Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has sworn into office two new Paramount Rulers, His Royal Majesty Edidem Sylvanus Effiong Okon, Paramount Ruler for Uyo Local Government Area and His Royal Majesty Edidem Ita Edet Okon, Paramount Ruler for Okobo Local Government Area.
Administering oath of office to the Paramount Rulers at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, Governor Emmanuel called on the traditional institution to resist attempts to be drawn into plots that are capable of destroying the destiny of the State.
Mr Emmanuel who described the royal fathers as custodians of the culture and traditions of the people, spoke of them as integral part of his administration given their role in propagating the vision of the administration at the grassroot.
He commended the traditional rulers for the support given to his administration and expressed appreciation for their acceptance of the two years tenure elongation for the office of the Chairman State Council of Chiefs.
Governor Emmanuel noted that the recent political developments in the state was a fight for a collective destiny and urged the people not to be surprise at the turn of event, explaining that even at Bible times God used Pharaoh to stall the liberation of the Israelites but warned the people to be wary of such manipulations, stressing that the state must move forward.
He emphasised that he is duty bound to maintain peace and unite the people for the collective good of the state, assuring that the era of plunging the state into killings, mayhem for selfish political interest was over and pledged his administration's commitment to sustaining enduring peace in the state.
The Governor lauded the peaceful selection process which facilitated the emergence of Edidem Sylvanus Okon and Edidem Ita Okon as Paramount Rulers of Uyo and Okobo respectively and congratulated them for the elevation.
He assured the traditional institution of enhanced package and vehicles to the new Paramount Rulers.
Earlier, the Supervising Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Mr Linus Nkan, while presenting the two traditional rulers to the Governor for inauguration said that 242 traditional rulers have been recognised and certified between 2017 and 2018 in the state.
Mr Nkan explained that the two Paramount Rulers emerged following a due process and that they have been accepted by their people having fulfilled the conditions for their selection.
The Chairman State Council of Chiefs His Royal Majesty Edidem Apostle Ntoeng Udo Effiong, in his speech described the occasion as demonstration of the Governor's commitment to enhance the status of the traditional institution and thanked the Governor for acknowledging the contributions of the traditional institution in the maintenance of peace in the state.
Edidem Effiong said that the royal fathers are solidly behind the Governor's second term ambition having witnessed the industrial revolution in the state brought about by his administration and used the occasion to advise the new Paramount Rulers to maintain peace in their respective domain and support the lofty programmes of the state administration.
The Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon who spoke on behalf of his Okobo counterpart, thanked the people of the two Local Government Areas for finding them fit for the elevation as well as the state administration for the opportunity given them to serve the people and promised to discharge their duties creditably.
Born in 1939, the Paramount Ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon attended St. Joseph Primary School, Idu Uruan where he bagged his First School Leaving Certificate.
He holds a Diploma in Hotel Management and has worked in Industrial Gas Company, Kano and Post And Telecommunication (P and T) Lagos.
The Paramount Ruler for Okobo Local Government Area, Edidem Ita Okon was born in 1965 at Calabar, Cross River State.
He attended Methodist Primary School, Atabong, St Patrick College, Ikot Ansa. He had work in the Press Unit, Governor's Office, Cross River State and served as Team Manager for Goffi Babes, Rovers Football Club and Pelican Stars, Calabar
Edidem Okon's hobbies include Football and Reading.
Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of staff of office by the Governor to the newly sworn in Paramount Rulers.
No comments:
Post a Comment