A former senator from Akwa Ibom State, Nelson Effiong, has been appointed the village head of Eyo Usotai in Oron Native Authorities Space of the state.
He was among the many new conventional rulers within the state who received their certificate of recognition from the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, on Tuesday, 23 September, in Uyo, as a part of the occasions to mark the thirty eighth anniversary of the state’s creation.
On the occasion, Mr Eno swore within the Paramount Ruler of Abak Native Authorities Space, Saviour Udofia, as the brand new Chairperson of the Akwa Ibom State Conventional Rulers Council.
The governor used the occasion to precise his administration’s dedication to conventional rulers’ welfare.
“We’ve got supplied official autos to our royal fathers. Some (of the autos) that have been over 5 years outdated have been changed with new ones. We’re intervening of their healthcare wants, outdoors of the quarterly healthcare package deal we’ve been offering,” the governor mentioned.
He introduced an upward overview of the month-to-month remuneration for the state’s conventional rulers and the appointment of a private assistant for every paramount ruler.
Governor Eno mentioned the state authorities “treasures” the roles the standard rulers play within the state’s governance, particularly on the grassroots. He mentioned the administration needed to show how a lot it cares about them and to encourage them of their good deeds.
He appealed for continued assist from the standard rulers for his administration.
Ex-senator explains why he accepted to be a village head
PREMIUM TIMES, on Wednesday, requested Mr Effiong why he accepted turning into a village head.
“I’ve completed the political journey; I’m now on the standard journey. There comes a time you must give manner for the youthful ones to take over in politics. I shall be 73 years outdated subsequent April. If I have been within the civil service, I might have retired way back,” the previous senator informed our reporter.
He mentioned his focus as a village head can be on constructing and sustaining peace amongst his folks and drawing the federal government’s consideration to their growth wants.
“Although we did our greatest in politics, you recognize the affect the village head, clan head and the paramount ruler have,” he mentioned.
Mr Effiong, elected below the Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) platform, represented Akwa Ibom South District within the Senate from 2015 to 2019. He defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress in 2017.
“The get together is in tatters,” Mr Effiong mentioned when he defected from the PDP. “No cheap politician can maintain losing his time (within the PDP).”
He was the speaker of the Akwa Ibom Home of Meeting earlier than he turned a senator.
The previous senator was kidnapped by gunmen in 2021 and was later launched after spending over 50 days in captivity.
