Akwa Ibom Governor’sa Governor’s wife, Essien Udim Council Chairman preach peace, love, tolerance at funeral
Akwa Ibom Governor’s Wife , Dr (Mrs) Martha Emmanuel has urged the children of Late Elder (Mrs) Brigid Udo Udofia to embrace peace, love and tolerance as they bid their mother farewell.
The first Lady stated this in her condolence message to the family during the burial ceremony of the deceased on Friday at Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government Area.
According to the governor’s wife, the best way the family can honour and immortalise their late mother’s sterling legacies is to live peacefully and also love one another despite their differences.
she described the deceased as a role model, resourceful mentor and adviser who had successfully groomed her children to become responsible and useful members of the society and charged the children to emulate their mother by raising up their children to become useful to themselves and the society.
Mrs Emmanuel urged them to unite as one strong and loving family so as to be able to take care of their aged father and also protect their children from molestation by pedophiles.
She used the opportunity to warn people to desist from rape, child abuse and gender-based violence describing such acts as barbaric and foolish.
“Any parent that defiles his daughter is a fool, animal and satanic. Any man that forcefully has carnal knowledge of a girl is also a fool and will not escape the wrath of the law,” the first lady stressed.
The Governor’s wife was accompanied to the burial by the Senator Representing Eket Senatorial District, Sen Akon Eyakenyi, members of FEYREP.
In his eulogy, the Essien Udim Council Chairman, Mr Anthony Luke described the deceased as a great woman and a mother who has paid her dues by bringing up her children in the way of the Lord.
the Council boss who led the political class from Essien Udim and his colleagues in ALGON to mourn with the deceased family and Ini Council Chairman, Rt. Hon. Israel Idaisin who is a son-in-law to the deceased charged the family not to mourn as those without hope adding that as Christians we shall all meet again to part no more.
The chairman described life as the shortest phenomenon and vanity and urged people to embrace peace and love one another and serve God.
Mr Luke who thanked the first lady for finding time out of her busy schedule to attend the burial ceremony also commended her for bringing succour to Essien Udim people who were displaced during the recent crisis in the area.
He stressed that without the Governor’s prompt intervention the crisis would have escalated to a more serious dimension which would have overwhelmed Essien Udim and the entire Akwa Ibom state. He lauded Governor Emmanuel’s peaceful disposition in the state.
The Chairman was accompanied to the burial by his wife, Mrs Umo Gabriel Tony-udoh and the political class from Essien Udim.
In his funeral address, the officiating minister charged Christians to learn from the story of the foolish rich man in the bible and live wisely on earth and not as fools who think there’s no God.
He stressed that to live wisely is to acknowledge God, fear Him and flee all appearance of evil and shun immoral acts.
The deceased, Elder Mrs Brigid Udo Udofia age 79 years according to the biography was a faithful Christian and a devoted member of the Methodist Church where she was ordained and awarded the position of an Elder and Eti-eka by the church because of her exemplary lifestyle.
The Biography indicates that Elder Brigid was survived by her husband, children, grandchildren and in-laws including the Executive Chairman of Ini LGA, Rt. Hon. Elder Israel Idaisin
Others who also graced the funeral were the member representing Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim and Obot Akara Federal Constituency, Rt Hon. Nsikak Ekong, and Hon Emmanuel Ukpong Udo, Representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Barr. Prince Ukpong Akpabio, member Representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Barr. Esse G. Umoh, members of the state executive council, Local Government Chairmen, Councilors/Supervisors.
