National Confab: Nduese Essien to be honoured for making Akwa Ibom proud

For his outstanding performance at the just  concluded National Conference and other national assignments, Rt Hon (Chief) Nduese Essien  is soon to be treated to a civic reception by his people.

The event is billed for Saturday October 11 2014, at Eket Sports Stadium, time  10.00 am Prompt.

Essien is said to have earned the enormous respect of his people through his sagacious handling of key national issues either at the national confab; as the minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development or as a two-term member of the House of Representatives.

According to a statement signed by the chairman of the planning committee, Chief Usoro I. Usoro, the reception organized by the Ekid People’s Union (EPU), in conjunction with Eket Central Forum (ECF) provides “an ample opportunity for us to appreciate one of our leaders for his contributions to national development thus encouraging him as well as other leaders to do more in the future”.

“As a nation with dearth of heroes, we must learn to appreciate our own, particularly those who do us proud at the national sphere. Even the almighty God appreciates gratitude and to publicly acknowledge a leader’s contribution to nation building is one way of showing gratitude. A show of gratitude increases self-worth; encourages hard work and grows productivity”, Usoro said.

While acknowledging the inputs of other delegates to the conference,  the statement noted that but for Essien’s brilliant contributions at the confab, certain regrettable decisions would have been taken that would have gravely affected Akwa Ibom State and eventually thrown the nation into confusion.

“The reception is very timely and apt because a proud father must always with elation welcome home his gallant-hunter son”, Usoro added.

Essien, according to the statement, has always been a shinning light where ever he finds himself on an assignment. “While in the National Assembly (1999-2007), Essien stood out among his colleagues in the performance of his assignments. When he emerged the first ever chairman of the South-south Parliamentary Caucus in the National Assembly, he used the opportunity to initiate the meeting of the South-south Governors with  the South-South Members of the National Assembly at Asaba, Delta State. That eventually  mobilized countrywide support for the payment of the 13% derivation to oil producing states; abrogation of offshore/onshore dichotomy and propagation of the resource control agitation. His dogged lobbying of his colleagues earned mass support for the development of the oil producing area, thus culminating in the creation the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)”, the statement added.

The reception is to be chaired by Prince Chibudom Nwuche, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives; while Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State would be the Special Guest of Honour. The paramount rulers of Eket; Ibeno; Esit Eket and Onna are expected as the Fathers of the Day.