BY: Joseph Inyang, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State has been thrown into deep mourning following the death of the first indigenous Military governor of the state, Commodore Idongesit Nkanga.from
He died as a result of Covid-19 complications, according to a statement from the state government.
The State government on Saturday revealed that Nkanga, aged 68 and Chairman of Pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum, (PANDEF) died on December 24, 2020.
“Information from the Isolation center where he was admitted and managed indicates that the first indigenous military governor of Akwa Ibom state and leader of Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) died from complications resulting from COVID-19 infection”.
The statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, said that “requisite protective protocol and contact tracing have been immediately activated”.Ekuwem said, the State governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel is saddened by the news of the passing of the elder statesman and consoled with the bereaved family.
Feeling the pains, the governor has declared a seven day period of mourning from Saturday, 26th December, 2020; and also directed flags to be flown at half mast for the entire duration of the mourning in the state.
Nkanga, a former commander of the Presidential fleet, retired as an air Commodore in the Nigeria Air Force; and was Military governor of Akwa Ibom State between 1992 and 1993 during the regime of Ibrahim Babangida as military president.
He contested for the governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2003 under the defunct Nigeria Democratic Party(NDP).
In 2007, Nkanga was appointed chairman of the Akwa Ibom Airport Implementation Committee, and served as the Chairman Board of Directors of Ibom Air, a position he held until his death.
In 2011, Nkanga was the Director General for Godswill Akpabio campaign organisation, as well as the Director General of for the emergence of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2015 and 2019 governorship elections.
