Federal Government has been urged to accord recognition to Ikot Abasi Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State as the host of Amalgamation of Nigeria.
The amalgamation was the marriage of Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914 as an entity under the then colonial master, Lord Lugard.
Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong made the call during New Year Thanksgiving service by Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom Council at Living Faith Church, Ikot Obong in Ikot Abasi on Sunday, January 17.
Ememobong emphasised the need for the government to site development projects in the area in memory of the historic Amalgamation of Nigeria years ago.
”Let this NUJ thanksgiving service bring remembrance to the land of Amalgamation of Nigeria. Let Ikot Abasi be a partaker of the Federal Government’s projects. The area has the longest coastline in the country and the government has to make use of it in memory of the 1914 Amalgamation of the country,’’ he posited.
Already, a one-storey Amalgamation House that hosted the historic marriage was erected by the colonial master in Ikot Abasi.
The state Chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Sunny James thanked the union for always organising the yearly thanksgiving service to herald activities of the union and hoped the event would greater doors of success to the NUJ.
Describing 2020 as challenging to the union and the workers, he called on Governor Udom Emmanuel to respect and implement the agreement signed between the government and the union on December 24, last year.
The state NUJ Chairman, Amos Etuk said the union adopted the rotational thanksgiving service in 2013 to enable journalists to traverse the state to knowing the challenges and prospects of the state, praising God for blessing the union.
Earlier, Pastor Julius Olabiyi of Winners Chapel, Ikot Obong preaching on the theme of the thanksgiving service He who has promised is faithful had harped on the need for journalists to always thank God for Him to bless and exempt them from any calamity.
The service was attended by Rt. Hon. Aniefiok Dennis, representing Etinan state Constituency in Akwa Ibom House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Information; Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh representing Ikot Abasi State Constituency and Chairman on Finance and Appropriation Committee,
Others were Hon. Okpolum Etteh, Commissioner for Special Duties; and Dr. Ekong Sampson, a one-time Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources, Obong Obot D. Etukafia, a retired Permanent Secretary, among others.
