Hon. Mark Udo Esset, The Honourable Member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has sued for peace and also advised the people of Ibiaikot extraction to eschew hatred and divisive tendencies amongst them.
Esset made the call yesterday (Monday) at the Maiden Annual Ibiakot Day Celebration organized by Ibiaikot Development Union at the Asan Ibiaikot, Idiaba Village.
The Lawmaker who is a proud son of Ibiaikot expressed delight to see the convergence of all the sons and daughters of Ibiaikot extraction from all walks of life, noting that, it portrays a formidable front amongst the entire Ibiaikot Group of Villages.
Elder Esset while preaching for forgiveness amongst the people of Ibiakot Group of Villages, harped on the dire need for a peaceful coexistence amongst the villages that make up the group.
Mark Esset who was accompanied by his wife, Dorcas, noted that, the gathering had no political inclinations but rather was a convergence of kiths and kins of like minds, hence nobody should attempt to politicise the celebration in any guise.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of Ibiaikot Development Union, Hon. (Otuekong) Raphael Bassey thanked the Ibiaikot sons and daughters for honouring the invitation to grace the epoch making event.
Otuekong Bassey called on the entire indigenes of Ibiaikot Group of Villages to be worthy ambassadors, hence the need for them to live a life worthy of emulation.
Giving a goodwill message, the Paramount Ruler of Nsit Atai Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Peter Okon Effiong commended the organizers of the Maiden Annual Ibiaikot Day.
The Nsit Atai Monarch advised the group of Villages to sustain the annual converge, thereby making it a yearly rituals and he called on other groups of Villages in Nsit Atai Local Government Area to emulate the gesture of Ibiaikot Group of Villages.
High point of the event was the donation of chairs to be used in the Asan Ibiaikot, monetary donations for the parameter fencing of the Asan Ibiaikot and purchase of a mower etc.
Inspection of assorted local cuisines prepared by each of the villages and traditional dances and masquerade display were on hand to thrill the guests.
The maiden annual Ibiaikot Day Celebration 2020 had as its theme, “Let’s come together in unity to uphold the heritage and territorial integrity of Ibiaikot people as the warriors of Nsit Atai”.
Many illustrious sons and daughters of Ibiaikot Group of Villages extractions that graced the event were Former Commissioners – Dr. John Harry and Prof. Trenchard Ibia; Former Council Chairmen – Barr. Peter Ndem and Hon. Edet Okon; the Vice Chairman of Nsit Atai Local Government Council, Hon. Idorenyin Effiong Inyang; Elder Ekoi Obong; Mr. Sylvester Polycarp;
