Gov Emmanuel Thanks God, A’Ibom People, Nigerians | Ibomplaza News
By Usiere Akpan
….Gov Udom Emmanuel hardly could hold back his emotions while expressing gratitude to all the well-wishers across the country and the Diaspora, who in various ways showed their respect, honour and love to him, his family, and his late father, Pa Gabriel Nkanang, in the course of the burial of his father, in Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area at the weekend.
Describing the superlative turnout of dignitaries and the general public at the funeral ceremony of the late Pa Nkanang as a symbol of love and unity, the governor expressed his very deep gratitude to all who came from far and near for the funeral ceremony, and particularly to the members of the political class of different ethnic and religious standing, for shielding their party sword and manifesting the bridge building qualities expected of leaders.
The roll-call was topped by President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and wife, Dame Patience; the governors of Ekiti State, Mr Kayode Fayemi; Ifeanyi Umahi of Enugu; Peter Obi and Willie Obiano of Anambra; Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto; Dr Victor Okezie, Abia; Professor Ben Ayade of Cross River; David Umahi of Ebonyi and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
In the list of former governors at the funeral were: James Ibori of Delta; Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke of Cross River; Boni Haruna of Adamawa; Ayo Fayose of Ekiti; Attahiru Bafarawa of Kano, while from Akwa Ibom came Victor Attah and Idongesit Nkanga as well as Godswill Akpabio represented by the wife, Ekaette Unoma.
From the National Assembly came the Senate president, Ahmed Lawan, Senators Ita Enang, Akon Eyakenyi, Effiong Bob, Bassey Albert Akpan, John James Udoedeghe, Udo Udoma, Ike Ekweremadu, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Chris Ekpenyong and from the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) came Obong Umana Okon Umana, while from the finance industry came the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefelie; the chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Jim Ovia; as well as former minister, Chief Don Etiebet.
The traditional rulers included the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido; the chairman of the Akwa Ibom Council of Chiefs, Nteyin Solomon Etuk; the representative of the Ooni of Ife and the paramount ruler of Onna Local Government Area, Edidem Raymond Inyang; while from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were the national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and the Akwa Ibom chapter chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo.
The Akwa Ibom national and state legislators team were the member representing Etinan Federal constituency, Mr Onofiok Luke; the secretary to the state government (SSG), Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem; the state chief judge, Justice Godwin Abraham; the head of civil service, Elder Effiong Essien; commissioners, special advisers, former commissioners, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, Prince Enobong Uwah, and permanent secretaries.
From the religious group were the president, World Methodist Council, Reverend Jung Park; the prelate emeritus, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Sunday Mbang and the general superintendent of the United Evangelical Church (UEC) founded as Qua Iboe Church (QIC) and many others.
Emmanuel, who was accompanied by his wife, Martha, and the state deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, said that the funeral service of his late father came to serve as a bridge building ceremony, remarking that the gathering cut across all segments of individuals on the surface of the earth.
The governor said that his late father was a true example of a biological father with impeccable character rather than the simple possession of charisma, explaining that his late biological father stood by him, his brothers and sisters beyond the clout given by his economic, spiritual and political fathers at moments of dire needs.
He stressed that the character of the deceased has come to bear fruits of inspirations and hope of substance to all individuals in the immediate community and in the Christendom, maintaining that the honour given to them at the response of sympathizers would continue to remain evergreen in the memory of the family members.
The chairman of conference, QIC, Reverend Ekpedeme Efanga, who read from Luke 15:9-12 and 1 Corinthians 4:2, said that all persons came to be born with assignments on earth to serve as stewards and accountable to God, adding that accountability to God requires the keeping to instructions and commandments at all moments.
Efanga, who preached on the theme, The Faithfulness of Stewards, remarked that the hope of being a faithful steward calls for unbroken relationship with God in exhibiting leadership qualities and meeting followership expectations, adding that Christians in leadership positions have to ensure the payment of dues to their stewards in demonstration of excellent examples.
A biography of the deceased indicated that the late Nkanang lived for 90 years serving as a missionary and teacher at various locations in the state and the country. Prior to the funeral service, the deceased family had hosted a sea head of persons during a singsong and friends’ night and a subsequent thanksgiving service all at Awa Iman in Onna Local Government Area.
The respective sessions had ministrations by choir groups and gospel ministers, particularly the international gospel singer, Freke Umoh, the Promised Land choir, the Schubert choir, the African Church choir, the UEC choir, Surulere, the Government House Divine Voices, and the women mass choir as well as the featuring of hymns from the congregation of sympathizers.
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