The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has described the late former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Obong Ufot Ekaette as a consummate public servant whose statesmanship would be sorely missed.
Senator Akpabio who led the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack and other management staff of the Ministry as well as political associates from Akwa Ibom State on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased in Abuja said Obong Ufot Ekaette was “a diligent man with proven integrity.”
He said he was at the home of the late Obong Ekaette to console with the family as a son of Akwa Ibom State and the serving Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, a Ministry which the late elder statesman was the pioneer Minister. He said the deceased had groomed many public servants in Nigeria who passed through his tutelage and may be one of the longest serving public servants in Nigeria.
The Minister who described the demise of Obong Ekaette as a personal loss to him recalled the role the late Obong Ekaette as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation played when he won a contentious primaries to become the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Senator Akpabio urged the family to be consoled by the fact that the deceased lived a life of service for Nigeria and impacted on the lives of many people including himself. He said the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs owed the late pioneer Minister a befitting funeral and would stand with the family to achieve this.
In her response the widow of the deceased, Senator Eme Ekaette thanked Senator Akpabio and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs for the honour done her late husband. She described Senator Akpabio as a member of the family who had always stood by the family at all times.
Senator Ekaette disclosed that her late husband had documented his memoir which chronicled his experiences in public service but could not present the book to the public due to his failing health in the last two years and appealed to Senator Akpabio to consider organising a colloquium where the book would be launched.
Senator Akpabio prayed for the repose of the soul of the late former Secretary to Government.
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