The leadership of Ibibio Traditional Council in Akwa Ibom has declared support for the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and President Bola Tinubu.
The council expressed the declaration while receiving Akpabio and his entourage, comprising some members of the National Assembly, at Nsit Ubium Palace of the Oku Ibom Ibibio, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk.
The royal father described Akpabio as their son well-known to them, adding that they were proud of his achievements in the senate.
“This is our son and we, as a people, are very happy to receive you in this palace. We know what you can do and we are very proud of your achievements as the senate president.
“I am delighted to have you and your colleagues in this palace. You have come to pay homage to your fathers here.
“We know you. We know who Godswill Akpabio is. We testify that we know who you are. If we don’t know who you are, it therefore means we are not yours,” he said.
The traditional ruler, however, appealed to the senate president to ensure that the dream of Akwa Ibom having its seaport became a reality.
He thanked the senators for all the good works they had been doing as lawmakers, especially the recent bill on defilement of minors and its legal consequences.
Earlier, Akpabio thanked the royal fathers for the grand reception, even without any prior notice, describing Ntenyin as a man of peace.
“I am very happy to be here and I thank you my fathers for this grand reception for me and my entourage, even at a very short notice. I am here today with my colleagues and family members, which shows that I am from here and my home is intact.
“Let me thank you for being a peace loving father. You are a man of peace. The ‘most costly’ peace is better than the cheapest war. I made an appeal to him without seeing him physically and he listened to me and today, there is peace in Akwa Ibom State.
“Kindly extend my greetings to your son, my governor and our leader, Mr Umo Eno, another man of peace, who not only says it, but does it,” he said.
The senate president pledged to ensure victory for the governor in his second term bid.
Kaduna: Sani is God-sent, says Fani-Kayode
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has described Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State as a “God-sent leader” whose emergence was a divine intervention to restore peace, unity, and justice in the state.
Fani-Kayode stated this on Saturday at the 35th Anniversary Synod of the Diocese of Kafanchan, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
He said Sani’s administration had begun to heal the wounds of mistrust, discrimination, and insecurity that affected the state in the past.
“The Governor you have today came as a consequence of prayer. I have known him for many years.
“He is not an ordinary person,” Fani-Kayode said.
The former minister recalled that Kaduna State once faced severe religious tension, adding that Christians were marginalised and victims of violence, especially during the 2016 Christmas Day attacks in parts of Southern Kaduna.
He said about 800 people were killed in four local government areas on that day, describing the incident as a “gruesome massacre” that left lasting scars on the Christian community.
According to him, hospitals were shut and victims were neglected, while communities were repeatedly attacked without response from the authorities at the time.
Fani-Kayode said such experiences strengthened Christians to resist oppression peacefully and to continue trusting in God.
“To be a Christian is not to be a second-class citizen or a slave. It is to be a child of the living God,” he said.
He commended Sani for promoting inclusiveness and religious harmony since assuming office, stating that one of his first actions was to bridge divisions between Christians and Muslims in the state.
Fani-Kayode said, “He kept his promise by ensuring Kaduna belongs to both Christians and Muslims.
“He also established the Kaduna Elders Forum, where Christians are now included.”
The former minister said peace had returned to Southern Kaduna under Sani’s leadership, noting that the killings and hostilities witnessed in the past had stopped.
He also praised the governor for showing respect to the Christian faith, recalling an instance when Sani removed his cap during a Church service as a sign of reverence.
Fani-Kayode urged the residents of the state to sustain the peace and continue promoting interfaith understanding.
He advised families affected by the past crises to show forgiveness and compassion across religious lines.
“If you lost a child during the time of terror, find a Muslim child to adopt.
“And if you are a Muslim who lost a child, adopt a Christian child”, he said.
Fani-Kayode also called for continued unity between both faiths, stressing that the majority of Muslims and Christians in Nigeria desire peaceful coexistence.
He commended the people of Southern Kaduna for their resilience and faith, describing them as “extraordinary people who chose peace over violence”.
