AKHA Speaker Tasks lka On Unity And Peaceful Co-Existence

The Speaker, of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, on Sunday January 19, 2020, tasked Christian faithful in Ika local government area and Akwa lbomites at large to unite and embrace one another irrespective of their affiliations.

Speaker Bassey said in his address at the New Year Thanksgiving Service of the Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, held at Qua Iboe Church, Ikot Akpan Anwa in Ika Local Government Area.

Hon. Bassey who was represented by the Deputy Leader and Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Information, Hon. Barr. Aniefiok Dennis, said that people in the society must come together as one if they must achieve progress in their endeavours.

He called on Christians to conduct themselves in a manner of the gospel of Christ by living in harmony, being sympathetic, humble and compassionate with one another.

While expressing gratitude to the Reverend Monday Enang for his message of peace at the occasion, he saluted the over 250 journalists who attended the service, and applauded the NUJ chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, for providing a qualitative leadership. “He will take NUJ to the next level. I commend you for bringing this programme to the ancient town of lkot Akpan Anwa, lka”.

Also speaking, the State Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, promised the people of Ika Local Government Area of inclusive in the Completion Agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s led administration and made a donation of N3million to the Church.

Preaching on the theme of the thanksgiving service, Rev. Monday Enang charged the NUJ members and the congregants to intentionally create room and preserve unity and peace to allow for rapid development and prosperity of the society.

Earlier, the NUJ Chairman in Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Amos Etuk, pledged to ensure that journalists uphold to the ethics of professionalism and also remain united in setting the agenda for year 2020 through their day to day news reportage.

Comrade Etuk noted that the theme of the thanksgiving service, “Unity in the Bond of Peace” extracted from the Bible book of Ephesians 4:3, was adopted as the Union had made deliberate efforts to restore peace and create a bond of unity in the state after the 2019 general elections.

The chairman appreciated the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Ini Okopido for setting the tone of peace in the area through his promise to support the State government for the development of Akwa Ibom, adding that communal rift in Ika community will remain a thing of the past.

Dignitaries who also graced the occasion include the commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Charles Udoh; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Uwemedimo Nwoko, Chairman, Ika Local Government Area; Past state chairmen of the NUJ, among others.