World Class
Last Wednesday, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill swore a former banker into office as Secretary to the State Government, amid excitement
Take off the hat from one of them; you will think they were biological brothers. That was how striking the resemblance of former Akwa Ibom State Secretary to State government (SSG) Mr. Umana Okon Umanah, to his successor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel ,was, as they sat side by side during Emmanuel’s swearing in Wednesday last week.
Emmanuel, who wore a hat, was resplendent in his native Akwa Ibom attire, looking different from those years as a player in the financial corporate world where suits are the hallmarks. Umanah wore a suit.
As early as 8am, invited guests to the event, had trooped into the Government House Banquet Hall, venue for the ceremony.The guests mostly women who turned out in their UyaiIban AkwaIbom uniform and bankers who came to celebrate one of their own, outnumbered the men and political class in the state at the event.
Before Governor Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Governor Valerie Ebe and Emmanuel arrived the venue, Umanah had first made a quiet entry in company of former military Governor Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), Senator Anietie Okon and Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien. A short while after Umanah arrived, wife of the governor, Ekaette , entered making straight for the ‘gallery’ where she exchanged banters with guests.
Mrs. Akpabio sat with the crowd talking to anyone who “dared” to go and meet her. She only went up to the high table when the governor arrived.
After the national anthem, Emmanuel was presented to the guests by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Oliver Udokpo, who also doubles as the official compere at state functions. In a brief citation, Udokpo descried Emmanuel as a whiz kid, a strategist and an icon.
Thunderous applauses interrupted Udokpo’s presentation. Emmanuel was thereafter called up to be sworn in as the SSG after taking the oath of allegiance and oath of office.
Akpabio said he was happy Emmanuel “decided to heed the call of service in his fatherland and come to join us in building a new Akwa Ibom State”.
He acknowledged the contributions of Umanah to his administration and his dedication to service “at the different stations in which he patriotically served the state in a long illustrious career which began in the civil service and culminated in his appointment as the Secretary to the State Government in 2007.”
It was an emotional moment for Akpabio as he took photographs with Emmanuel and Umanah, whom, he said, was not just a friend but a brother, who served his government with great zeal and commitment.
Speaking after the event, some guests said they were excited at the change. Obong Godwin Udo said only a competent and experienced person like Emmanuel was good enough to replace Umana whose mark in the government had been exceptional. To Idorenyin Umoh, a former banker, Emmanuel’s appointment is an added value for the Akpabio government. For Joy Enoh, a woman leader, Akpabio “has once again showed that he means well for the State by bringing in an experienced technocrat to take over from another experienced technocrat in the dying days of his regime, especially at this time that nothing should distract the holder of that office from making sure the Governor exits the scene with honour in 2015”
Emmanuel, a former Executive Director of Zenith Bank and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, had served as a non-executive director of the African Finance Corporation.
The ceremony was attended by Chief Judge Justice Idongesit Ntem Isua; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Udo Kierian Akpan; Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Paul Ekpo; the party secretary, Sir Ibanga Akpabio; a delegation from Emmanuel’s Church, the Qua Iboe Church in Surulere, Lagos; Commissioners, Special Advisers; local government chairmen and PDP stalwarts.
Source: The Nation
•Akpabio (left) swearing-in Emmanuel (standing).
Last Wednesday, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill swore a former banker into office as Secretary to the State Government, amid excitement
Take off the hat from one of them; you will think they were biological brothers. That was how striking the resemblance of former Akwa Ibom State Secretary to State government (SSG) Mr. Umana Okon Umanah, to his successor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel ,was, as they sat side by side during Emmanuel’s swearing in Wednesday last week.
Emmanuel, who wore a hat, was resplendent in his native Akwa Ibom attire, looking different from those years as a player in the financial corporate world where suits are the hallmarks. Umanah wore a suit.
As early as 8am, invited guests to the event, had trooped into the Government House Banquet Hall, venue for the ceremony.The guests mostly women who turned out in their UyaiIban AkwaIbom uniform and bankers who came to celebrate one of their own, outnumbered the men and political class in the state at the event.
Before Governor Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Governor Valerie Ebe and Emmanuel arrived the venue, Umanah had first made a quiet entry in company of former military Governor Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd), Senator Anietie Okon and Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien. A short while after Umanah arrived, wife of the governor, Ekaette , entered making straight for the ‘gallery’ where she exchanged banters with guests.
Mrs. Akpabio sat with the crowd talking to anyone who “dared” to go and meet her. She only went up to the high table when the governor arrived.
After the national anthem, Emmanuel was presented to the guests by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Oliver Udokpo, who also doubles as the official compere at state functions. In a brief citation, Udokpo descried Emmanuel as a whiz kid, a strategist and an icon.
Thunderous applauses interrupted Udokpo’s presentation. Emmanuel was thereafter called up to be sworn in as the SSG after taking the oath of allegiance and oath of office.
Akpabio said he was happy Emmanuel “decided to heed the call of service in his fatherland and come to join us in building a new Akwa Ibom State”.
He acknowledged the contributions of Umanah to his administration and his dedication to service “at the different stations in which he patriotically served the state in a long illustrious career which began in the civil service and culminated in his appointment as the Secretary to the State Government in 2007.”
It was an emotional moment for Akpabio as he took photographs with Emmanuel and Umanah, whom, he said, was not just a friend but a brother, who served his government with great zeal and commitment.
Speaking after the event, some guests said they were excited at the change. Obong Godwin Udo said only a competent and experienced person like Emmanuel was good enough to replace Umana whose mark in the government had been exceptional. To Idorenyin Umoh, a former banker, Emmanuel’s appointment is an added value for the Akpabio government. For Joy Enoh, a woman leader, Akpabio “has once again showed that he means well for the State by bringing in an experienced technocrat to take over from another experienced technocrat in the dying days of his regime, especially at this time that nothing should distract the holder of that office from making sure the Governor exits the scene with honour in 2015”
Emmanuel, a former Executive Director of Zenith Bank and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, had served as a non-executive director of the African Finance Corporation.
The ceremony was attended by Chief Judge Justice Idongesit Ntem Isua; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Udo Kierian Akpan; Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Paul Ekpo; the party secretary, Sir Ibanga Akpabio; a delegation from Emmanuel’s Church, the Qua Iboe Church in Surulere, Lagos; Commissioners, Special Advisers; local government chairmen and PDP stalwarts.
Source: The Nation
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