A FOREMOST AIR LINE OPERATOR AND GRAND PATRON OF THE “ESOP NDITO URUAN, LAGOS”, CALLS FOR PEACE AND UNITY AMONGST HIS PEOPLE …..
– AS NEWLY ELECTED EXECUTIVES ASSUME OFFICES | Blissful Affairs Online
It was the penultimate Sunday, the 27th of July, 2025, an assigned date to gather the indigens of URUAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA resident in Lagos, under the Umbrella Organisation, called the “ESOP NDITO URUAN, LAGOS” for an election of new Executives who are to execute the affairs of the Esop, from now on.
Before then, the Esop was run by a “Stand – By – Excos”, which had been holding forth since the demise of the last elected President.
The venue of the event was the AKISCOM Secretariat in Surulere, Lagos and time was 2:30 pm as the hall gradually got filled up in a moment, when great people of Uruan got accredited via their membership cards and up to date clearance of their finances to enable them to vote and be voted for.
The three man Electoral Committee headed by Pastor Daniel Tom, began reading names of the villages in Uruan, which earlier, had been zoned into, the Northern, the South – South, South – East as well as the Central Districts to ascertain the presence of indigens from those villages ready for the election.
In his valedictory message, Deacon Promise Udofia who had been President ( on Acting Capacity) thanked everyone for their cooperation, unity of purpose, total understanding and commitment towards taking the Esop to the next level, paid glowing tribute to the late former President and promised to chart a new course forward to achieving the lofty goals envisaged by the late President, if voted in.
A motion to dissolve the House was pushed forward by none other than one of the founding Fathers of the Esop, the Grand Patron, the former Chief Executive Officer of the ADC Airline, Otuekong ( Captain ) Augustine Okon, who copiously commended the outgone Executives for their resilience, steadfastness and hard work, for having stood in the gap, he charged them to continue to serve with good heart, transparency and accountability as new Executives of the Esop. He was supported by Pastor Udoro – Obong Jaguar Etim.
Dignitaries present at the event including the President of the Akwa Ibom State Community, AKISCOM, in Lagos, Chief Edet Ambang, who was ably represented by the Secretary General of the Community, Evangelist Odudu Arthur while the Youth President of the Group, Otuekong Uwen Nnsungho also attended.
The Patron, Otuekong Augustine Okon, Deacon Promise Udofia, Elders Edet Umoh, Peter Effiong, Ambassador Mrs Regina, Pastor Udoro – Obong Jaguar Etim, Chief Okon Edet and Akparawa Akaneden Don Nyong.
Others were Pastors Daniel Tom, Patrick Okon, Ambassador Cornel Udofia, Etubom Udo – Otung and Sister Udeme Emmanuel.
A team of the election’s external Observers comprised Ambassador ( Mrs ) Imelda Osuji, an Advocate for Women decent dressings, Princess Betty Nene Okojie together with hordes of Media Personnel, who also observed and covered the election.
The Election Umpire headed by Pastor Daniel Tom set the ball rolling by announcing operation show your membership card, explained that Uruan as a whole, had been divided into zones and the nine Offices to vie for, comprised the Presidency, his Vice, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, PRO, Chief Welfare officer and the Provost.
By virtue of zoning, the Office of the President was zoned to Uruan Central and Deacon Promise Udofia was the choice of the people and was voted overwhelmingly with thirty one votes.
The Office of Vice President was zoned to the South East and unanimous victory was won by Elder Edet Umoh.
The General Secretary was to come from the South South District and then choice Candidate was Akparawa Akaneden Don Nyong who won.
Pastor Udoro – Obong Jaguar Etim, from the South South zone emerged victorious as the Assistant General Secretary.
The Northern Uruan was compensated with the Office of Financial Secretary. Three candidates aspired for the position, they were Mrs Rosaline Adaideh, Elder Godswill Attah and Mr Godwin Ekpenyong but victory went the way of Mrs Rosaline Adaideh
Elder Peter Effiong, from Central Uruan, was voted as the Treasurer.
For the Office of the Chief Welfare officer, which was zoned to the South East, Pastor Victor Elijah Ekpenyong clinched the office.
Contestants for the Office of the Public Relations Officer, zoned to Northern Uruan, comprised Madam Asari Saviour and Cornell Udofia and Ambassador Udofia polled twenty six votes to emerge the PRO of the Esop while Mr Daniel Inyang Etim, from Central Uruan was voted the Provost.
At a glance the new Excos of the Esop Ndito Uruan, Lagos, are as listed below;
* President – Deacon Promise Udofia
* Vice President – Elder Edet Umoh
* Gen.Secretary – Akaneden Don
* Assistant Secretary – Pastor Udoro- Obong Etim
* Financial Secretary – Mrs Rosaline Adaideh
* Treasurer – Elder Peter Effiong
* Chief Welfare Officer
– Pastor Victor Elijah
* Public Relations Officer – Amb.Cornel Udofia
* Provost – Mr Daniel Etim, hence the conclusion of the election which the Observers and the people adjudged as clear, free and transparent.
In his inaugural speech, the newly elected President, Deacon Promise Udofia congratulated all candidates as winners, eulogized the esteemed presence and invaluable contributions of Otuekong Augustine Okon for his great advice and thanked all present.
He officially accepted the offer to serve with total commitment and sincerity of purpose, to carry on with all amount of humility, to do justice in all the ways he can, for the emancipation and uplifting of Uruan people, pledging that, with the authority reposed on him, as the President, he will strive to make an indelible mark in his tenure as he once again, recognised the presence of the President of AKISCOM through his Representative at the event.
Expressing his gratitude to God and humanity, the elected PRO, Ambassador Cornel Udofia gave all the glory to the Almighty God for a successful election and thanked all the people who voted for him thus promising to try his utmost best to “galvanize all the Akwa Ibom people and all the members of the Esop, to work together and take the community to the next level.
In his fatherly blessing, the former CEO of the ADC Airline, Otuekong ( Captain) Augustine Okon expressed his proudness over the coming together of all Uruan indigens in Lagos, noting that, there are people from the northern, the South -south, the south – East and the Central Districts of the LGA, as different groups, all coming together to collapse their structures by saying, let there be one voice for Uruan people in Lagos, through one Organisation, the Esop Ndito Uruan in Lagos.
He felt even prouder that with the energy displayed at the occasion, the people can do a whole lot together.
Captain Okon however gave an assurance that he will always be there anytime the people will need his advice but solicited their strong adherence to Uruan culture, language, various cuisines which they are known for, emphasizing the fact that, Uruan are one of the first original Settlers in what is today called, the Akwa Ibom State.
So, the Otuekong noted that they have a whole lot of things to be proud of, listing the different kinds of food, dances, unique language and a whole lot of cultural issues and also as being primary custodians of the rest of Akwa Ibom people, hence the reason not to let these legacies die.
The Head of the Election Committee, Pastor Daniel Tom however assessed the exercise and scored the overall conducts, as being free and fair, thus advising the newly elected Executives to, hit the ground and run as the onus lies on them to move the Esop forward so as to make all the members proud.
He cautioned that, it was not about glamouring for Offices but to be able to carve a niche and create an indelible mark as the opportunities to serve have been offered to them to add value to the lives of the people.
High point of the celebrations were the adornments by the Patron and others, of the branded Tee Shirts as souvenirs provided by the elected PRO, Ambassador Cornel Udofia, at the occasion.
The train, for happy hour after the election moved to O’JEZ, where actual celebrations unfurled in earnest.
Wish the new Executives of the Esop Ndito Uruan in Lagos, a most successful tenure, more Grace and Blessings.
– JOHN OBOT, FRCN.
