Akwa Ibom Swears-in First Female Deputy Governor, PDP Hails Transition

SAN FRANCISCO, November 04, (THEWILL) – Akwa Ibom State has sworn-in Mrs. Valerie Ebe as Deputy Governor of the state following the resignation of former deputy, Mr. Nsima Ekere.

Ebe, a lawyer by training was sworn in on Saturday by the state Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Idongesit Ntem-Isua.

The new female Deputy Governor, who was born on March 26, 1947 is from Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, and had served as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism as well as that for Environment in addition to having served as a state PDP Legal Adviser.

During her swearing in ceremony, Governor Godswill Akpabio, said, ''Though gender was not a consideration in her appointment, a section of the public would definitely see her as being at the vanguard of our faith for more women participation in our governance.

“By her appointment, we now have have a triumvirate of women in key positions like the Chief Judge, Head of the Civil Service and now the Deputy Governor. Akwa Ibom is definitely leading the revolution for gender equality in our country.

''The swearing-in of Her Honour Lady (Barr.) Valerie Ebe as the new Deputy Governor of our dear state is historic. She is the first woman in the 25-year history of our dear state to occupy such a position. The burden of being the first is that her performance and achievements will either break new ceilings for women or close the ceilings against them. She cannot afford to fail''.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the leadership of the party in the state for the smooth transition that heralded the emergence of the new Deputy Governor of the State.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh said the Party was happy with the manner the transition was completed with least acrimony and urged other state chapters to borrow a leaf.

"The import of this is that the faithful delivery of the Party's electoral promises in the state will not be impeded by such a change. Our leadership is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that all members in various positions of authority meet up with the Party's performance target as a critical element to its victory in future elections."


"The leadership of our party guides jealously, the performance target we have set for all our members elected into various positions of authority. We are quietly monitoring to ensure compliance. There is no doubt that the facts available to us will be basic to our decisions at the time of reckoning. We will certainly settle for nothing but credible performance."


"It is in this wise that we commend the action of the former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Ekere who resigned last week for 'personal reasons. ' We think it is wise. We also think he has taken a good decision. Besides, we view it as democracy in action. The essentials of public stewardship demand that personal interests and reasons be relegated so that the common interest of all shall thrive."


"The largely unsung feature of the fourteen years of democracy under the PDP is the unshackled freedom it has vested on the polity. Beyond the sanctity of the electoral choices of the people, issues bordering on personal choice and the freedom to espouse such a choice is an integral value in democracy under the PDP. Our Party shall continue to encourage this."


"We therefore recommend as worthy of emulation the unabridged democratic process which the Governor of the State, Chief Godswill Akpabio and the leadership of our Party in Akwa Ibom Ibom State engaged in handling the resignation and the emergence of the new Deputy Governor of the State.

"Central is the conscientiousness of Governor Akpabio and leadership of our Party in the State who allowed democratic values to guide its decisions in running the affairs of the state. We are particularly encouraged by the leadership style, which has accommodated all spheres of opinion and the people of the state irrespective of personal political persuasions as a cardinal article of governance. It is instructive that the former Deputy Governor made reference to this in his resignation letter. This ought to be emulated."

The statement further congratulated the new Deputy Governor on her appointment and enjoined her to complement the efforts of the Governor in implementing the manifesto of the Party in the state.