Thousands of Uyo residents on Sunday evening thronged the popular Ibom Plaza to witness the historic victory of the state football team Akwa United in the final of the Nigerian federation cup competition.
The match played at the Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos was beamed live to the Akwa ibom audience in Uyo through the intervention of Governor Udom Emmanuel, saw the colourful crowd w cheering and clapping as the team pounced on Benue state outfit Lobi stars of Makurdi by 2 goals to 1 to lift the trophy for the first time for the state.
The fans who defied their political divides to drum support in one accord for the state-owned team to emerge victorious in the nation's older football tournament.
The state Commissioner for Finance Mr Akan Okon and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters and Due Process Mr Ufot Ebong were among the fans at the Ibom Plaza to celebrate the team.
Speaking after the match Mr Akan Okon described the victory as a Divine endorsement for Akwa Ibom people, and attribute it to hardworking, focus and sheer determination by the Akwa United team, stressing that the team had effectively keyed into the Dakkada (arise) clarion call by Governor Udom Emmanuel.
On his part, Mr Ufot Ebong said the Governor was greatly interested in ensuring that every Akwa Ibom person is motivated and inspired in the spirit of the Dakkada principle gaining momentum in the state.
Ebong said it was a great moment for the people to forget their political inclinations, ethnic barriers and other sentiments and to key into the unity and goal-oriented vision of the Governor to lead the state high beyond imaginations.
"As you could see, the people all forgot their respective interest and as they sat here, everyone was highly supportive of the mission of Akwa United to bring back glory to the state," he said.
Engr. Ebong maintained that, "all the people you see here have tvs in their houses and could have watched the match at home, but as you know, nobody can underestimate the impact of collective prayers and unity, and here it worked for the team."
He commended the team for their peaceful conduct and congratulated the team on the victory.
Akwa United will now represent Nigeria in the African Confederation cup competition.
A cross section of the people who witnessed the encounter at the Plaza also commended the state governor for inspiring the team, and expressed the hope that it will be extended to other sectors of the state.
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