Okon Bassey in Uyo
Former Minister, Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has described his being alive to witness his 60th birthday celebration as the benevolence of God.
Akpabio stated this at the 2022 Christmas Carol Service of St. John Paul 11 College, held at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the weekend.
He expressed happiness over the celebration of his birthday, declaring that the Nigeria of his dream was already taking shape.
He also stated that he wanted to bequeath to future generations of Akwa Ibom people and Nigeria a better society where all Nigerians irrespective of where they come from would be proud of.
According to Akpabio, the future that he longed for has started taking shape with what he witnessed in the state.
“You all have demonstrated that given the right atmosphere, you can make this country great and I am happy for that,” he said.
He added that, “the major reason I approached governance with anger, when I was elected governor was to ensure that an Akwa Ibom child would no longer be treated as a slave, because the difference between the driver and the man at the back of the car is education.”
He charged Nigerians to be committed to the unity of the country and not allow ethnicity and religious differences to divide us.
“God kept me alive today not by my power, carefulness or righteousness. It is God’s love that has kept me till today.
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“God did not look at where I come from before he kept me alive to witness my 60th birthday. Let us therefore, eschew ethnicity in our dealings with each other because in heaven there would be no designated place for the Yorubas, Hausas, Igbos, christians nor Muslims.”
Events to mark the 60th birthday of Senator Akpabio were medical outreach, visits to orphanages, hospitals and the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ikot Ekpene, road walk by the youths, Carol night and football tournaments.
