Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has described the Victory Breakfast Football Match played in his honour by Uruan All-Stars FC and Uruan Progressive FC at Methodist Primary School, Ituk Mbang, Uruan, on Saturday, as a uniting platform for the people of the area.
Speaking at the end of the game, the Speaker said “the match ended in 2 – 2 because both teams played well and deserved the joint victory. That is the beauty of the game. Football unites all, irrespective of one’s religion and political affiliation. Uruan must be seen in this light for unity, harmony and progress.”
While charging youths of the area to shun all social vices and embrace sportsmanship, development and innovation in line with the Dakkada Creed, he thanked the organizers of the football match and urged them to strive to keep the team and the people of the area together through sporting events.
Rt. Hon. Bassey described his emergence as the handiwork of God and hinted that the 7th Assembly, under his watch, would be more collaborative and work in synergy with the people.
The Speaker, who also stopped at Nung Ikono Ifok Uruan to lay the foundation stone for the construction of All-Stars Family Club House, charged youths of the area to live up to their responsibility and protect all government facilities in the area including the proposed Club House.
In his remarks, Chairman of Uruan All-Stars, Hon. John EssienAbasi, appealed to the Speaker to assist in the promotion of talents through sporting events.
He also requested for sports kits to enable the team compete favourably with its contemporaries within and outside Akwa Ibom State.
At Nung Ikono Ufok, the Village Head, Eteidung Joseph Attaessien, who was instrumental to the donation of the land to Uruan All-Stars, assured the Speaker that the facility, when completed and put to use, will be protected.