The selection and grand reception of a substantive Political Leader of Ikono in the person of Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo has continued to enjoy wider acceptability, endorsement and royal blessings across the state, with the Ntisong Ibibio III, Obong (Dr) Essien Udo Ekidem being the latest to throw his weight behind the Leader.
Speaking at his Palace when the Political Leader, in the company of some notable elders from Ikono paid him a royal visit on invitation, the Ibibio Monarch said he heard of the emergence of the Political Leader of Ikono and whereas Ikono is the cradle of Ibibio Nation where his monarchy covers, he decided to send for him and to have some words of wisdom for him.
The Ntisong Ibibio III said from his interactions with Ikono people, he had come to terms with the fact that Obong Ukpong-Udo was overwhelmingly selected by the people of Ikono and that he assumed the political leadership as a call to higher service and a reward for his philanthropic and altruistic disposition in life, not only toward Ikono people, but toward every needy person that comes his way.
He congratulated Obong Ukpong-Udo on his emergence and urged him to continue with his good works, especially as the new position comes with greater responsibilities. The Eket-born Monarch charged him to demonstrate wisdom and exhibit a strong discerning capacity in his leadership.
Obong Ekidem congratulated Ikono people for living up to their sobriquet as the Cradle and Conscience of Ibibio Nation through their meticulous and informed selection of Obong Ukpong-Udo and charged them to continue to support him to succeed. He promised to initiate a mark of memorial of the visit in honour of Obong Ukpong-Udo at Asan Ibibio, describing him as a lamp that cannot be lit and hidden. The Ntisiong who was flanked by some Palace officials rained copious royal prayers of blessing on the Ikono Political Leader, Obong Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo.
Speaking earlier, the Ikono Political Leader, Obong Emmanuel; Ukpong-Udo said he was delighted to be at the Ntisong’s Palace, describing the royal invitation extended to him as a divine act of God and a rare feat of honour which he said had left him humbled and challenged.
He described the little noise arising from his selection and formal grand reception as normal and in tune with the fact that nothing good and beneficial ever comes easy and unchallenged, quoting copiously from legendary Tuface Idibia’s popular lyrics that ‘ if nobody talks about you, then you are nobody’ . He described himself modestly as someone who had both content and value for Ikono people and one who came with the mission to change the negative status quo in the politics of Ikono.
He told the Ntisong that he would love to work closely with him to tap from his wealth of experience and fatherly advice in the onerous task of leading Ikono politically. He donated a symbolic substance of remembrance of his visit to the Palace and prayed the Ntisong to feel free to get him involved in any meaningful project designed to add value to the Ibibio race.
Others who spoke at the event were the Clan Head of Ndiya in Ikono where the Political Leader hails from, His Highness, Etebom Godswill Udo Isang, a former Chairman of Ikono and one-time Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sir Ubong Ntuk, another one-time Chairman of Ikono, Engr. Edet Umotong, a retired DSS Director, Dr Edem Usoro and the Official Spokesman for the Political Leader, Chief (Bar) Moses Akpan.
They all spoke in glowing terms about their Political Leader, while thanking the Ntisong Ibibio III for the royal invitation extended to him.
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