IMMORTALIZE EYO-ITA, ETTEH URGES AKSG

The Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan and the Presidential Committee on Nigeria’s Centenary Celebration over the nomination of foremost educationist and nationalist, Professor Eyo Ita, as a recipient of the Centenary Honours Award.

Etteh says the award for Eyo Ita, which came in the Heroes of Struggle for Nigeria’s Independence/Pioneer Political Leaders Category, is “a confirmation of the contribution of the Ibeno born politician to the growth of Nigeria which we have today.”

He, however, said the Akwa Ibom State Government has not been too kind to heroes like Professor Eyo Ita.

“I, therefore, call on the state government to immortalize Professor Eyo Ita through the naming of a monument, institution or road after him. As an educationist, Professor Eyo Ita was the first Professor in Nigeria and founded the West African People’s Institute in Calabar, a school that complemented efforts at creating a literate citizenry for the people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States and even beyond. Professor Eyo Ita was also Leader of Government Business in the then Eastern Nigeria.”

He said the likes of Professor Eyo Ita were pan-Africanists like the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and their contributions were targeted at humanity not their ethnic stock.

He called on politicians to think of the larger society as they approach the politics of 2015.

“We cannot afford to be ethnic chauvinists as we approach 2015. Our founding fathers like the late Professor Eyo Ita lived above petty ethnic considerations in their politicking and were able to attract the kind of dignity, integrity and influence that has seen them being honoured by the centenary committee.”

Etteh also congratulated the committee for honouring the late Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, who though born of an Igbo father, an Efik mother and married to an Ibibio husband, the late Dr. John Udo Ekpo of Etinan, lived her life for humanity not for the ethnic stocks she was associated with; and Dr. Egbert Udo Udoma, who though one of the finest conscience of Ibibio nation, became a pan-national jurist of repute. He said the three honourees from Akwa Ibom State exemplify the Akwa Ibom spirit of hard work, industry and commitment to the uplift of mankind.

Etteh, who is also the member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, said while the Calabar Airport has been named after Ekpo and the Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo named after Dr. Udoma, Prof. Eyo Ita is yet to be so honoured at home. He, therefore, urged Ibeno Local Government Council and the Akwa Ibom State Government to take practical steps to honour him.

He also expressed disappointment that the list of the Centenary Awards recipients did not include “the late Brigadier General Wellington Bassey who was the first black officer of the Nigerian Army with service number NA/1; former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, the late Dr. Clement Isong, whose dexterity at financial management kept Nigeria afloat in the trying days of the civil war; the late General Philip Effiong who, at risk to his life, superintended over the surrender of Biafra to Nigeria; the pioneer of Nigeria’s foray into Information Technology, Atuekong Don Etiebet and Nigeria’s only International Editor of the year, Mr. Ray Ekpu.”

Etteh equally expressed shock that the duo of Akwa Ibom born Dominic Cardinal Ekanem, West Africa’s First Catholic Bishop and pioneer President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and one of his successors, Joseph Cardinal Onaiyekan were not among those honoured in the category of Exemplary Service in the Promotion of Peace and Moral Excellence.