21st September, 2012
The people of Ukele in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, southsouth Nigeria, have expressed gratitude to Senator Liyel Imoke, the governor of the state for appointing their sons and daughters into positions of authority.
Barrister Fidel Egoro, the Cross River State Deputy Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, conveyed the people’s gratitude to the governor while making a speech during a reception in honour of those from the area recently elected or appointed into office.
Egoro said the people who were long neglected are now experiencing what he calls “a new dispensation in their affairs” and pledged the loyalty and support of the people to the Senator Imoke administration. According to him, the appointment of Ukele sons and daughters into office is the sign of good things to come to the area and called on the people to unite and work together to get more benefits from “Senator Liyel Imoke who has shown enough good will and unquantifiable love to the people of Ukele which attest that he is indeed the best friend of Ukele nation”.
He said though Ukele has a large number of educated, intelligent and loyal people, they have often been relegated to the background in state affairs in the past but Imoke has proven that the support and commitment of the people to the growth and welfare of the state through unwavering love and support is not in vain.
“He has recognized us and we can now walk tall as a people who belong to the same state with others and to that we say we are grateful”.
Speaking in the same vein, Mrs Martinba Odom who was recently appointed the state’s representative in the Fiscal Allocation and Mobilisation Committee in Abuja said Imoke deserves to be praised for the good things he has done for Ukele.
“He has done what many people think is undoable and he can even do more for us because we still have many dynamic young men and women who can serve the state and nation in diverse positions,” she said.
She called on the stste Ministry of Education and other agencies in charge of distribution of teachers into primary and secondary schools in the state to send teachers to schools in the area.
“It is common to see a school that has primary one to six having just one teacher with the headmaster and I doubt what learing can take place in such a school.”
The chairman of the Planning Committee for the reception , Mr Christian Ikiri said with the election and appointments of those honoured, Ukele nation will fare well and continue to make meaningful contribution in the affairs of the state. “We are equally not oblivious of your immense concern and unwavering interest in Ukele cause which is a clear manifestation of this gesture.”
He said the reception should be seen as an ooccasion for the beginning of working together of all Ukeke people in order to bring peace and progress to the area. “On this basis we solicit your initiatives to champion the cause of unity, understanding and mutual cooperation among Ukele people,” he said.
Those honoured included Barrsiter Fidel Egoro, the PDP Deputy State Chairman; Mrs Martina Odom, member, Federal Allocation and Fiscal Mobillisation Committee; Mr John Ulafor, Special Assistant to the governor on Interparty Relations; and Mr Augustine Egere, Community Relations Officer for Yala Two Constituency.
—Emma Una/Calabar