By Emmanuel Sampson, Uyo.
The foremost socio-cultural group in Akwa Ibom State, the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, has debunked and faulted media reports making the rounds about division in the Organisation following the recent appointment of her 10th International President, Akparawa (Õbõñ) Patrick E. Udõfia, as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, on socio cultural activities in the State.
Making this public after a meeting of the Advisory Council of the Mboho held on Monday, November 25, 2019, the Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Mboho, Akparawa (Sir) Val Attah, on behalf of the Mboho, commended the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, for his right choice in appointing some of the best brains in the State to work with him in his cabinet.
According to Akparawa (Sir) Val Attah, the Mboho is extremely happy with the Governor’s appointment of the Mboho’s International President as one of his Aides; as this has gone a long way to justify that the Mboho is really a training ground where egg heads and exemplary leaders are moulded.

In addition, Akparawa (Sir) Attah said succinctly that ”we (the Mboho hierarchy is happy with appointment done by his Excellency and has accepted it in totality.” “The Governor is our member who is working in tune with the Advisory Council and feels our pulse; consequently, the Mboho is making efforts to make his administration the best in the State by the time the Governor rounds off his tenure in the State by 2023”, Sir Attah said.
Furthermore, Akparawa (Sir) Attah emphasised that Akparawa (Õbõñ) Patrick Udofia, the Mboho’s 10th International President, has rendered excellent services to the Organisation and the Mboho is satisfied with his leadership styles and proficiency.
Equally, the Uyo born politician, Who is the political leader of Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom as well as the immediate past Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Local Government Service Commission, has called on all the faithful members of the Mboho as well as the general public to disregard the media fuel discrediting the Mboho and her International President as being spurious, unfounded and baseless. He explained that rather than break into factions, the Mboho is waxing stronger than before, under Akparawa (Õbõñ) Pat Udõfia because of his purposeful and service driven and visionary leadership of the Organisation; from July 22, 2018, when he took over the reigns of leadership of the Organisation till today.
In his speech, the 10th International President of Mboho and President General of all the sociocultural groups in the State, Akparawa (Õbõñ) Pat E. Udofia, said he is happy with the honour bestowed upon him by the State Governor; hence, he will never allow himself to be distracted by enemies of progress within and without the fold; rather, he will be focussed on the task ahead in the Mboho and his new appointment so as not to fail to contribute his quota to the Governor’s completion agenda.
More so, he used the opportunity to appeal to his Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, to appoint more of the Mboho members into his cabinet to help him achieve success; as the Mboho , as a training ground, is laden and endowed with intelligent and talented personnel who possess valuable administrative acumen that can add credibility and proficiency to his success story.
The Int’l President also thanked the State Governor for his industrialisation drive; which is geared towards creating employment and wealth for Akwa Ibom people. The Governor’s Aide professed that with the giant strides of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the State, Akwa Ibom State, in no distant time, would be an African industrial city .
It is worth noting that some of the International President’s notable achievements in the Mboho include the hosting of the 31st anniversary of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio and induction of new members into the Organisation, completion and commissioning of the Mboho’s Hotels for business and the inauguration of Dallas Chapter of MMI, USA. In addition, the Int’l President also led a delegation of some home based Akwa Ibom indigenes to the 2018 AKISAN convention in Arizona and that of 2019 in Houston, Texas, USA. It is also on record that from when he assumed office last year till now, Akparawa Udofia has paid members’ welfare entitlements up to date and in a bit to support free and compulsory education in the State, MMI has organised and sponsored Ibibio essay writing competition, given scholarship award worth fifty thousand naira (#50,000) each to about 120 students across the State; during the 32nd anniversary of the Mboho and 21st Obong Sampson Udo Etuk Biennial lecture (which is the highest since the establishment of Mboho). With these feats and others not mentioned here, it has been proven that Akparawa Udofia is a silent achiever.
Consequently,Akparawa Udofia has called on all the Mboho members to give him the needed support and co-operation; as he has promised to leave the Mboho better than how he met it.