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Gov. Udom Buries Father in Style at Country Home (PHOTOS)

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By Aluu Vincent

 

…. Burial witnessed a mammoth crowd of who is who

It was pump and pageantry as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and family, paid last respect to their patriarch, the late teacher Gabriel Emmanuel Nkanang. The burial obsequies which held at Awa Ubium Central, Onna LGA of Akwa Ibom State turned out to be a celebration of life for a man who spent his life mentoring the younger generation to become good ambassadors.

The late Nkanang who died at the age of 90, apart from being a great teacher gave his life, spirit and heart to teaching and to serving God.

While thanking all those who attending the burial, Udom said, “Today, I know that I am being loved by Nigerians. This ceremony for me is a bridge building one as it cut across party, religious and cultural lines. The faces present at the celebration of life of my late father shows that we are being loved. What you have done will remain ever green in our hearts. I appreciate you love, kind words and support that you have extended to us. God bless you all. My father was everything you can define a father to be. He was not a rich man but was comfortable, He was the type who will spend what is has to bring happiness to the life of another. In life, we have different kinds of fathers; we have biological fathers, spiritual fathers, economic fathers, school fathers and political fathers. The only father that can never be replaced is your biological father. My late father was a man of impeccable character, a great disciplinarian and mentor. We promise to ensure that his legacies carried on.”


The text was drawn from the Book of Luke 16:1-11 and was delivered by Reverend Ekpedeme, the General Superintendent of Qua Ibo Church. The sermon which was captioned Faithfulness in Stewardship centered on the need for leaders to be accountable for their actions in and out of office. The fiery preacher challenged leaders to ensure that they do the right thing while in office stating that power is transient and that each leader will give account of his stewardship. He advocated the need for leaders to add the prefix “Steward on their names and be reminded that they are accountable noting that it was the only way for things to get better in Nigeria. He lamented the present scenario where leaders do whatever they like noting that leaders must supervise the activities of their subordinates to ensure compliance to set goals. He noted that the late Nkanang Gabriel lived a good life, mentored many, helped in propagating God’s kingdom and will be remembered as the great teacher. He urged attendees to go back home and reflect on how they carry out their responsibilities as leaders in their various offices and change for the better.

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The said event witnessed an unprecedented crowd that even Governor Udom Emmanuel confessed that he has never witnessed such a gathering in a long while.

The Roll Call were the Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Yemi Osinbajo, former President Goodluck Jonathan and wife, Patience Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Ekiti State Governor Fayemi, Cross River State Governor, His Excellency Prof. Ben Ayade and wife, Abia State Governor, His Excellency Okezie Ikpeazu, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Enugu State, Governor of Ebonyi State, Governor of Niger State, PDP National Chairman, Benue State Governor, Prince Uche Secondus, PDP BoT Chairman, Sen. Jibril, PDP State Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo and members of the State Exco. Others were the Emir of Kano, Ooni of Ife, Ntisong Ibibio, Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Mr. Udom Inoyo, Vice Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Obong Victor Attah, Donald Duke, Peter Obi, Gabriel Suswam, Boni Haruna, Sule Lamido, Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Liyel Imoke, James Ibori, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sen. Bassey Albert, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, Sen. Chris Ekpenyong, Members of the House of Representatives from Awa Ibom State, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and his colleagues, movers and shakers of corporate Nigeria led by Mr. Jim Ovia, clergies, etc.

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The event knew no party, religious and cultural lines as members of the ruling APC were in attendance. These include Obong Umana Okon Umana, Atuekong Don Etiebet, Sen. Ita Enang, wife of the former Governor of the State and Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator James Udoedeghe, top politicians, among others.

Nkanang was born on Monday, May 27, 1929, into a very pious Christian family. Six months after his birth, Nigeria suffered a national calamity when women in the eastern part of the country rose up in arms against the unfair Indirect Tax imposed by the British Colonial Administration. The uprising which is christened in history books as “the Aba Women Riot” claimed the lives of not less than 50 unarmed, hapless women. It actually occurred in the part of the world where Nkanang was born. As he woke up to his world, the rumbles of war shook the entire world as Hitler’s Germany began the preparation for another World War. When he was ten years old, the Second World War began in Europe and Nigeria joined the war on the side of the British Empire. But the strong Christian values of his family insulated him from the effects of war and crisis and he would remain a man of peace for the rest of his life.

 

Not even the Nigerian Civil War which happened when he was in his 30’s could derail his peaceful disposition. He was offered instant employment as an auxiliary teacher after his Standard Six Examination. He set his sights on more academic accomplishments and obtained the Royals Society of Arts certificate. He gained admission to the institution which later became the University of Ibadan but lost his father the same year. A man who placed family before all else he sacrificed the admission for his family and, as the first born, stepped into the role of a father. Teaching was not just work for him, it was a calling. He went out of his way to bring wayward children to his home and turn their lives around with prayers, instruction and counsel. The most dreaded school subject in those days was the almighty mathematics. But Nkanang had a way of teaching mathematics which simplified it and won it a lot of fans.

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Teacher Nkanang was also a missionary who went about establishing churches and schools all over the country. Where it became imperative, he would sponsor and support the missions he had established. He had an obsession with bringing education to everyone.

According Anietie Ukpe, “Nkanang turned the last page of his storied life of service to mankind by asking to be dressed up in his best cloth at bedtime. He did not wake up the next morning – or to adjust that slightly, he woke up on the other side of eternity. It appears that he dressed up to breath his last and make it easier for his remains to be handled. So tucking himself into this best wear before embarking on an eternal journey to meet his Creator followed the pattern”

Elder Nkanang, passed on in December, 2019 at the ripe age of 90. May the soul of the faithful departed find rest in the bossom of the Lord.

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