PRESS RELEASE

AKPABIO CALLS FOR UNITY IN AKWA IBOM

Gov Godswill Akpabio after he was conferred with the title of Ntanta Offiong Annang by the Afe Annang on Dec 13, 08

Governor Godswill O. Akpabio has again harped on the need for unity of Akwa Ibom people to usher in the desired development among the component tribes.

Governor Akpabio who made the call at a grand reception held for him by Afe Annang and Afe Nkuku Annang at Ebebit   Afaha Obong described unity as a vital tool to weld together the various socio cultural groups and harness the abundant human and economic resources for greater Akwa Ibom State.

He warned future leaders in the state against marginalization of some sections and sowing seeds of tribalism in the polity and governance of the State.

“There are 31 local government areas in this State and some of you may not be opportune to see a governor coming from your locality because it is a difficult thing for governorship position to go round easily,” the governor said.

Governor Akpabio therefore enjoined his successors to see the entire state as their primary constituency instead of saying “thank God, it is now my turn to rule and appropriate resources to my section”.

“When I leave the office, others will come. But the legacy I leave behind will determine the foot step my successor should follow.  So I must strive to ensure justice, equity and fairness to all without bias or tribal sentiment,” he pointed out.

The State Chief Executive used the occasion to debunk the view that he was fighting against churches noting; “I am fighting against 419 pastors, one of whom falsely claimed he had killed 110 child-witches only for the police to have retrieved 35 children sold into slavery in Aba.”

Chief Akpabio, however, expressed happiness to his kinsmen for the reception since, according to him, “a prophet is not usually celebrated at home, yet I am celebrated at home.”

He pledged to construct the Ebebit Afaha Obong road leading to Afe Annang and to assist in completing the ancestral headquarters office complex of Afe Annang.

The chairman of the occasion, Mr. Senas Ukpanah said Afe Annang organized the ceremony to acknowledge among others the quality of Governor Akpabio’s visionary leadership, celebrate Akpabio’s extra-ordinary performance in office,  motivate him to attain greater height and publicly pledge unflinching loyalty and support to him and his administration.

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Mr. Ukpanah, a one-time minister of National Planning, requested the Akpabio-led administration to ensure existence of a budding class of entrepreneurs, literate work force with ability to function in cutting edge technology, adequate infrastructural development as well as the establishment of appropriate and enabling institutional environment.

He appealed to perceived enemies, of Akpabio’s administration to sheathe their swords, retrace their evil steps and desist from petitions writing and blackmail.

The Itai Afe Annang IV, Okuku Pius Effiong Eside III, lauded the governor’s determination to build bridges of unity, peace and stability across the tribal components of the state epitomized in the execution of development projects across the State.

Okuku Eside III, while pledging to solidly support the Akpabio’s administration even beyond 2011, appealed to Governor Akpabio to assist in the completion of ancestral headquarters office complex of Afe Annang.

Governor Akpabio was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Nta Nta Offiong Annang, the Deputy Governor, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu, National Chairman of PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, and secretary to State Government, Mr. Umanah Okon Umanah were conferred with Iberedem Annang.