From Joe Effiong, Uyo
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has said given another opportunity to govern the state, he would not hesitate to pick his then deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, as his running mate.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service in honour of the former deputy governor at Saint John Pro-Cathedral of the Catholic Church, Abak, Emmanuel said God kept them peacefully together throughout their tenure of eight years, without rancour, stressing that Mr Ekpo was not only his adviser, co-labourer and confidant, but also a very a contented man with deep character.
“If it were possible for me to come back in the next generation to join politics and look for a deputy, I would still look for Uncle Mo (the nickname for Mr Moses Ekpo)
He also described the immediate past deputy governor as a man of integrity, who was highly supportive throughout the tenure of his administration.
“If you are looking for a man that will give you advice without reservation, come to Uncle Mo and he will give you genuinely. For all the eight years we were in office, there is no piece of advice that he offered me, that I threw away.”
Mr Emmanuel explained further that having seen more years than him, Mr Moses Ekpo was more exposed and experienced, hence the deep collaborations between them.
The former who was in company with his wife, Martha, said that God kept two of them healthy and that at no time during their tenure was there any distress call that his deputy was sick.
“Coming here to see him, I’m grateful to God for his life. I pray God who has sustained and kept him this far to bless him all round and bless his family,” Mr Emmanuel added.
The incumbent governor of the state, Pastor Umo Eno, paid glowing tribute to the immediate past deputy governor for his sterling character, statesmanship, and intellectual prowess which largely contributed to the peace and stability witnessed in the immediate past administration.
Governor Eno, who attended the service with his wife, Pastor Patience Eno, attributed Ekpo’s success in holding the office for eight unbroken years to his rare attribute of integrity, humane and calm disposition in all circumstances.
He said, “Let me pay special respect to His Excellency, the immediate past deputy governor, our own Uncle Mo, our father who has given us so much inspiration. We thank God for a day like this. We thank God for who “Uncle Mo” was and who he still is.
“We thank God for everything that our boss, the immediate past Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel said concerning him. “
In his thanksgiving speech, the celebrator, Mr Moses Ekpo, expressed gratitude to God for the grace to serve the State for eight years in good health and for his 82-year sojourn on earth. He noted that God has been good to him and has been with him through various stages of his life.
The Thanksgiving Mass officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Uyo Diocese, Bishop Ebebe Aya, had as the theme, “Celebrating God’s Glories over Crosses.”