The people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State on Saturday rolled out drums to honour Mr. Udom Emmanuel, following the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed him as governor of the state.
They also celebrated him for the policies and programmes he has initiated, to consolidate on the performance of the immediate past administration for the progress of the state.
Chairman of the occasion, Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien in his speech congratulated Governor Udom Emmanuel for the victory at the court saying that, the reception had already been put in place by the people, ahead of the Supreme Court judgment to celebrate him since they knew he would victorious.
He explained that, the honour done the governor by the Senatorial District predicated on the maxim that, “Honour is given to whom honour is due” adding they were very happy knowing that, through him, the unification of the people would be restored for the state to stand tall in the comity of states in the country.
While commending the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio for the support given to the governor, appealed to some of the former Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) members, who decamped to the opposition parties in the state to return as P.D. P was big enough to accommodate everybody in the state.
Governor Udom Emmanuel in his speech thanked the people for the reception and pledged his administration’s commitment to the development of the state.
He maintained that, no part of the state would be left behind in his scheme of things and called on the people, especially those in the opposition to close ranks with his administration to move the state forward.
Senator Godswill Akpabio who extolled the people for their support described the judgment by the Supreme Court as a dispensation of justice.
He thanked the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government by President Buhari, for not interfering in the judicial process of the country saying that, the success of Governor Emmanuel was a vindication that the rule of law has prevailed.
Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. (Hon.) Onofiok Luke in his goodwill message, thanked the people of the Senatorial District for celebrating Governor Udom Emmanuel, his Deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo, as well as Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
He pledged the readiness of the Assembly to work with the governor to realize his development initiative through the industrialization of the state.
Hon. Luke however, enjoined those in the opposition to sheathe their sword and join hands with the state government in the development of the state.
He described the victory celebration as significant noting that, the people of the area had every reason to thank God for standing by their representative, Chief Akpabio, who survived a road accident last year in Abuja.
High point of the occasion was honouring of Governor Udom Emmanuel and wife, Martha, Deputy-Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, Senator Godswill Akpabio and wife, Unoma by the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District for what they described as, “Worthy contributions to the development of the state”.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by the National Assembly caucus, former Deputy-Governor, Dr. Chris Ekpenyong, political stakeholders from the three Senatorial Districts of the state and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) amongst others.
