The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Dr. Emmanuel E. Sideso, Abe 1, JP, OON has inaugurated the Professor(Chief) Joseph Abugu led Ekpan Development Council(EDC) constitution review panel, warning the members that any one with a hidden agenda that may truncate the sustain peace in the community should resign or would be thrown out.
Speaking during the inauguration of the 16-man EDC constitution review panel on Wednesday (3/9/2020), HRM Sideso said Ekpan was a blessed community and that if there was unity, fairness, and equity everybody would be happy.
He said the panel members were not appointed to create problems as their only agenda was to ensure sustainable peace in Ekpan and any member suspected to have hidden agenda would immediately be removed
HRM Sideso urged the panel members to be fair, transparent and honest and must not allow body to influence them adding that Ekpan must change for the best.
The Monarch pointed out that the traditional institution is not for politicians and the current sustain peace in Ekpan had created the enabling environment for businesses to strive and more companies were opening shops in the community thereby creating more employment for the people
He reminded the panel that they were not appointed to write a new EDC constitution but to do some amendment to reflect the current structure in Ekpan, particularly the rotation policy of leadership positions. He said amendments of constitutions were a continuous process even in the federal republic of Nigeria
According to him the amendment of the EDC constitution became necessary due to the creation of more divisions (etche) in Ekpan from one to four and he had wanted this to be done long before September 21st when the tenure of the current EDC EXCO would expire
He charged the panel members to be committed to providing a workable constitution for Ekpan that would move the community forward. The committee has three months to complete its assignment.
Responding the panel chairman, Prof. Chief Abugu of the University of Lagos assured the Uvwie Monarch that the committee would be dedicated to their assignment and would be fair, just and equitably in the discharge of their duties.
He commended the Monarch for his tireless efforts at sustaining the peace in Ekpan saying he was now proud to be known at a son of the soil unlike the regrettable past when there was chaos almost every-day over struggle for who control leadership positions in the community
Prof. Abugu appealed to Ekpan indigenes to cultivate the spirit of give and take as well as return to the most cherish values of their parents that showed great love for each other adding that greedy and selfish people have been known not to progress any society if it was against the Will of God and people
Other members of the EDC constitution review panel are Chief Livingstone Appah, Alternate Chairman, Sir Monday U. Ataine, Secretary, Chief Omafume Amurun, Assistant Secretary, Chief U.K Okwowe, Hon. Henry Biyibi, Chief Edmond Ofudje, Hon. Kingsley Urumedji, Joe Imiruaye, William Akpiomah, Awinoje Kokoma Grace, Dcn. Mathew E. Emewakeme, Comrade Esere Akemu, Pastor Innocent Adjenughure and Mrs. Duchess Sakutu
