By Divine Sam
Ikot Obong Ediene in Abak local Government area of Akwa Ibom State state, was agog, following the burial of one of their community leaders Chief Aniefiok Edet Obot. He was a great leader, who touched many, lives and settle a lot of family and community disputes. People from all walks of life, gathered to bid him final farewell to eternity.
From the biography read by one of the grandchild of the deceased, Chief Aniefiok Edet was born into a royal family in Ediene village, Abak LGA Akwa Ibom State. Ekparikpa has fondly called, having acquired his standard 6 education from government primary ventured into full-time trading to explored his knowledge acquired from teachers training college into business and other endeavours.
He specialises on selling wrappers in Abak main market and because of his capability well vested experienced in the business, he travelled wide beyond the geographical region of Akwa Ibom to mingled with others of his business contemporaries in the country.
Considering his responsibility in the Apostolic church, where he served in various categories of leadership including assembly witness leader, chairman planning Committee on numerous projects and occasions, chief Aniefiok Edet became famously recognised and in returned he made himself always available to profuse lasting solutions to people’s problems even beyon his immediate family and community by extension.
His charitable endowment also endeared him many other community assignments especially during his tenure as village chairman Ikot Obong Ediene village council, a position that he vacated with multi-tasking legacies across board, coupled with newly initiated developmental project that is currently benefiting people of the area.
The late chief Aniefiok Edet Obot Isonguyo aka uwaaha/Ekparikpa was also known as a critical components and unrepented factor to human development, his core belief system and values was passionately on human development which he deed intentionally without seeking for anything in return, because he believed that developing humans is unanimous than multitudes of wealth.
In the word of his younger brother Hon. Uwem Edet Obot popularly called Uwem Asian, a product and strong beneficiary of the magnanimity of Chief Ekparikpa, he said, “don’t called him my elder brother, No he was my father and still my father, how will you describe somebody that trained you and established you? Chief Aniefiok Edet Obot was not just my elder brother, he played the role of a elder brother and also played the role of a father at the same time, who I am today is courtesy of him and he should be hold responsible.
Without him I would have been a mockery in the society, I am a product of his kind gesture and there is no amount of messages that can justify the meaningful contributions he granted me and my family, today I have what to eat with my family and also give some to people”
Also in his dreadful message of condolence the family head and elder brother to the deceased Chief Mfon Edet Obot described the sudden departure of his immediate younger brother as a great lost to the entire family of Ekpuk Nto Udo Adiaha. He said the death of the community leader has created a big vacuum between his brothers, family, community, village and the local government area by extension.
” is still like a dream, still unbelievable, is still as if is not true, but for some moment now he hasn’t drive down his lexus jeep to come and sit with us in the compound as usual, I don’t know if it true but God understands better than we mortalities”
The week long funeral rite conducted by the Apostolic church, Ediene District, Abak area, Ikot Ekpene field began on Monday morning 22nd with opening of mourning House, and various activities to give a Royal funeral and last respect to the departed Christian and community leader.
Meanwhile goodwill messages pouring from different sectors, including chief Imeh Udo Ubom, people’s Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, Fidelity Bank’s federal House of Representative member, House of Assembly, executive chairman Abak LGA and lots more.
