Gov Wike Commiserates Gov’t, A‘Ibom People On Demise Of Udo Ekpenyong, Nkanga, Ors.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has commiserated with the government and people of Akwa Ibom State over the demise of the state Party Chairman, late Obong Udo EkpenyongUdo Ekpenyong, former Governor and Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum , PANDEF, late Air Commodore Idongesit NkangaIdongesit Nkanga, late Air Marshall Nsikak EduokNsikak Eduok, rtd, and other prominent indigenes of the state.

Governor Wike commiserated with Governor Udom Emmanuel, by extension , the people of the state when he led top notch of his government and political stalwarts of his state, Thursday 21st January, 2021, on a condolence visit at the Hilltop Mansion, Government House Uyo.

He described the dead of the prominent sons of the state as a grate loss not just to Akwa Ibom State but the entire South-South region and the PDP which, he said, is the hope of the country.

“I came here to condole with Governor Udom Emmanuel over the lost of three prominent sons of Akwa Ibom State, the former two times Director-General of his campaign organisation and the Chairman of PANDEF and then his party Chairman which is also my party and the hope for this country. I said to myself what affect him, affects me, what touches Akwa Ibom touches Rivers state”, he emphasized.

Governor Wike described the death as unfortunate, untimely and a sad event for both the people of Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, explaining that the loss is happening at a time when the PANDEF Chairman, Nkanga, had emerged a strong voice in the Niger-Delta having been at the forefront of agitations for the restructuring of Nigeria.

He however urged Governor Emmanuel to be consoled by the word of God and advised him to hold onto his faith as a Christian, explaining that God is all-knowing and cannot be questioned by man over what he has allowed, assuring that the government of Rivers State will be fully involved at all levels of the funeral arrangements to give the PANDEF chairman a befitting burial.

In his interaction with Government House Correspondents, Governor Wike harped on his relationship with the Akwa Ibom governor, saying that Governor Udom Emmanuel has earned his respect because of his integrity and love for his people, having been keeping to his promises both to his people and political associates and maintained that the feat was endearing and exemplary. 

He added that Governor Emmanuel’s developmental strides was impressive and commendable.

“Governor Udom Emmanuel is my brother, he is a man of his words, if he tells you that he will do something you can go home and sleep with your two eyes closed.

“Again Governor Udom Emmanuel has the interest of the people of the Niger Delta at heart particularly the people of Akwa Ibom State so as we were coming in today, I told the Chief of Staff that Akwa Ibom is competing with Rivers state because what I have seen here is unbelievable”, he recounted.

On his part , Governor Udom Emmanuel, thanked his Rivers State counterpart and other state governors in the Niger Delta region for identifying with him in the period of grief, noting that his relationship with Wike is what he will value beyond their tenure in office.

Governor Emmanuel described the departed two-time DG of his governorship campaign organsation, Idongesit Nkanga, and the state PDP Chairman as men of proven integrity and loyalty, narrating that the news of Nkanga’s death, at the peak of the yuletide, threw the state into an unimaginable grief.

“For a man to be your two term DG, he must have proven himself an epitome of loyalty and integrity. If Idongesit Nkanga says he loves you in front, know that he loves you all round, both in front and behind you. He was a man of that integrity, character and personality. You could see, even in the South-south, he never had any wall of discrimination.

“My party Chairman also, in fact when they are introducing him, they call him Mr. Loyalty. He was that loyal. He has served the party both at the state and the national levels. In short, if you want any definition of loyalty, just look for Hon. Udo Ekpenyong, you’ll certainly get it anytime any day. It’s so painful to have lost him”, Emmanuel lamented.

Governor Emmanuel pointed out that the state, within the period has lost a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok and former Commissioner for Lands in the state Executive Council, Architect Ime Ekpo, adding that the state is pained that four of her very good people are to be buried within the same period.

He however noted that every man has a set time by God to quit the earth and restated his resolve to continue to provide leadership for the people of the state, hoping that God will give the state beauty for the ashes.

The Governor used the occasion to invite governors, leaders and stakeholders of the Niger Delta region to join him and the people of the State in the funeral of the PANDEF Chairman, scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2021.