Security: Essien Udim Royal Fathers Back ALUKO
The Chairman Essien Udim Local Government Council, Mr Anthony Luke (Aluko), has been described as the man on a mission to redeem Essien Udim people.
The assertion was made by the Clan Head of Ukana West, His Highness, Okuku Sylvanus Ekanem when he led a delegation of stakeholders of the Clan on a solidarity visit to the Council Chairman, Mr Anthony Luke on Thursday, 24th June 2021.
The Clan Head condemned the carnage and attack on security agents and facilities in the area by some evil forces who invaded their villages in Essien Udim.
He commended the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel for standing by the Council Chairman, Mr Anthony Luke and Essien Udim people as a whole during the recent security breaches in the area, adding that without the prompt intervention by the Chairman and Governor Emmanuel the crisis would have escalated and extended to other parts of the state.
The royal father believed that Anthony Luke’s emergence as the local government chairman was by divine arrangement and for a purpose, stressing that without his courageous and proactive leadership their villages would have been a forgotten place by now.
He expressed happiness that although the hoodlums who invaded their villages were dreaded and deadly, the council chairman has demonstrated superior resistance.
While encouraging the chairman not to pay attention to blackmail and false accusation against him by those he described as “ignorant and uninformed”, the royal father urged him to remain focused and courageous in prosecuting the war against insecurity as the Clan Council will give him the necessary support.
He appealed to the Chairman to continue to liaise with the security operatives to beef up security in the area to ensure that the hoodlums who have been neutralised by the gallant security agencies never return to form another camp in their community to cause wanton destructions.
He posited that the recent crisis which has caused a lot of people to flee from their homes to seek refuge in other places has also brought untold hardship to the people as they were not able to farm this year.
The Clan Head pledged the unalloyed support of the Clan to the council and security agencies to succeed in restoring peace and sanity to the area.
In his remarks, the Essien Udim Council Chairman, Mr Anthony Luke thanked the people of Ukana West Clan for their support and cooperation in the war against insecurity in the area, adding that without such support and cooperation the crisis would have been more serious.
The council boss insisted that he will never down tools until the war against insecurity is completely won and therefore solicited the continuous support and cooperation of the people to restore sanity to the villages which he described as one of the most peaceful until some criminal elements infiltrated them and started terrorising innocent people.
He stressed that without the cooperation of the people of the affected community it is going to be difficult to prosecute the war againgst insecurity successfully and win, while charging them to caution their children to shun evil associations.
The council boss expressed gratitude to Governor Udom Emmanuel for his commitments toward security and social welfare of the people of the state, especially Essien Udim people and pledged to consolidate such commitments.
The former transition chairman of Essien Udim, Obong (Hon) John Udo Ekanem who is also the Political Leader of Ukana Uwa West Ward 1, lauded the Council Chairman, Mr Anthony Luke for his commitments to security of lives and property of the people of Essien Udim adding that the Chairman has demonstrated passionate leadership during the recent security breaches in the area.
He expressed gratitude to the Council helmsman for bringing succour to the displaced persons from the affected villages by the crisis and urged him not to relent in his oars to get the area rid of hoodlums and criminal elements.
Other members of the delegation were the Village Head of Ukana – Ikot Ntuen, Chief Michael Ntuen, Ikot Ayara, the Supervisory Councilor for Special Duties, Hon Ifiok Ibanga, Mr Augustine Umohatah, the Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Barr Abasiama Umohata.
Others were Mr Roland, Mr Emmanuel Umohata, Mr Peter Umoh among others.
