Posted by By JOE EFFIONG, Uyo on
Saturday, July 15, 2007 could have been regarded as the day of the masquerades and clowns in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. It was a day Eket federal constituency, comprising four local government areas: Eket, Onna, Esit Eket and Ibeno, came together to welcome back the immediate past secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Obong Ufot Ekaette.
* Masquerades on parade as Eket stands still for Ekaette, ex-SGF
Saturday, July 15, 2007 could have been regarded as the day of the masquerades and clowns in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. It was a day Eket federal constituency, comprising four local government areas: Eket, Onna, Esit Eket and Ibeno, came together to welcome back the immediate past secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Obong Ufot Ekaette.
The event was also meant to celebrate the election of Ekaettes's wife as senator representing Akwa Ibom South senatorial district.
At the event, each community came with enough masquaerade troupes to fill the Eket township stadium. Ekpe, ekpo, ekong, ohafia war dance, iteme, ntok odiodio and many others, which could not be properly identified, all jostle for recognition at the auspicous event.
Some of the masqurades stole the show, like the one lead by a 3-year-old nursery two pupil, Master Ntiense John, whose mastery of the ekpo drums earned him not only the applause from the crown but also a scholarship award up to university level, courtesy of Senator Ekaette.
Apparently overwhelmed by the welcome-back-home ceremony masterminded by the member representing Eket federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Mr Eseme Eyiboh, Obong Ekaette said: "I am deeply happy for the demonstration of goodwill and solidarity by the good people of Eket federal constitutuency, for this singular honour done to me in organising this reception to formally welcome me back to my roots after eigth years of service to my nation in the capacity of the SGF.
Said he: "When President Obsasanjo appointed me as SGF on May 29, 1999, I knew the assignment would be very challenging. I had served in 1984 under the secretary to the federal military government, the late Grey Longe. But serving as SGF under President Obasanjo and under a democratic setting was a different ball game. I was determined from the outset to serve my fatherland to the best of my ability and to assist Mr President in carrying out his enormous responsibilty of governing a complex nation like ours that was treated like a pariah at the time he assumed the mantle of leadership of our country."
Obong Ekaette said he felt fulfilled to have been part of Obasanjo's transformation team. "I believe that you also feel proud that one of your own, the first SGF from the east of the Niger, was part of the success story and was able to justify the confidence reposed in him and indeed in all of you, by my appointment.
"I must express deep gratitude to President Obasanjo for identifying me out of millions of qualified Nigerians and giving me the opportunity to serve my country as SGF for good years."
The organiser of the event, Mr Eyibo, had said that there was song of joy in his heart as he warmly welcomed home Ekaette who is unargueably the longest serving secretary to the government of the federation whom he described as "administrator par excellence, unblemished bureaucrats, a statesman, distinguished son of Eket federal constituency and a joy of Nigeria and Akwa Ibom state."
Eyibo said Ekaette's enviable track record was a continuation of the artistic script that Eket people had come to represent in the Nigerian nation as their sons and daughters had, in the past, toed the line of honour while serving the nation.
He said: "This celebration of integrity in honour of the immediate past SGF should once again inspire us to strive to be the lamp on the lamp stand. Let this gathering therefore, rekindle the flame of oneness and brother's keeper for which Eket as a people have been noted.
"Let us re-awaken our spirit of enterprise which was instrumental to the ability of our past and present heroes to conquer their environment and reach the pinnacle of their chosen fields.
"Today, our youths have been inspired by the dividends of sincere, transparent and humble service to humanity for which Obong Ufot Ekaette represents. It is time for the youths and of course, elders to move from the level of contentment and complacency induced by our God-given resources to the level where mind power is the most sought after resource in a world that has continuously shrunk into a global village," Eyibo stressed.