The immediate past 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 running mate.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service in honor of the former deputy governor at Saint John’s Pro-Cathedral of the Catholic Church, Abak, Emmanuel said God kept them peacefully together throughout their eight-year tenure without Rancour, stressing that Mr. Ekpo was not only his adviser, co-laborer 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 (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 was no piece of advice he offered me that I threw away.”
Mr. Emmanuel explained further that having seen more years than him, Mr. Ekpo was more exposed and experienced, hence, the deep collaborations between them.
The former governor, who was in company with his wife, Martha, said God kept two of them healthy, and 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 that God who has sustained and kept him this far will bless him all round and bless his family,” Mr. Emmanuel added.
The incumbent governor, Pastor Umo Eno, also paid glowing tributes 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, 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.
“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, Mr. Ekpo thanked 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 its theme, “Celebrating God’s glories over crosses.”