AKSGAnnounces Final Funeral For Former Gov Nkanga, Feb 6

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AKSGAnnounces Final Funeral For Former Gov Nkanga, Feb 6

T he Akwa Ibom government has announced preparations to accord the final funeral honour to a former governor of the state, on February 6, 2020. The former governor, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, who was also the director general of the Divine Mandate Campaign organisation and chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, died recently from suspected complications of the Corona virus. Gov. Udom Emmanuel gave hints about the funeral ceremony during a condolence visit on him by the Governor of Rivers State Mr. Nyeson wike, which took place at Government House, Uyo, Thursday. Emmanuel watched by some members of the state executive council said that major aspects of the burial arrangements are ongoing in the routing of letters of invitations to serving and past governors of the Niger Delta region and across other states as well as to key non- governmental organisations in the country, hinting that the burial of the state chairman of the People Democratic Party, PDP, Obong Udo Ekpenyong was entirely a party affair expected to take place after due consultations with the leadership of the PDP at the national level. He narrated that the Akwa Ibom Chapter of the PDP has been bruised and devastated in pains at the loss of the two prominent members in-spite of messages of good tidings of the yuletide, stressing that the departure of Nkanga and Ekpenyong was still unbelievable to the leadership and the generality of the people of Akwa Ibom. The governor said that the two deceased personalities were excellent in the discharge of national and community political responsibilities devoid of discrimination of states in the Niger Delta region, calling for response of individuals and groups to honour them despite the mysteries surrounding their departure. Emmanuel stated that his administration would continue to offer service in leadership with prayers for the state, assuring that God would return beauty in the place of ashes to the people of Akwa Ibom, the PDP family and the entire Niger Delta region. Wike who came with a large delegation said that the visit was to sympathize with Emmanuel on the death of Nkanga, Ekpenyong and two other prominent sons of the state, emphasising that issues happening in Akwa Ibom indirectly affects the interest of Rivers state. He remarked that the unfortunate death of Nkanga and Ekpenyong has robbed the people of the Niger Delta states of strong voices on national issues, regretting that the two persons have been taken by death without elements of notices. Wike said that the leadership of Rivers states was deeply touched at the loss of prominent personalities of Akwa Ibom in the PDP, appealing to Emmanuel and the people of Akwa Ibom to be consoled by exercising practical faith in God while assuring of the readiness of Rivers state government to support the burial and the sustaining of the deceased families.