial appointment for former senator Ita Enang, who currently serves as Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Germany under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Akpabio made the revelation while recounting an encounter with Enang, whom he described as someone who had previously been critical of successive administrations in Akwa Ibom State.
According to the Senate President, he once reached out to Enang and appealed to him to stop criticising Governor Umo Eno, whom he described as a leader given to the state by God.
However, Enang reportedly responded that he would not stop his criticism until he was given an official responsibility to occupy himself with.
Recounting the conversation, Akpabio said:
Someone here who used to criticise past governments of Akwa Ibom. One day, I called him, I told him, This Pastor Umo Eno that God has given us, please stop abusing him.
He said, Your Excellency, until you give me something to do, I will not stop. So, I decided to send him as ambassador to Germany,
The Senate President’s account suggests that his intervention in Enang’s ambassadorial appointment followed a personal conversation in which the former senator indicated that he wanted an official assignment.
Akpabio’s recollection also highlighted the political relationship between the two Akwa Ibom political figures and his efforts to encourage a different approach towards the administration of Governor Umo Eno.
Rather than continuing the disagreement, Akpabio said he decided to recommend Enang for an ambassadorial responsibility, leading to his appointment as Nigeria’s representative in Germany under the Tinubu administration.
Ita Enang is a former member of the National Assembly who represented Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District in the Senate. He also served as Senior Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate).
His diplomatic appointment under President Tinubu marked another significant chapter in his public service career, taking him from legislative and presidential responsibilities to representing Nigeria abroad.
Akpabio’s revelation has drawn attention to the political conversations and personal interventions that can influence appointments into public offices, particularly diplomatic positions.
The account also offers an insight into the relationship between Akpabio and Enang, as well as the Senate President’s approach to managing political disagreements within Akwa Ibom’s political space.
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