Group set up to honor Akpabio’s wife

An Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Igbo Union Ndi Igbo Worldwide, has commended the Senate President, Senator Goodwill Akpabio and his wife, Dr Unoma Ekaite Akpabio, for their untiring support to the Igbo people and all things Igbo as a nation.

The group said the couple remained a formidable support to the Igbo cause, describing them as a great asset to the advancement of the Igbo in Nigeria.

The group’s stand was contained in a press release signed by Prince Ndi Elias Odoemena, the national convener of the group and made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement described Senator Akpabio’s marriage to an illustrious daughter of Igbo land in Enugu as a continuing blessing to the Ndigbo and a crux of the development monuments cited in Igbo land as a whole.

The group added that Akpabio’s marriage to Unoma is not a curse but a divine blessing that has conveyed monumental open doors to the Igbos as a whole, describing Senator Akpabio as a much loved son-in-law in all Igbo land.

“He has become a true Igbo man not only through his marriage to our daughter and sister, Unoma, but also through the countless dividends of democracy he has brought to Igbo land, right from his days as governor of Akwa Ibom State to his current position as the number three man in Nigeria. Akpabio has shown steadfastness, loyalty and love for our people,” he said.

According to the statement, “Senator Akpabio has continued to use every avenue at his disposal to consolidate the relationship between the Igbo and their brothers and sisters of the old Eastern Region, building bridges between the people of the South-South and South-East both politically and economically.”

The Igbo Union Nzuko Ndi listed some of the things Senator Akpabio has done to build friendship, brotherhood and trust between the two neighboring areas in the two countries: “The governor, Senator Akpabio, has built more than 500 meters of Nkana bridge linking Abia State and Akwa Ibom State. Akpabio has built a worship centre, built roads in Igbo land and given and facilitated employment for many sons and daughters of the land Igbo.

“This act of kindness towards the Igbo has made Senator Akpabio and his wife, our daughter, exceptionally loved, respected and revered in all communities of Igbo land, like a great father-in-law of exceptional quality and bearing who has the interest of everything Igbo at heart.

The Igbo group said they are all together surprised at Akpabio’s exceptional benevolence towards Ndigbo, knowing his record as governor in Akwa Ibom up to this period where he now occupies the exalted office of Senate President.

“We in Igbo land are not surprised. We have been following the activities of the great couple since their days as the first couple of Akwaibom state. What he implanted in the state, still remains a benchmark for all future governors of the state.

“From road infrastructure to schools, hospitals, sports facilities, etc., Akpabio stood out among governors of his era,” the statement added.

The group said in appreciation for all the good works the couple has done in Igbo land, the Igbos are ready to soon honor Senator Akpabio’s wife, Dr. Unoma Ekaite Akpabio, for her constant outreach and support for anything that concerns Igbo people, describing their act towards her as a repayment with love that she has so much extended to her people through her beloved husband.