“LET’S UNITE FOR ARISE AGENDA”
Governor Umo Eno appeals for bipartisan collaboration for the success of his
administration, as Akwa Ibom rounds off prayer summit
For the umpteenth time, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, has sued for peace, unity and mutual respect among all political parties in the State, urging all to collapse their parties’ ideologies and preferences for the peace, progress and accomplishment of the ARISE Agenda dreams of his administration.
This appeal was made at the wrap up of the 3day statewide prayer summit, held to seek divine guidance for the 3rd year of the administration. While acknowledging the rights of people to hold their political views, he averred that his administration was projecting the ARISE Agenda and working with all interests for the success of his administration and peace building.
Emphasizing the importance of projecting the ARISE Agenda above political parties, the Governor noted that he prefers to don the emblem of ARISE Agenda instead of political parties, and except at rallies where he would use the party symbols. The Governor’s position has resonated with emphasis, clearing signaling a bipartisan posture of the administration for purposes of unity, mutual respect and tolerance among Akwa Ibom citizens. Building on the successes of his administration in two years, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State,
Dr. Mensa Otabil
Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, made a wise decision to seek divine guidance, as he treads the bumpy roads of politics and governance in the third year of his administration. That guidance came at the prayer summit titled, “Nations Will Come To Your Light, And Kings To The Brightness of Your Dawn” (Isaiah 30:3), held on June 11 to 13, 2025 at the International Christian Worship Centre, Uyo. It marked a turning point for the administration and the State, as strong prophetic utterances and prayers reverberated across the wavelengths of the State. A collection of choice speakers was key to achieving the intended impact of the summit: Dr. Mensa Otabi l, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Nuhu Kure,
Apostle Lawrence Achudume
Rev Dr. Ndueso Ekwere, Apostle Dr. Samuel Effiong and Rev. Emmanuel Iniama charted a distinct direction for the State and her people. Clouds of blessings shifted for greater glory of Akwa Ibom State under the ARISE agenda. Mensa Otabil is an enigmatic teacher but he went prophetic on the first night of the summit, urging congregants and thousands of viewers online to discard known stratagems, as God was up for supernatural engagements in the state restorative moves. He gave a message titled, “Discard the
Measuring Line,” taken from Zachariah 2:1-5 (NIV): “Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked, “Where are you going?”
He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.” While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him and said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within,” he said God was up for the reconstruction and restoration of the state.
According to him, Zachariah and Haggai were two young prophets who were critical to the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Zachariah started his prophetic ministry at 24 and in the process of his work, he had three significant visions: the first vision, (Zachariah 1:11), he saw a vision where the angels observed Israel and reported back that Israel was at peace with everything in order within its walls. In the second vision, (Zachariah 1:18) he saw how Israel was scattered by four horns and hope lost but some thing dramatic happened: four supernatural carpenters showed up and terrified the four destructive agents and the cities were rebuilt and restored. Apostle Lawrence Achudume took Akwa Ibomites on a journey to maximizing personal gifts in order to shine the light. He anchored the message on 1Corinthians 12:7 (KJV),
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal;” and charged that, “What sets Christianity apart from all other religions is the transformative presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not merely given to us to reside passively or to intimidate others. That we are In the third vision, (Zachariah 2:1-5), Zachariah saw a man with a measuring line to measure the length and breadth of the destroyed cities and to start the rebuilding process but God said,
Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Nuhu Kure
“Don’t measure it because He was about doing something new and measuring it would limit divine intention for the people. He was asked to throw away the measuring line, because God did not need human standards for the rebuilding of the city. Apostle Lawrence Achudume took Akwa Ibomites on a journey to maximizing personal gifts in order to shine the light. He anchored the message on 1Corinthians 12:7 (KJV), “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal;” and charged that, “What sets Christianity apart from all other religions is the transformative presence of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not merely given to us to reside passively or to intimidate others. That we are now born again is a divine empowerment to accomplish greater works than even Christ Himself did (John 14:12). “In this Gen Z era,” he continued, “many have reduced the power of the Holy Spirit to mere speaking in tongues, overlooking the profound gifts He is to manifest through the work of our hands. As students of the Word, we must not be ignorant of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are given to every believer, but if we fail to understand the purpose, we may abuse it or miss out on the power our gifts have to transform our lives and communities.
The Holy Spirit operates in diverse ways, yet it is the same Spirit who empowers us all (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). These gifts are not for show or comparison, nor should they spark jealousy. They are for tangible, visible results – results that glorify God and impact lives. As believers, we are called to manifest these gifts for the profit of all, to shine brightly in our unique spaces, and to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives.
According to Apostle Achudume, “Prosperity is not the sole responsibility of the government;
every Christian is gifted and empowered by the Holy Spirit to manifest something extraordinary.
The ARISE Agenda is not just for leaders; it is a call for every Akwa Ibomite to rise, harness their God-given gifts, and shine in their own space. Exodus 35:29-31 reminds us that God equips us with wisdom, understanding, and creativity to undertake extraordinary ventures. Whether you’re selling pure water, pepper or operating a machine; your “little light” has the capacity to shine brightly and produce remarkable results. Through entrepreneuri a l ventures and empowerment projects, you are called to thrive independently, not to depend on handouts. Like the moon and stars, each of us has a unique capacity to shine, and we must not bury our talents.
In Matthew 25 : 15, God distributed talents according to each person’s capacity. The servants lived in the same nation, under the same conditions, yet their outcomes differed. The one with five talents doubled them, as did the one with two. But the servant with one talent buried it, blamed his master, and called him wicked. This is a warning to us! God knows your capacity and has equipped you accordingly. The final day came with Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Kure who declared:
“When I saw the theme of this Prayer Summit, Arise, for Your Light Has Come, anchored on Isaiah 60:1-3, I trembled. Who gave this scripture to the fathers of faith and His Excellency at such a prophetic season? This is not just a theme; it is a divine command! With this word, we can only bless the people, bless the land, and prophesy a new dawn. I declare that the Lord is opening a fresh page for Akwa Ibom State, and you will be at the heart of this transformation in Jesus’ name!” He further pronounced blessings upon the administration and the people, adding: “God has blessed Akwa Ibom with visionary governors, but when He brought a priest as governor in Pastor Umo Eno, He established a covenant.
His Excellency, the Governor Of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, the Deputy Governor & Spousewith the Coordinator of Ofce of the First Lady, Lady Helen Obareki during the 3Day Prayer Summit
I prophesy to His Excellency: The Lord will give you grace to finish well and strong! The Governor will become a life spring for many, a beacon of hope for generations to come. The breaker has gone before you (Micah 2:12-13). Every controversy, hindrance, or hedge blocking your path is shattered tonight. The Lord will gather the remnants of Akwa Ibom, build a shield around you, and show you mercy.” Rev. Dr. Ekwere, the immediate past State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), delivered this charge during the opening session of the event on Wednesday, June 11, He emphasized that nothing in life occurs by accident, asserting that every event is divinely orchestrated.
He urged the people to discern and embrace the move of God currently taking place, declaring that it heralds transformation, development, and progress for Akwa Ibom State Apostle Dr Samuel Effiong, who delivered the charge to the Akwaibomites on the second day of the prayer summit, urged all to embrace progress, as light symbolizes progress in life He said: “I like the word progress, whenever you see light, you see progress. We must support His Excellency’s ARISE Agenda programmes of the State and move progressively with His Excellency.”
Rev’d Emmanuel Iniama on the last day charged Akwaibomites on character development. He stated that while will attract nations to our State, character would enable us as a people to shine. He made copious appeals for development of strong values, hinged on virtues of honesty, respect and transparency in dealings with others. “I see this prayer summit as a cross over spiritual exercise to the other party. So, it is important to table the movement to APC before God. The prayer summit is the best to happen this season in the State; putting God first, not behind.
” But has the 3day prayer summit achieved its intended goals? Lady Apostle Helen Ukpabio, known as Queen of Deliverance, Liberty Gospel Church, and a member of Akwa Ibom Christian Leadership Advisory Council (AKSCLAC) described the prayer summit as pivotal to the success of the 3rd year of Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D’s administration.” Her words: “Any important journey you don’t start with the Lord, the Lord will remove his hand from it. The prayer summit is commendable; for the Governor to recognise that without God, he cannot achieve any success is an example we should all learn from, in order for us to avoid making mistakes that will rob us of success. I am happy that I personally participate in the summit. It is an opportunity for me to grow and learn more from others, so I can also share these experiences.”
“I see this prayer summit as a cross over spiritual exercise to the other party. So, it is important to table the movement to APC before God. The prayer summit is the best to happen this season in the State; putting God first, not behind. “
