COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY MKPAT ENIN ELDERS FORUM AT THE END OF ITS MEETING HELD AT NELSON MANDELA HALL, WATBRIDGE HOTELS AND SUITES, UYO, ON SUNDAY 14TH JANUARY, 2024.
Mkpat Enin Elders Forum, made up of foremost stakeholders in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, met on January 14th, 2024. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Etete Peters, former Chief Medical Director, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, who stood in for the Forum’s Chairman, Dr. Sydney Udofot. The well attended meeting attracted dignitaries from various sectors and institutions. Prominent amongst them were; the Distinguished Senator representing Akwa Ibom South in the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ekong Sampson Ph.D, the host; Mkpat Enin Local Government Transition Committee Chairman, Lady Mercy Bassey; the State PDP officer and former Local Government Chairman, Hon. Mfon Nkanteen; the PDP Chapter Chairman, Hon. Anietie Sunday and his Deputy, Mr. Emmanuel Jacob. Many appointees also attended. They included: Dr. Markfre Ekefre, Board Member I, State Secondary Education Board; Sir Ubong Etefre, Former Transition Chairman and Commissioner in EARCOM and Mr. Iniobong Akpan, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Matters.
Also in attendance, were former House of Assembly members, Rt. Hon. (Engr) Otobong Ndem and Hon. (Barr) Victor Ekwere; former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Obong (Hon.) Martyns Udo-Inyang; Rev. Obot Moffat Ekanem, Coordinator, Mkpat Enin Ward Leaders Forum and Leader, Ikpa Ikono III; Hon. Aniedi Ekanem, Secretary, Ward Leaders Forum and Leader, Ukpum Minya Ward 4 and many other Ward Leaders.
Wife of the pioneer Executive Chairman of Mkpat Enin, Dr. (Mrs.) Roseline Richard Umoren; Wife of former Executive Chairman, Dcns. Grace Joe Udobia were also in attendance. From the clergy were Apst (Dr.) John Okoriko, Founder of the Solid Rock Kingdom Church and his wife, Mrs. Eka John Okoriko; Bishop Joseph EkpoAbasi, former Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Mkpat Enin and Prof. Monsignor Sylvanus Udoidem, renowned cleric and academic. Other leading indigenes of Mkpat Enin LGA from the academia included, Prof. Etefia Ekanem, Dean, Student Affairs, University of Uyo, who moved the motion to adopt the communique of proceedings at the meeting; Prof. Uduak Okon, Dean School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo; Prof. Ini Akpabio; Prof. Aniefiok Otu; Associate Prof. Aniefiok Ukommi; Dr. Mrs Edo Ekanem, Deputy Provost, College of Education, Afaha Nsit; Dr. Patrick Essiet, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; Dr. Uduak Udoh, Secretary, AKISIEC. Others in attendance included the immediate past Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Uyo Branch, Barr. Ememobong Nicholas; Chief Magistrate F. J. Ekpa and Senior Magistrate M. A. Ebong; Council Secretary, Pst. Friday Afia Amos; former Leaders of Council – Rt. Hon. Barr. Franklin Ikpong; Hon. Christian Jumbo; Hon. Ebong Akpan and other Past Principal officers of the Legislative Council. Also in attendance were the PDP Chapter Woman Leader in Mkpat Enin, Lady Mercy Jacob and the President, National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs. Dorathy Eyaema Ekanem. The Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Mkpat Enin Chapter, Hon. Emem Alex accompanied by all former Chairmen, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Mkpat Enin Chapter – Comr. Unaowo Amos, Ezekiel Inam and Comr. Ubong Ememe. Mr. Etido Udowo, Dean, College of Personal Assistants to the Governor, Mkpat Enin Chapter, and Barr. Daniel Hilary, Dean, College of Supervisors, Mkpat Enin Local Government Transition Committee, amongst others, also attended. HRH, Ime Ekong, Clan Head of Ibiaku representing the Traditional Institution.
The meeting deliberated on a number of issues and made the following resolutions:
- Mkpat Enin Elders Forum congratulated the State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, a beloved and dependable In-law in Mkpat Enin on his victory at the Supreme Court and pledged its unflinching support for his administration even beyond 2027.
- The forum also expressed satisfaction with the steps so far taken by Governor Umo Eno, in the implementation of the Arise Agenda especially as it touches on the Rural Development components.
- The State Governor was also deeply appreciated for proposing a Songhai Model Palm Oil Estate/Mill in Ibekwe, Mkpat Enin LGA. His Excellency was also appreciated for appointing sons and daughters of Mkpat Enin LGA into positions in his government. Prominent amongst them is Hon. Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno James Ibanga and others. In the light of His Excellency’s outstanding achievements, the Forum passed a vote of confidence on His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno.
- Mkpat Enin Elders Forum highly appreciates the contributions and status of Distinguished Senator Ekong Sampson, Senator representing Akwa Ibom South, as the highest political office holder in Mkpat Enin LGA. The Forum congratulated His Excellency, Senator God’swill Obot Akpabio on his emergence as President of the 10th Senate and commended him and the Senate leadership for appointing their illustrious son, Distinguished Senator Ekong Sampson as Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals.
- Mkpat Enin Elders Forum also congratulated the Chairman, Transition Committee, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Lady Mercy Bassey for her meritorious appointment and mandated her to be holding regular meetings with stakeholders and also represent the Local Government Area, promote inclusivity, cohesion and even development.
- The meeting also congratulated Rear Admiral Etop Ebe, on his elevation in the Nigerian Navy and urged other indigenes of the LGA in other fields of endeavour to show same exemplary dedication to duty and discipline so as to earn them recognition and elevation so as to become role models in the Local Government Area and beyond.
- The Forum unanimously appointed Rev. Obot Moffat Ekanem as the Secretary of Mkpat Enin Elders Forum. Besides, the forum adopted Joe Udobia Hall in Mkpat Enin Local Government Secretariat as the Head Office of Mkpat Enin Elders Forum.
- The meeting took time to consider the deplorable condition of roads in the council area and appealed to the State Governor to utilize this dry season and direct the construction of Ibekwe – Ikot Unya – Ikot Akata road; Ibekwe – Ikot Akpaden road and other major roads in Mkpat Enin to boost economic activities in the area.
- The meeting thanked the State Governor for his interest to site a Model Health Centre in Mkpat Enin Urban. The Forum however pleads that it be upgraded to a General Hospital to meet the enormous pressure of health challenges in Mkpat Enin LGA. This is understandable due to the large size and population of the Local Government Area
- The meeting expressed concern over the state of insecurity in some parts of the Local Government Area and called on the Police Authorities to site police posts at the flash points in the council area and or reactivate abandoned police stations like the ones at Ikot Umiang, Ikot Abia and Ikot Ekpaw. The Forum also urged indigenes to cooperate with security agencies and provide useful information to help fight insecurity
- It was generally observed at the meeting, that Mkpat Enin LGA deserves appropriate facilities as an oil-bearing community and appealed to the Federal Government to site an Oil Museum at Ikot Akpaekop where oil was first recovered in Nigeria in 1952 as well as attract other infrastructure and human development to Mkpat Enin LGA.
- The meeting advised Mkpat Enin stakeholders to live in peace, eschew clannishness, factionalism and sectionalism, and generally pursue objectives that will bring unity and development to the Local Government Area.
For and on behalf of Mkpat Enin Elders Forum –
Prof. Etete Peters
For Forum’s Chairman
Prof. Uduak Okon
Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Otobong Ndem
Hon. Barr. Victor Ekwere
Hon. Mfon Nkanteen
Sir. Ubong Ekefre
Rev. Obot Ekanem
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