PDP, Wike, Ors Mourn Death Of Gov Emmanuel’s Father ...As Pioneer Honours The Late Patriarch With Black Masthead

Following the recent announcement of the death of Elder Gabriel Nkanang, father of Gov Udom Emmanuel, Wednesday, many individuals and groups have identified with the first family over the incident, the latest being the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers.
The national chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the entire PDP family, has commiserated with Emmanuel over the death of his father, Nkanang.
The party said it "is deeply saddened by the death of Nkanang, particularly at this time, when Akwa Ibom and Nigeria at large need his prayers, counseling and encouragement the more."
It however, said that it was comforted that Nkanang lived a fulfilled life as a devout Christian and a selfless leader, who made immense sacrifices towards the advancement of humanity and bequeathed to our party and nation, a patriot and statesman in person of the governor.
The PDP observed that Emmanuel's sense of patriotism, hard work, honesty, commitment to the welfare of the people of Akwa Ibom and the growth of the nation at large, were resounding testimonies of the values and lessons learnt from his father.
The PDP commiserated with the governor, his immediate family and the government and people of Akwa Ibom and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
On his part, Wike in a message to the governor described the late Pa Nkanang as a man whose vision of life was remarkable.
He prayed that God will grant the government and people of Akwa Ibom the fortitude to bear the loss.
The Akwa Ibom commissioner for works, Mr Ephraim Inuangeyen said "the news of the demise of Elder Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang, the beloved father of my boss, Gov Udom Emmanuel, is a sad event, which he and his family share in their grief.
"At this period of mourning, our prayers remain fervent for His Excellency and the entire bereaved family. As we pray God Almighty to console them and grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, we pray that the soul of the departed will find rest in the bosom of Father Abraham. Amen. May his soul rest in peace."
A statement from the Government House and made available to newsmen in Uyo, Wednesday, had announced that the late Nkanang died Sunday, December I, 2019 at the age of 90 years.
"Akwa Ibom governor, Udom Emmanuel, has lost his father, the late Elder Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang. The sad event occurred on Sunday, December 1, 2019. He was aged 90 years.
"According to a family source, after due clearance from the head of the family, Pastor Edo Ekim (the father of the celebrity and Nollywood actress, Ini Edo) , the first son of the departed patriarch, Mr. Gabriel Nkanang (Jr.) was authorized to make public the demise of the late patriarch.
"Burial arrangement, according to family sources, will be announced in due course," the statement said.
The late Nkanang was an educationist, a retired headmaster and teacher. He was until his demise an elder of United Evangelical Church (UEC) founded as Qua Iboe Church and a community leader.
Meantime, the management of Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, (AKNC), publisher of The Pioneer group of newspapers, has said that, its decision to change the masthead of Weekend Pioneer from its conventional red colour to black colour in its latest edition (December 6, 2019), is to "give honour to whom honour is due."
The general manager/editor-in-chief of the AKNC, Mr Umoette Umoette, in an interview with newsmen said the paper was mourning the death of an icon, an embodiment of knowledge, untainted Christian, a teacher par excellence and grandfather of Akwa Ibom, late Elder Gabriel Nkanang.
Nkanang, a retired headmaster and seasoned counsellor is the father to Mr Udom Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom. He died, recently, at the age of 90, according to an obituary announcement by the eldest son of the deceased, Mr Gabriel Nkanang.
Umoette noted that considering the contributions of the late nonagenarian to the development of the state and Nigerian at large, "changing the colour of our masthead is akin to lowering the Nigerian flag to mourn the departure of a hero and the grandfather of modern Akwa Ibom."
"Those who knew the late Pa Nkanang can attest to the fact that he was a thorough-bred gentleman, decent and truthful to a fault; a man of impeccable probity and a lover of peace and communal living," the AKNC boss stressed.
Umoette said the peace and tranquility, atmosphere of love and camaraderie that Akwa Ibom people have enjoyed from the Gov Udom Emmanuel's administration, the past four years, "were direct translations of the man, Elder Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang."
He said, as a devout Christian, a patriot and statesman, Pa Nkanang has brought uncontradicted transformation to Akwa Ibom through discipline, moral etiquette and other core values he had bequeathed to the governor, which have been planted in the state for the past four years.
"Today, Akwa Ibom, a prominent core civil service state in the federation, has within the past four years become a beehive of business investments, made even more pronounced by the avalanche of industries the Udom Emmanuel's Administration has brought to the state," Umoette noted.
He condoled with the first family and the entire state on the demise of the late Nkanang, praying God to give the governor and members his family the fortitude to bear the great loss and grant the soul of the deceased eternal repose.

Nigerians have been urged not to be intimidated by the much touted 'federal might' slogan by the opposition party in the country.

Mr Umoette Umoette, a Special Assistant to Gov. Emmanuel on Media, and General Manager of Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation/Editor-in-Chief of Pioneer Newspapers dropped this hint today while addressing a congregation of PDP faithfuls in Onna.

In his words, "... don't be intimidated because the only federal might known by law regarding elections is your voters card, as such guide your PVC jealously and vote all PDP Candidates all the way."
According to Umoette, 'might means Power or force. What has put the opposition in power today was the vote they got. And what gave them the vote they got was the possession of PVC's by the electorates. Therefore, what you all need to do is to get your PVC's, and vote for your PDP Candidates as a matter of your rights, according to the Nigerian Constitution. Then, very important is that you protect your votes.

http://pioneernewsonline.com/news/2019-election-voters-card-vote-protection-is-pdp-s-federal-might

Following complaints of inability to pay tuition fees by some students of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, has graciously approved the augmentation of tuition fees for indigent students of the institution.
In the release signed by the special assistant to the governor on students matters, Comrade Otobong Akpan, all affected students are enjoined to avail themselves of this opportunity by turning up at the Community Centre of the University of Uyo for verification and payment.
The release also states that all those interested must be regular students of the university and must come along with their students’ identity cards as proof of studentship.

he Akwa Ibom government is to develop areas of agriculture that will add value to food production across the country.
The deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, made the comment while speaking with Midweek Pioneer during the inauguration of the first automated rice seed and seedling factory by President Muhammadu Buhari in Calabar, the Cross River capital, Tuesday.
According to the deputy governor, Akwa Ibom was looking at other areas of agriculture and has intended to develop something that would benefit the entire country.
Ekpo said that in Akwa Ibom, for instance, a fertilizer blending factory was on now, adding that it was important to look at what soil would take rice and what kind of fertilizer blending it needs.
On the benefits of the rice factory in Calabar, the deputy governor affirmed that “our farmers in Akwa Ibom will like to buy seedlings that will grow.
“The seedling from the factory will grow because it has already been groomed.” Ekpo added that this will attract the entire country to the city of Calabar.
On the frequent boundary crises between Akwa Ibom and Cross River, Mr Ekpo called on both states to keep their houses in order.
He said that the misunderstanding does not make the two states enemies, revealing that he and his counterpart in Cross River were working very hard to ensure that there is peace at the boundary.
Ekpo, who described Calabar as his home, recalled that he worked for the Cross River government as a commissioner for information.
“I lived here. I worked for this government and these are my people,” he said.

http://pioneernewsonline.com/news/aksg-reiterates-value-added-agric-programme

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John Ameh, Olusola Fabiyi, Olalekan Adetayo, Friday Olokor, Adelani Adepegba, Alex Okere, Godwin Isenyo and Gibson Achonu



http://punchng.com/its-unjust-to-say-im-silent-on-killings-by-herdsmen-buhari/

Meanwhile Nigeria To Lose 3 Million Christians Annually Till 2043 -Danjuma Group
http://pioneernewsonline.com/news/nigeria-to-lose-3-million-christians-annually-till-2043-danjuma-group

Beneficiary communities and individuals of the various road projects embarked upon by the Gov Udom Emmanuel-led administration have appreciated the government on the quality of work done on their roads.
A cross section of people interviewed by Midweek Pioneer said they were highly elated by the standard and quality of delivery which the government has not only given to the contractors but supervised to completion.
“I am an engineer and I want to inform you that when I witnessed the construction of Uyo-Etinan-Ndon Eyo Road with more than five-inch thickness asphalt, I told myself that the governor really means business for Akwa Ibom people,” Edet Udoudo told Midweek Pioneer recently.
Udoudo said, “It was very rare, in recent times, for contractors to use such materials in construction. This is commitment on the part of the governor and it is very commendable. We should encourage the governor to do more by giving him total support and ensuring that he returns to the Hilltop Mansion come 2019.”
He explained that with five-inch thickness asphalt, the road will be durable, sustainable and resistant to heavy duty trucks and other moveable machines and can last for more than 30 years.
The civil engineer also commended the commissioner for works, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen, for bringing to fruition the vision of the governor in the road sub-sector, saying his zeal, commitment and focus were extra-ordinary.
A retired civil servant residing at Shelter Afrique Extension, Uyo, Elder Okon Essien, applauded the governor for providing durable and time-tested roads in the state.
Essien said on many occasions he has seen the road projects executed by the Emmanuel-led administration and that without being an engineer, “you will be satisfied that with such asphalt thickness, the road will not only stand the test of time but other man-made threats.”
He urged the governor to keep the pace and remain focused in his determination to deliver the goods to the people of the state.
A woman leader from Nda Nsit in Nsit Atai Local Government, Mrs Iquo Nyong, said it has been ages that the people of the area saw quality road projects as provided by Emmanuel, saying with this kind of thickness, the roads would be stronger with a stable driveway under a wider range of climate and loads.

http://pioneernewsonline.com/news/nigerians-laud-over-5-inch-asphalt-thick-roads-policy-of-gov-emmanuel