Mr Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Akwa Ibom State (left) paying last respect to the former Governor of the State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, Rtd. (Photo credit : Press unit, Akwa Ibom State Govt House).
By Abasifreke Effiong
A special valedictory session was held on Friday 5th February in honour of Late Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, a former military administrator of Akwa Ibom State.
The session was held by the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council in the State EXCO chambers, in Government House, Uyo.
Late Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, retired, was the first indigenous military administrator of Akwa Ibom State.
Nkanga died recently due to complications from Coronavirus disease.
READ : ‘Akwa Ibom gov’t committed to running free education’ despite N500 levy
The special valedictory session was attended by Governor Udom Emmanuel, Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, member of the State Executive Council, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Aniekan Bassey, the State Chief Judge, Justice Godwin Abraham, some senior citizens of the State, and family members of the deceased.
The session was streamed live on the official Facebook page of the Akwa Ibom State Government.
Advertisement.
In a tribute, the Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel said the Late Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, retired, shall remain a reference in patriotism and statesmanship, stressing that his demise has created a vacuum in the state.
“Words will fail me to describe how we grieved when we lost this Idongesit of our time, it took time for the void and disbelief to be filled with the acknowledgement that our icon now belongs to the ages and not with us anymore.
“That was when we realized how much he meant to us, how much we identified with him, how much he had become part of the Akwa Ibom dream, we feel a collective sense of deprivation because he still had a lot to contribute”.
“Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, Rtd, was a gentleman, an officer, a nationalist, a good Christian, my political Director-General, my personal friend, leader of Ibibio nation”, Governor Emmanuel said.
The Governor announced the decision of the State Executive Council to name the ring road three, a four lane road which is under construction after the Late Idongesit Nkanga.
READ ALSO : 15 people die in mysterious stream called ‘Pond of death’ in Nasarawa
The Akwa Ibom State secretariat which houses most of the state government ministries and establishments is named after the Late Nkanga.
Nkanga who held the chieftaincy of ‘Otuekong’ conferred on him by his ethnic nationality, Ibibio, was the military administrator of Akwa Ibom State from September 1990 to January 1992 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
He was also the chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF.
Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, retired, died on December 24, 2020 at the age of 69. His remains will be laid to rest in his hometown, Ikot Nya in Nsit Ibom local government area on Saturday 6th February.
