Akwa Ibom Gets New Two-star General

By Inemesit Ina

An indigene of Akwa Ibom State has become one of the newest two-star generals of the Nigerian Army.

He is Major General Idongesit Essien Ekpenyong who hails from Ikot Andem Itam in Itu Local Government Area (LGA).

The senior officer was decorated with his new rank at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) in Abuja on Monday.

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Ekpenyong, 52, is presently the Chief of Staff (second-in-command), Headquarters, Nigerian Army Engineers, Bonny Camp, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Army Engineers are combat corps previously commanded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and two retired Major Generals from Ikono LGA (specifically Obio Itak and Ikot Akpa Edet Ndiya villages) of Akwa Ibom State, Raphael Benedict Usoro and Uwemedimo Essien, among others.

Ekpenyong passed out from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, Kaduna State, as a member of Regular Course 42 in 1995, a year after obtaining a degree in electrical/electronics’ engineering from the military university.

NDA cadets spend four years studying for a degree and a year undergoing military training before passing out.

The Lone Two-Star

Ekpenyong was among the 35 two-star generals whose promotion was announced by the Army on Friday, last week.

The Navy also announced the promotion of 24 two-star generals, Rear Admirals, same day.

Similarly, the Air Force disclosed the elevation of 19 Air Vice Marshals (AVMs), who are two-star generals, still that Friday.

Ekpenyong is the only two-star general from Akwa Ibom in all three services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) promoted this year.

This is in sharp contrast to 2023 and 2022 when the state had five and four two-star generals, respectively.

The last time there was a loner was 2021.

However, more Akwa Ibom indigenes made it, this year, to the one-star general rank of Brigadier General (in the Army), Commodore (in the Navy) and Air Commodore (in the Air Force).

The Other 12 Serving Two-star Generals from Akwa Ibom

Ekpenyong’s promotion brings to 13 the number of serving two-star generals from Akwa Ibom.

There were 12 others already.

The most senior among them is Rear Admiral Joseph Daniel Akpan, from Idikpa Atai in Nsit Atai LGA, who was, until recently, the Chief of Policy and Plans at Naval Headquarters (NHQ), Abuja, a position which made him the _de facto_ deputy Chief of Naval Staff.

He is likely to be reassigned within the Navy or posted out to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), the apex military high command, early next year, in the postings which have become inevitable because of the latest promotions.

Akpan rose to his present rank in 2019.

Major General Ifiok Martins Obot, from Afaha Essang in Abak LGA, who was promoted alongside him, retired voluntarily, two years later.

Next in line to Akpan is Major General Uwem Udo Bassey of the Infantry Corps of the Army who was promoted in 2020.

An indigene of Mbiabong Ikot Udo in Ini LGA, Bassey is the Director of Administration at the Defence Research and Development Bureau under the DHQ, Abuja.

The two Akwa Ibom indigenes promoted the same time with him are no longer in the military.

AVM Mfon Udo Ekpoh, from Ikot Mbong in ONNA LGA, died in 2021 while Rear Admiral Uduak Asuquo Ibanga, from Ikot Ekan in Etinan LGA, was forced to retire in the mass purge of two-star and one-star generals senior in course, regardless of rank, to President Bola Tinubu’s then newly-appointed service chiefs in June 2023.

The purge also affected Major General Solomon Effiong Udounwa, from Nung Udoe in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, and Rear Admiral Okon Edet Eyo, from Akai-Udo Ebughu in Mbo LGA, who were both promoted in 2018.

The lone two-star general from Akwa Ibom elevated in 2021 was AVM Iboro Harry Etukudo from Atan Ikpe in Ikot Abasi LGA.

He is next to the Chief of Air Staff as the Chief of Policy and Plans.

Etukudo, Akpan, Bassey and the three service chiefs are all coursemates.

The quartet who became two-star generals in 2022 were Major General Emmanuel Henry Akpan, presently the Chief of Defence Simulation, Major General Aniedi Effiong Edet, the Director-General of the Defence Industries’ Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Kaduna, Rear Admiral Sunday Daniel Atakpa, the Director of Manning at NHQ, and AVM Esen Paul Efanga, the Commandant of the Air Warfare Centre, Abuja.

They hail from Ukpom Edem Inyang in Oruk Anam LGA, Mbak Akpan Ekpenyong in Uyo LGA, Ikot Ekpeyak Ikono in Uyo LGA and Afaha Offot in Uyo LGA, respectively.

The quintet of 2023 were Major General Effefiong Effiong Ekpenyong, the Director of Exercises at the Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army, Minna, Niger State, Major General Wisdom Benjamin Etuk, the Commandant of the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management, Ojo, Lagos State, Major General Victor Edet Emah, the Director of Clothing and Stores at AHQ, Rear Admiral Etop Ekpainua Ebe, the Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Shipyard Limited, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Rear Admiral Aniefiok Cletus Uko, the Deputy Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State.

They are indigenes of Obong Itam in Itu LGA, Ikot Udoabia in Etinan LGA, Utu-Udim Ebughu in Mbo LGA, Ikot Edeghe in Mkpat Enin LGA and Nduk Town in Ikot Abasi LGA, respectively.

*Itu as Land of Generals*

Idongesit Ekpenyong is now the second serving two-star general from Itu LGA after his name sake.

Interestingly, the two Ekpenyongs hail from neighbouring villages in the same ward and are even in-laws as one of them is married from the other’s village.

As a result of the latest promotion, Itu, which, with four, was at par with Uyo and Etinan, now holds the record of the LGA in the state with the highest number of serving and retired two-star generals.

The total number of serving and retired two-star generals from Akwa Ibom adds up to 42.

In addition to the two serving, Itu boasts of three retired two-star generals, late Major General Okon Edet Okon, from Afaha Ube Itam, late AVM Emmanuel Aquaisua, from Obong Itam (the same village as Effefiong Ekpenyong) and AVM Uko Etim Ebong from Nung Ukot Itam.

And it looks as if the traditional institution in Itu is controlled by the military, what with both the Paramount Ruler and the Clan Head of Itam, which constitutes about two-thirds of the LGA, being retired soldiers.

*Reactions at Home*

Apparently, Ekpenyong’s elevation has elicited joy in Itu.

Hear the Chairman of the Local Government, Mr. Ubong Nkutt: “It has to do with God, first and foremost. I appreciate God that He has blessed our local government area and, by extension, our state with this promotion because getting to the rank of Major General is no mean feat. It shows that God is still doing great things for us. This time, we realise he is the only person promoted to that rank from the state. This is also a product of hard work and diligence. It makes me happy to have somebody of that rank from my local government area. We are proud of him. In totality, we are very happy.”

He gave kudos to Governor Umo Eno: “In the spirit of the leadership of the state, a lot of uncommon things are happening. It’s not a surprise that a lot of good things are coming to us.”

The chairman, who is from the same ward with the two serving generals, hinted that the local government was planning to host them.

The Paramount Ruler, Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang, was joyous: “I am proud of him. The whole of Itu are happy about the promotion. God should bless the Army authorities. We thank God for him. We want more deserving Itu people to be promoted. I am not surprised. Itu people, when they want to do something, they do it wholeheartedly. Like myself, I retired with exemplary record from the Army.”

The Itam Clan Head, Etebom Donald Uboh, sounded no less ecstatic: “It is God’s making. We are very happy. We thank the government and the Chief of Army Staff for finding him fit for the rank. We love the military. That is why you see us there. We fought for the unity of the country.”

Ekpenyong’s kinsmen in Ikot Andem were equally jubilant.

For instance, the Secretary of Itu Local Government, Mr. Imoh Okon, stated: “We are highly elated over the elevation of our son to the rank of a Major General, two-star general. Coming from Ikot Andem, we are very privileged and blessed to have this elevation. This is indeed a good time to come from Ikot Andem Itam and Itu Local Government Area in general. Congratulations to our brother, Major General Idongesit Ekpenyong.”

The Village Head, Eteidung Archibong Udoekong, summed up the people’s feelings: “It is a thing of joy to myself, Ikot Andem and Itu, in general, to have our son rise to Major General. Major General is not a small rank.”

The royal father, who is a retired Police officer, gave an inkling of the general’s background: “I know him. I know his father. He is a very honest, hardworking and straightforward person. He follows his father’s footsteps. His father is a retired Army officer who is still very strong. Both father and son contribute to the development of the village. The general comes home. He has helped a lot of youths from Ikot Andem and Itu to join the Army.”

The general’s immediate younger brother, His Ancient Dianabasi Ekpenyong, a politician and businessman, could not hide his joy: “It’s a long-awaited development. It has come to be. It has come at the appointed time. And to God be the glory. God is faithful. It is well deserved. He has served diligently. I am not surprised that God has blessed the works of his hands in that promotion.”

And he threw more light on his brother: “He is the next after our father. He is our firstborn. And he has been the fulcrum that the family revolves around.”