A video showing a leading governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state promising weekly drinking binge for citizens on government bill has gone viral, shocking many Nigerians.
– Key points to note
In the 29-second video, Umo Eno, candidate of the ruling PDP, who is backed by Gov Udom Emmanuel to become the next governor of the oil rich state, said citizens will be allowed an hour every Friday to drink from select bars. The government will cover most of the cost, he said.
“I tell you one thing, every Friday, I will have what I call ‘happy hour’ for the state and it’s simple,” he says. “What do I want to do with happy hour? I want to create business for people that have facilities.”
He continues: “So we declare that okay you know what, between 5pm and 6pm, these are the bars – we pick them randomly and we send someone there, give us these drinks. As people come, if you were to sell for N200, please sell for N50 because we’ve paid you.”
It is not clear when and where Mr Eno made the comments. But the video shows that Mr Eno, who made a career in the hospitality sector, is seated with some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and appears to be addressing journalists.
“(And) we get Akwa Ibom to relax. You know, all work without play makes Jack a dull boy. We will mix play. I believe that if you work hard you should rest well,” he adds.
– Why this matters
Despite being one of Nigeria’s richest states, Akwa Ibom has some of the highest levels of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria, according to the National Bureau Statistics’ latest numbers released last year. The state government frequently contests those figures.
– Learn more
The state’s economic and developmental troubles are blamed on poor leadership that has squandered trillions of naira of oil money over years.
Mr Eno has served in state cabinet since 2015 and former commissioner for lands and water resources.
On social media, stunned commentators criticised his plan, wondering how useful that would be to the state.
One Twitter user, Usen Jumbo, wrote: “The most shameful, also shameful to those behind him! That’s a state ranked on top five as unemployed, Indebted, high cost of living, out of school dropout and low productivity state. That’s the man incumbent want to foist on the state same where he was foisted on the state, sad!”
Others saw the lighter side of the plan, with some considering benefitting from the proposal. “I need to relocate to Akwa Ibom State. I need to relax….lol,” one tweeted.
I have made arrangements with joints(beer parlours) so that every Friday my people will go out to the joints to drink and relax…."
Pastor Umo Eno, PDP Governorship Candidate in Akwa Ibom State pic.twitter.com/hhN6dcrVCZ
— Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) March 15, 2023
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