The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akapbio has described the demise of the 12th Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Late Air Marshal Nsikak Essien Eduok, as a great loss to Akwa Ibom and Nigeria.
The Minister who attended the funeral of Late Nsikak Eduok which held at Ibom Hall Grounds, noted that “late Nsikak Eduok was a patriotic Nigerian, a good administrator, and a man of excellence, who contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria. We will miss him, and I pray God to give Akwa Ibom another Nsikak Eduok”.
He recounted that as Governor of Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2015, “I benefited from his wise counsel and he was always there to offer needed contributions. There is no way I would have succeeded in the Uncommon Transformation of the State without going to people like Nsikak Eduok who believed in transformation”.
The Minister said he was at the funeral to honour the late Air Marshall as a statesman, and a man that has contributed his quota to the development of the Nigerian Air Force.
“That is why I have come to honour him. I went to the family house to pay my last respect and say yes indeed, he was a great patriot. He was indeed an asset of indispensable value. I don’t know when we will have another. May his soul rest peace”, Akpabio stated.
Senator Akpabio, who was accompanied by the Interim Sole Administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission, Barrister Effiong Akwa, and his Chief of Staff, Sir Etekamba Umoren, charged Akwa Ibom children to leverage on the opportunities that exist to serve Nigeria in any field of the Armed Forces, noting: “it is a great thing for you to serve the country. It is a patriotic duty for you to serve your country, and a sign of ultimate love to die for your country”.
The biography of the late Air Marshal Eduok records that he was born on July 11, 1947 at Mbak Ekpe in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He enlisted into the Nigeria Air Force as a Potential Pilot on August 1, 1968. He had his initial military training at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), after which he went for primary flying training in 1970,
Late Air Marshall Nsikak Essien Eduok whose tenure as Chief of Air Staff between 1996 to 1999, was laid to rest at his country home, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.
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