Ndifreke P. Akpan (Govt House)
Akwa Ibom State Women have rounded off their Thanksgiving Service to God with a declaration of support for the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019.
The declaration on Monday November 27, 2017 was sequel to a motion by the Chairman, National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration, Dr Mrs Ekaette Ebong Okon and seconded by a former Lawmaker, Mrs Sarah Esitikot.
Setting the tone for the event on Ibom Hall Grounds Uyo, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr Glory Edet said Akwa Ibom Women converged to thank God and acknowledge His Supremacy for bringing Mr Udom Emmanuel to govern the state.
The Commissioner stated that since May 29, 2015, the Women have not regretted voting for Governor Emmanuel noting that he has made the people proud.
She said it was for that reason the Women gathered to thank God for the strength and grace upon the Governor who has succeeded in giving purposeful leadership to the state.
According to the Commissioner, "seeing all what you have done in the state in terms of Infrastructure, Empowerment, Poverty Alleviation and so many others that time will not permit me to enumerate, you have confirmed to us that you were the Governor, divinely ordained by God, collectively elected by tthe people and confirmed by the Supreme Court to lead Akwa Ibom".
Having stressed that one good term deserves another, Dr Glory Edet announced that the Governor is the only person the Women will vote for in 2019 saying that there is no vacancy at the Akwa Ibom State Hilltop Mansion for any other person.
She also applauded the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel for allowing God to use her through her pet project, Family Empowerment & Youth Reorientation Path-Initiative, FEYReP, to become hope for the hopeless and provide succor for widows amongst several other things and prayed God to bless them.
The Women, made up of Wives of National and State Legislators, female members in the State House of Assembly and female State Executive Council members, President of Women groups and representatives of Women in the 31 L.G Areas of Akwa Ibom, presented gifts to the Governor with a promise to purchase his PDP nomination form.
Addressing the gathering, the Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke who was the Chairman on the occasion alongside his wife, Dr Mrs Uduak Luke, thanked God for giving the Akwa Ibom Women the initiative to converge for a thanksgiving to give glory to Him.
The Speaker noted that for the women to first seek the face of God, the second term of Governor Udom Emmanuel shall be added unto them.
Barr Luke said, "the people out there may be wondering, what are they celebrating? We are celebrating the gift of God to Akwa Ibom State in the person of Deacon Udom Emmanuel. We are thanking God for a man and woman that God brought at this time to develop the state".
The Speaker who further said that the Women were celebrating superior performance in different sectors of the state's economy emphasized on the free and compulsory education with payment of fees for NECO and SSCE, equipping of state's University, Infrastructure development in College of Education and the state's Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua.
He spoke about the Women Agro Entrepreneurship Development Programme where soft loans are given, rice, vegetable and cassava development projects under Agriculture and also highlighted government's efforts on Infrastructural developments as well as achievements in the health sector as reasons for the celebration by Akwa Ibom Women.
Barrister Onofiok Luke announced that he was on the same page with the Women on the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019.
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel in his response, thanked the Women for their support and particularly commended his wife Martha, for doing much for the Women especially building of houses for the widows and other forms of empowerment for the needy.
Governor Emmanuel who expressed excitement over the declaration, accepted the position of Akwa Ibom Women on his re-election in 2019.
"I encourage the Women to turn out enmass on Saturday December 2, 2017 for the Local Government Elections and vote Peoples Democratic Party's candidates to victory. Everything about development in Akwa Ibom is initiated, executed and commissioned by the Party". The Governor said.
The State Chief Executive promised to immediately present a second tranche of the small and medium scale loan for Women having realized that the first batch did not go round.
The Governor who said the essence of the loan was to empower the Women informed the gathering that arrangements were on to ensure the inauguration of, at least, 3 garri processing factories across the state in addition to the provision of new medical equipments to hospitals.
Mr Emmanuel told the Women to join him on December 22, 2017 for a Carol Service and on January 2, 2018 for the state's Solemn Assembly on Ibom Hall Grounds, Uyo.
The thanksgiving service which featured prayers for the Governor, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria had the Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, former Governor, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, state Executive Council members, former Minister, Dr Mrs Akon Eyakenyi, National and State House of Assembly members, Secretary to the State Government, Sir Etekamba Umoren, Head of Civil Service, Mrs Ekerebong Akpan, Prelate Emeritus, Dr Sunday Mbang and many others in attendance.
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