By Timothy Ekpo
UYO
The Akwa Ibom State deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, has said that the late Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga has left legacies that he would be remembered by Akwa Ibom people in the provision of the state secretariat and other infrastructure in the state.
Mr Moses Ekpo stated this at the 70th posthumous birthday, foundation launch and unveiling of the biography of late Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, OFR, which recently took place at the prestigious Ibom Hall, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The deputy governor explained that it was a great privilege for the family of the one-time military administrator of Akwa Ibom State to provide an opportunity for him to pay tribute to late Gp. Capt. Idongesit Nkanga.
He told the people that until the late Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga came to the scene as governor in 1990, the government of Akwa Ibom State had no address, except a multiplicity of government offices in rented houses in Uyo.
Mr Ekpo emphatically said that if the chairman of the Divine Mandate Organizations, did not come at a time that he came as the military administrator, Akwa Ibom State would not have had the state secretariat, stressing that within the short period he superintended over the state, he built the Women Development Centre and Ibom Hall, the venue for the celebration of his 70th posthumous birthday.
“The government of Akwa Ibom State had no address, except multiplicity of government offices in rented houses. I am telling you this story because without Idongesit Nkanga coming at a time he came, Akwa Ibom State would still have had no address. Akwa Ibom State had address the day the work on the state secretariat commenced.” Ekpo stressed.
“What more legacy would you require from a man, from a patriot, a man who loves his people. The venue for this posthumous birthday, the Ibom Hall, is one of the edifices she built for meetings like this, for communication purposes like this. The Women Centre is his creation,” he said.
He maintained that the people would not have required anything more from the late patriot than the legacies and foundation he laid in the construction of an administrative facility for the running of the government of the state.
The deputy governor opined that the posthumous 70th birthday anniversary was beyond what was thought of as it offered an opportunity to remember a man, a patriot who provided service to his people with the understanding that he would only be remembered by his legacies.
The state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, who was represented by his wife, Mrs Martha Emmanuel, acknowledged the contributions of late Otuekong Nkanga as the director of the Divine Mandate Organizations which worked for his emergence as was governor in 2015 and 2019.
Governor Emmanuel described him as a man of no mean repute as was evident in the attendance of the event by individuals and groups including PANDEF.
He said that from his “biography”, could see what he achieved as governor in 17 months without boast, adding that his attitude spoke a lot to show that great achievers do not make noise.
The state chief executive said since NECO and WAEC fees were paid by the state government in the free education scheme, the foundation should review what would be done and perhaps look beyond secondary school to avoid duplication
The governor, who assured that he would support the educational foundation, commended the family for initiating the project.
High points of the event were the symbolic presentation of educational foundation grants to 10 students of Government Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Nya, unveiling and presentation of the Biography and cutting of the cake.
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