Many have poured encomiums on the elevation of Akwa Ibom sons to the ranks of three two-star and six one-star Generals by the three Military Councils.
This is as nine indigenes of Akwa Ibom State were among officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) promoted to the ranks of two-star general and one-star general on Thursday, last week.
From the Facebook, Akan Akpanuwah wrote “I celebrate this promotion that is coming to our sons. May God protect them.”
Aniekan Nana penned “Congratulations our own Major-General Uwem Bassey! We in Mbiabong are proud of your elevation. Congratulations, you guys have made us proud.”
Deacon Kufre Ideh wrote “May God bless and preserve these GOLD FISHES from Akwa Ibom State for us.”
Simeon Akpan reacted thus, “Good news”
Akpan Etieno put it, “Congratulations to them”
However, 39 Nigerian Army officers were promoted to the two-star general rank of Major General while 97 others were elevated into the general cadre as Brigadier-Generals, one-star generals.
The Nigerian Navy got 19 new Rear Admirals, two-star generals, while 24 officers were promoted to the one-star general rank of Commodore.
Sixteen Air Force officers were promoted to the two-star general rank of Air Vice Marshal and 31 others became Air Commodores, one-star generals.
All promotions were announced in separate statements by the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.
The statements said the promotions were approved, respectively, by the Army Council, the Navy Council and the Air Force Council.
The three new two-star generals from Akwa Ibom are Major General Uwem Udo Bassey, Rear Admiral Uduak Asuquo Ibanga and Air Vice Marshal Mfon Jackson Ekpoh.
Bassey hails from Mbiaobong Ikot Udo in Odoro Ikono of Ini Local Government Area while Ibanga is an indigene of Ikot Ekan in Iman North zone of Etinan LGA. Ekpoh is from Ikot Mbong in Awa Clan of Onna Local Government Area.
The promotion of Bassey, Ibanga and Ekpoh brings to nine the number of serving two-star generals in the AFN from Akwa Ibom.
The six new one-star generals are Brigadier General O. S. Obot (Nsit Ubium); Brigadier General I. E. E. Akpaumontia (Nsit Atai); Brigadier General I. U. Akpan (Ibiono Ibom); Air Commodore Ekongubong Akpabio (Nsit Ibom); Air Commodore Patrick Edem (Itu) and Air Commodore Emmanuel Ukpong (Mkpat Enin).
The rest are Major-General Enobong Okon Udoh (Etinan); Rear Admiral Michael Etok Ebe (Ikot Ekpene); Major General Solomon Effiong Udounwa (Ibesikpo Asutan); Rear Admiral Okon Edet Eyo (Mbo); Major General Ifiok Martins Obot (Abak) and Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan (Nsit Atai).
Both Bassey and Ibanga are the third two-star generals from their respective zones and LGAs while Ekpoh, the lone Akwa Ibom-born Air Force two-star general is making history as the first ever from Onna.
(Facebook)
