PDP receives DPO

… Eulogizes his outstanding performance

… As he vows to support Gov Udom to victory

By Saviour Ekpe

Last weekend, uruan political space was agog especially as 2019 general elections draw near, where many people of goodwill, institutions of repute and groups are coming out of their shelves to support Governor Udom to victory. The latest is a former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) who just retired about two months ago after 35 years of meritorious service to the nation, Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP) Michael Offiong (retired) who was received by the executive of the Peoples Democratic Party, ward two Northern Uruan and handed over to the Chapter Chairman of the Party in the area.

Speaking glowingly about the home coming of security expert, the Chapter Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Uruan, Prince Obot Okon Essien extolled the sterling quality of humility in DSP Michael Offiong for coming to identity with the party at the local level rather than staying at the top to fight the system. He observed that such unique attribute that is required by the party in the state, “I have seen great humility in this man, we look forward to working with such a great man like this in our party, we need people with such attribute to come in to help us take governor Udom to Hiltop Mansion again during 2019 general elections, people that love the party, love governor Udom, appreciate the modest work governor Udom is doing in the state”, the PDP chair explained.

            The Chapter Chairman who also is a former student leader who received DSP Michael Offong (retired) on behalf of the State Chairman of the Party, Mr. Paul Ekpo charged party faithful to cooperate and unite together, speak in one voice, continue to stand by the party come rain, come shine and promised that everyone that stands by the party to the end will be adequately rewarded by the party, “we need to cooperate and unite together as one indivisible front, when we do this, we will be able to attract dividends of democracy to ourselves, our ward and the local government. Let us avoid fighting tendency, pull him down syndrome and work as a team. This is how we will achieve our goal come 2019”.

            In his remarks, the ward Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ward two, Northern Uruan, Deacon Archibong Archibong who was full of praises and spoke with vim said that when SP Michael Offiong first approached him, he told him to give him sometime, this was to enable him crosscheck his name in the party register and also to find out about the person of Michael Offiong and came to a conclusion that he is the PDP faithful since 2009 till date and that he has impeccable character and has the capacity to move the party to another level, “I have been hearing of this great Uruan son in the media especially when he was in active duty and am happy that he recognize where he started and come back to support the party, we are very proud of him, we will work with you”, ward Chairman noted.

            Earlier in his address, the former Divisional Police Officer (DPO), DSP Michael Offiong thanked his countrymen and women, party supporters and faithful who have upheld the tenets of the party over years at both ward and chapter levels, thanked them for the arousing reception afforded him and his entourage. He noted that since he registered as member of the party many years ago, he has been keeping faith with the party despite his busy schedule, contributed to and attending important meetings of the party. He said that his experience while serving two PDP governors of four years each in Ebonyi state has given him impetus on what to do and how to do it to ensure that the party in the area as well as the state grow stronger, “apart from remaining a strong member of the party, I have been a great supporter of the party over the years even in the states I served across the nation. Now that I am back from active service to the nation, I want to join hands with support the party to grow in bounce and to ensure that our amiable governo, Udom Emmanuel return to the Hilltop Mansion after general elections in 2019. We cannot afford to fail, it is not possible, I have never been a failure in my life, so we cannot fail this time. The experiences I have garnered over years, I will definitely bring it to bear in my state. I am back from service to the nation to serve my state, not to contest election but to serve my party, the PDP and my state”, he explained.

            For the record, the retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Michael Offiong is one of the finest, dedicated, loyal, sincere and committed police officers that served the civil public selflessly. DSP Offiong in his last duty post was the Divisional Police Officer (PDP), Mkpat Enin Division. Apart from fighting crimes and maintaining order, he single handedly renovated and painted the entire police station with his money two days after assuming office. Meeting a terrain that is hostile with limited manpower, equipment and facilities to carry out the duty of policing the communities, he donated his private car to police to use in crime fighting in the area. He was born in Ifiayong Obot in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, South South part of Nigeria in the early 1960s. DSP Offiong graduated as Environmental Educationist from the University of Calabar in 1993.

His achievements within the shortest period as DPO n Mkpat Enin was traceable to his exposure within and outside the shores of Nigeria as a gallant, fearless and an officer with dexterity. He attended several courses in various fields within and outside Nigeria such as Basic Detective SIIB program in Calabar, Cross River State,1994. Comprehensive ‘Criminology Management Course, 2005. United Nations Police Course, Kenya and United Nations Police Course, Norway 2008. United Nations Department of Safety and security, Basic and Advanced Security in field, Prosecution Course, Detective College Enugu 2010 and Incident Commanders Course, 2017.

DSP Michael Offiong (retired) showed his proficiency and professionalism in Darfu, Sudan when the hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force noticed his capacity and sent him in a peace keeping mission and and because of his outstanding performance, he won two International Gold Award Medals of the United Nations. He has served in Cross River State, Ebonyi, Abia, Lagos, Kaduna States etc. he has also headed other offices in the Nigeria Police as DCO, DTO, Administrative Officer and Supervisor respectively. He is married with lovely children.

DSP Michael Offiong (retired) is a well travelled, experienced and dedicated officer who in the course of his duty travelled variously to Norway, Kenya, Sudan and other countries for peace keeping and training. Some of the courses he attended include: United nations department of safety and security; Basic and advance security; An introduction to the UN system; Security measures for united nations peacekeepers; International humanitarian law and law of armed Conflict and Global terrorism. Others are Peacekeeping and international conflict resolution; Principles of peace support operations; History of UN peacekeeping and Gender perspectives in united nations peacekeeping Operation         .

Several awards, accolades and honours have been conferred on him as an appreciation and acknowledgement of his selfless contributions to humanity among them are Award of excellence from Mkpat Enin L.G.A; Award of excellence the NPF Div. Hqtrs Mkpat Enin      ; Award of excellence Engr Oscar and company and Award of excellence Ifiayong Obot Community, Lagos  .

The DSP Michael Offiong (retired) is a selfless, accommodating and a philanthropic and exceptional officer who has contributed both in cash and in kind to humanity in different ways. It could be recalled that the gallant officer donated his private car to Mkpat Enin Division of the Nigerian Police Force to ensure effective crime fighting in the area.

            The event featured the reception and presentation of the DSP Michael Offiong by the ward officers and handing over to the chapter chairman, Prince Obot Essien. Present at the event were a cream of DSP Michael Offiong’s supporters, friends and family members as well as ward executive viz: Eti Edet, Deputy ward chairman; Udeme Afia, Secretary; Ayanime Ita, Ex-officio; Felicia Joseph, Assistant Secretary; Linus Okon, Ex-officio; Francis Ekpe, Ex-officio; Offiong Ufia, Organizing Secretary; Edu Asuquo, Woman Leader and Wilson Edwin, Legal Adviser. Others are Francisca James, PRO; Godwin Ekanem, Financial Secretary; Edem James, Treasurer; Ettete Joseph, Ex-officio; Effiong Edem, Ex-officio; Linus Ibok, Chapter officer; Samuel Christopher, Ex-officio and Ifiok Udofia, Youth Leader.