The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) and the Akwa Ibom State government have paid tributes to the first military governor of the state, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd), who died on Thursday, December 24 at the age of 68.
Nkanga, who was the chairman of the Pan-Niger Delta Elders’ Forum (PANDEF) governor of Akwa Ibom State, under the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, died of COVID-19 complications at an Isolation Centre in Uyo.
In a statement by Messrs Edwin Clark (south-south), Ayo Adebanjo (southwest), John Nwodo (southeast), and Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt), the group described the deceased Nkanga as “great pillar of support to the forum.”
“As the chairman of PANDEF, Nkanga was very vocal in the campaign for the restructuring of Nigeria and the development of the country’s Niger Delta region.
“In May 2001, he became a member of the Board of the Cooperative Development Bank before he emerged as the governorship candidate of the defunct Nigeria Democratic Party in the 2003 general elections.
“Nkanga was later appointed as the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom Airport Implementation Committee in 2007 and became a member of the South-South Elders and Leaders’ Forum in January 2010.
“He was a thoroughly decent gentleman who never raised his voice no matter how strong he felt on an issue. He would always look for a way out no matter how thorny the issue is and this made him a highly respected voice in leadership.
“As chairman of PANDEF, he was a great pillar of support to the Leader of the group, Pa E. K Clark. All organizations where he left his indelible marks must be in deep mourning of this good and great man whose painful exit has left a yawning gap that will be very difficult to refill for a long time.
“If we had a choice in the matter, we would still keep him with us for a very long time. But he has played his part and the good Lord has called him to a sweeter rest.
“All we can do now is to wish him eternal farewell as we pray to God to be with every member of the good family he has left behind and let his memory be evergreen with his good legacy as his succession for ages to come,” said PANDEF.
For its part, the government of Akwa Ibom State declared a seven-day period of mourning for Nkanga.
The period of mourning began yesterday, December 26, according to statement signed by the secretary to the state government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem.
He said flags would be flown at half-mast throughout the period of mourning.
“The government of Akwa Ibom State hereby formally announces the death of a former military governor of our state, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, who died at night on December 24.
“The information from the Isolation Centre where he was admitted and managed indicates that the first indigenous military governor of our state and leader of Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) died from complications resulting from COVID-19 infection.
“Requisite protective protocol and contact tracing have been immediately activated.
“The Governor, Udom Emmanuel is greatly saddened by the news of his passage and condoles with the bereaved family.
“Consequently, the governor has declared a seven-day period of mourning effective Saturday, December 26, 2020. Flags are to be flown at half-mast for the duration of mourning in the state,” he added.
