Former Minister Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, has lauded the developmental initiatives of Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, saying the latter’s achievements in office in the last seven and half years have made him another shining star of democracy in Nigeria.

Akpabio stated this via a statement issued on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Jackson Udom, after he received the 2022 Maiden State Honours Award as Grand Commander of Ebonyi Hall of Fame (GCEHF) in recognition of his service to Ebonyi State and humanity.

The award was received on his behalf by the former Commissioner of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, IK Ugwuegede, in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital on Thursday.

The former governor of Akwa Ibom State said: “I thank the government and the good people of Ebonyi State for this honour.

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“The development strides of Governor Umahi in Ebonyi State reminds me of Akwa Ibom State (2007-2015), when I unleashed Uncommon Transformation upon the state and its people.

“This award will encourage me to continue with my contributions to national development whilst cementing the relationship between Akwa Ibom people and Ebonyi people,” Akpabio noted.

Other dignitaries honoured at the event included late former Head of State, Sani Abacha; former President Goodluck Jonathan; Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari (who also represented President Muhammadu Buhari); the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele; and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba; among others.

The Star