Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has commended the gallantry of the Nigerian Army and other Armed forces for their collaborative role in tackling criminality in the state, by extension, the South-South region thereby making the state adjudged the safest in the country.
Governor Emmanuel gave the commendation while exchanging views with the outgoing General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General J. Sarham who led a delegation comprising top military brass of the 6 Division on a courtesy call at Government House , Uyo .
Governor Emmanuel expressed appreciation to the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army for maintaining peace and security in the region and particularly thanked the Army for containing restiveness in the Etim Ekpo-Ukanafun axis of the state.
He congratulated the outgoing GOC on his promotion and solicited continuous synergy with the 6 Division of the Army and the 2 Brigade under the new leadership.
His words: “let me register our own appreciation to the GOC 6 Division for collaborating with us especially in combating crime and the role the Nigerian Army has played in the unrest that almost overwhelmed us in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun Local Government Areas of the state.”
Mr. Emmanuel who noted that security is everybody’s concern and should not be entrusted in the hands of the military personnel, used the occasion to to reiterate his administration’s resolve to partner the security agencies in protecting lives and property.
The Governor particularly commended Major General Sarham for his role in the just concluded Nigerian Army Finance Corps seminar hosted in the State and assured of his preparedness to host the next Nigerian Army games.
“I also say thank you for supporting the Army Finance Corps to bring their seminar to Uyo. It was a great pleasure for us to play host to all them and they had a good and peaceful experience of their stay in the state.
“Who can tell, if the next Nigerian Army games come, we can also host it here so that we can interact more and more. We’ve hosted the Air Force, we’ve hosted the Navy, we hosted the Police, so we wouldn’t mind to complete the circle”, he stated.
Earlier, Major General J. Sarham expressed appreciation to the Governor for his administration’s support to the 6 Division and described Governor Emmanuel as a man of integrity having kept to a promise made on his assumption of duty.
The Army boss informed the Governor of his elevation as Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy and sued for continuous support of the state administration to his successor.
“Your Excellency, my purpose of coming here is just to say thank you, thank you and thank you very much. The reason being that we came in here at a time when we needed each other in the call of duty to instill sanity in the society.
“By the instrumentality of the Nigerian Army, I am to assume as the Commandant of the Prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy. As I am on my way out I decided to come and pay respect to you and inform you of my exit and solicit your support for the incoming Commander”, he stated.
The Army boss was accompanied by Commander 2Brigade, Brigadier General Ta Lagbaja ; Commander 6 Military Intelligent Brigade, Brigadier General Ni Najaja ; Acting Commander 6Division Provost Group, Major TO Ibrahim ; Operations Officers HQ2 Brigade, Captain SS Jatau and Aide-De-Camp to the Outgoing General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Captain CY Rabiu.
