DEPUTY GOVERNOR-ELECT THANKS A’IBOM FIRST LADY FOR STANDING BY THE WOMEN
The Deputy Governor-Elect for Akwa Ibom State and Senator representing Akwa Ibom South, Dame Dr. Akon Eyakenyi on Monday paid a thank you visit to the wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Her Excellency, Dr Martha Emmanuel.
Senator Eyakenyi was accompanied by her spouse, Elder Etim Eyakenyi, family members and Akwa Ibom women to say thank you to the Governor's wife for her invaluable support towards herself and other Akwa Ibom women.
Setting the tone for the visit, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr Ini Adiakpan stated that Senator Dr Akon Eyakenyi being cognizant of the role of the Governor's wife in the inclusion of women in political leadership, had come with her family and Akwa Ibom women to appreciate the First Lady as the root of their political success in the state.
In her speech, the Deputy Governor-Elect, Distinguished Senator Akon Eyakenyi, PhD expressed gratitude to God, the Governor and the First Lady for making her emergence possible.
"I stand here today very humbled. I lack words to talk about today's gathering but, the main objective was to come with the women of Akwa Ibom State and my family to return all the glory to God Almighty, and to say a very big thank you to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, a listening father, a listening husband, a gender friendly Governor. He is the one that placed the seal of approval. He Listened to God first and our mother, to promote the cause of Akwa Ibom women.
From the inception of his administration, Akwa Ibom women were given their right of place at all levels. Each year, it kept increasing till we got to this crown. Please, thank the Governor immensely for us, the women of this state; thank the Governor for my family, thank the Governor for me. I am grateful".
Dame Eyakenyi described Dr Martha Emmanuel as a good mother who, inspite of her tight schedule, made out time to receive her and the women.
Appreciating Her Excellency for her role in the emergence of a woman as a Deputy Governor, the former minister described the First Lady as a role model, an inspiration and a mother who commits serious efforts towards ensuring the women are properly represented in government.
Speaking further, Dr Eyakenyi noted that, through the efforts of the First Lady, Governor Udom Emmanuel's administration has given Akwa Ibom women more political positions than any other administration. She prayed God to bless the First Lady while pledging to work with Pastor Umo Eno towards ensuring that, that legacy is sustained.
Responding, Dr. Martha Emmanuel thanked the Deputy Governor-Elect and the women for the visit. Expressing delight over Senator Eyakenyi's thoughtfulness in returning to say thank you she stated, "I appreciate all the good things you've said, all the encomiums, and I return all the glory to God.
I want to thank you, Distinguished, for coming back to tell God, thank you. Yes, you're thanking me, but then, it is to God because, He is the one who made everything possible.
So many people may not know how your emergence came about. In this life, when you have a desire which you want God to fulfill, if it is in line with the will of God, He'll definitely bring it to pass.
Her emergence was not lobbied for. I did not know, His Excellency did not know. All I knew was that I asked God for a woman as a Deputy Governor of this State. In fact, I discussed with His Excellency, all he told me was, let us pray about it. And we kept praying. When God told him about Pastor Umo Eno, her own was not there yet. We kept praying until when God said, this is the woman! The way it came, I said God you are wonderful".
Her Excellency described Senator Eyakenyi as competent and qualified to represent the women.
"Today, I am excited that God has given us a woman that can represent all of us. She has a heart of gold and, with the wife of the Governor-Elect, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, who is also a mother with a compassionate heart, I know I have left you in caring hands."
She appealed to the women to give Senator Eyakeny the needed support to function maximally.
Highlights of the gathering was the presentation of goodwill messages by senatorial district Women Leaders and wife of the former Military Governor of the state, Mrs. Funmi Nkanga.
