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Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has described the people of Ukwa extraction as industrious, hardworking, trustworthy and as such deserving of every opportunity to serve the state and the country.
The Governor stated this on Saturday, at his country home, Umuobiakwa, while receiving a delegation of political leaders from Ukwa East and Ukwa West LGAs who came on a ‘thank you’ visit to the Governor for facilitating the election of one of their illustrious sons, Ambassador Okey Emuchay as the Secretary-General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide.
Governor Ikpeazu said that the people of Ukwa have always distinguished themselves in public service from time immemorial which explains the reason behind the selection of Ukwa indigenes to hold key positions in his government.
According to the Governor, beyond their natural endowments, the people of Ukwa have contributed greatly to the development of Abia State and Nigeria.
He urged them to uphold those excellent virtues of hard work and dignity in public service which has defined their roles over the years, recalling the exploits of great Ukwa sons like Late Dr. Emuchay, Late Chief E C Adiele, Eze Dr. Rowland Asobie, Late Eze Dr. Feyi Waboso, Dame Victoria Akanwa, Late Chief Lambert Nmecha, Engr Reginald Stanley, etc who played and continue to play key roles in public and professional life.
He challenged the present crop of Ukwa leaders from Ndoki and Asa to continue to uphold those attributes which have been associated with Ukwa people over the years.
The Governor told the delegation that he found great pleasure in marketing the candidature of Ambassador Okey Emuchay to his brother Governors of the South East and other notable leaders because he possesses unassailable records of public service at the highest level in the country, having risen to the zenith of his diplomatic service as an Ambassador.
He urged Ambassador Emuchay to discharge his duties as Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide with the same dignity and commitment that defined his days in the diplomatic service and wished him well in his new assignment.
He further challenged the people of Ukwa to stand behind their sons and daughters who hold high public offices at all times and find a way to always communicate with them on a regular basis.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and former President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Adolphus Wabara told the Governor that the entire Ukwa people sent them to come and appreciate the Governor for midwifing the emergence of yet another son of Ukwaland.
Senator Wabara made it clear that no other Governor has treated the people of Ukwa so well and given them a sense of belonging in the state better than Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
He recalled that under the Ikpeazu administration, an Ukwa son, Rt Hon. Asiforo Okere is the current State Chairman of the PDP, another Ukwa son, Sir Don Ubani is the current Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the Deputy Governor while Professor O M Ogbulu was recently appointed Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, amongst many others, noting that these were unprecedented in the political history of the people of Ukwa.
Senator Wabara, who is the Pro Chancellor of the Abia State University, added that the election of Ambassador Okey Emuchay as Secretary General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide is another eloquent testimony of the love the Governor has for the people of Ukwa , and assured him of the total support and loyalty of Ukwa people to his administration.
Also speaking, the newly elected Secretary General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay was full of gratitude to the Governor for making his election possible, noting that without the active support of the Governor who threw his weight and that of the Abia State Government behind him, his election would have been impossible.
He assured the Governor that he will discharge his duties with dedication and make the people of Abia State and indeed, Ndigbo proud. He also assured the Governor that the people of Ukwa do not take his love for them for granted.
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