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Movie star Ini Edo
When it comes to lobbying, you can give it to petite movie star, Iniobong Edoamaowo, simply known as Ini Edo.
The 37-year-old Akwa Ibom-born actress was appointed in 2016 by the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, to serve as his special assistant on culture and tourism. That was in the governor’s first term in office.
Since the “fine boy” governor who refers to himself as a “technocrat in politics” secured his mandate for a second term from the electorate, the English graduate from the University of Calabar has been working on various strategies to get to the bottom of the heart of the governor to ensure she retains her own position too for a “second term”.
One of the strategies adopted lately by Ini Edo, whose well celebrated marriage in 2008 to Philip Ehiagwina crashed irretrievably in 2014, is to regularly call the attention of the governor of the oil rich state to her devotion and absolute loyalty.
Check out this recent long e-letter composed for the governor by Brown Sugar, as she fondly refers to herself:
“Out to celebrate a man with whom through him God has shown Himself mighty. His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel.
“A man after God’s heart. God confirmed His word, my favourite quotes: ‘If God be for me, who can be against me?’, ‘One with God is a majority’.
“A man who has led the great people of Akwa Ibom State back to God. A man of integrity. I am in awe of the quality of man/politician you are especially in this day and age.
“You have been such an exemplary leader and I am privileged and humble to be part of your administration.
“The good Lord whom you have served with all your might will uphold you with His right hand, and no weapon fashioned against you shall ever prosper. God bless you Sir. Celebrations continua...”
See what I mean? Tell me, what other form of “targeting” can beat this?
But will the governor be moved by this letter? Time will tell.