The Secretary to AkwaIbom State Government, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has extoled the good leadership legacies of the Paramount Ruler of Onna Local Government who is also the Oku Ibom Ibibio the lll, AkwaEdidemAkpabioUdoUkpa, and described it as legendary.
The SSG stated this recently during the 91 birthday celebration of the Monarch which took place at the international secretariat of MbohoMkparawa Ibibio, UdoUdoma Avenue, Uyo.
He said it was a thing of joy for the people of AkwaIbom state to celebrate the monarch at 91 when life expectancy in the world is being put at 50, and described the monarch as an icon who has leave good leadership legacies in the service of AkwaIbom state and Cross River.
According to the SSG, “what a great day that we see something different in Nigeria, Nigeria is a country that people will tell you the best President we never had, the best Governor we never had, because we celebrate people post-mortem. But today we are so grateful to God for his grace upon the life of our father at 91. It is a wisdom age which he has attained with numerous achievements both for AkwaIbom and Cross River states”.
The state Chief Scribe how was the book presenter on the leadership legacies of the Celebrant, described the book”legendary legacies of leadership” as an embodiment of the sterling qualitiesof EdidemUkpa’s attitude towards life which shall outlive the monarch, and assured him that the people of the state shall learn those leadership legacies from him. “I want to assure his Eminence that what we have seen today in this book about your life, we shall learn from it. We have seen so much in terms of leadership qualities, we have seen rare wisdom in the court cases he presided over and many more. I stand very humble today to present this book written about our father and my Paramount Ruler, I encourage everybody to read this book and have it in our individual library”.
He promised to make sure that the book is found in all libraries in the state, if possible upload electronic copies in the state e-library, and charged all as leaders in their various capacities to read the book which is about leadership.
The State Governor Chief GodswillAkpabio who was represented by his Deputy, Lady Valerie Ebe described the monarch’s 91 birthday as not just a celebration of life but accomplishment, having attended a rare age of 91 which he still look strong and vibrant. He said that the monarch’s leadership qualities blossomed in his late 70’s and early 80’s while serving as the political adviser to Governor Isong, adding that his lifedeserved a documentation because he has both proved that it is not how long but how well.
He called on traditional rulers in the state to emulate EdidemUkpa’s leadership qualities and be guided in their utterances especially as the election year draws near. The Governor decries a situation where some traditional rulers in the state engaged in fanning embers of disunity and ethnicity, and stressed the need to celebrate heroes while alive. He charged AkwaIbom people to resolve to stand together and do all things in unity which he said is the only way to sustain the progress of the state.
In his remark, the chairman on the occasion, Dr Val Attah thanked God for keeping EdidemUkpa alive to celebrate 91 birthday, and expressed optimism that the monarch will live to celebrate 100 birthday. He called on all AkwaIbom people to follow God’s direction as 2015 Governorship election approaches, adding that God chosen his leader for AkwaIbom people which is Udom Emmanuel who has come to serve the people of the state, and he will leave lasting legacies.
Responding, His Eminence, Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa described his 91 birthday celebration as a manifestation of God’s will and faithfulness upon his life, and thanked all those who have contributed to the successful celebration. He maintained that he was impressed by the crowd of well-wishers who have come to honour him.
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