By Onwa Ekor, Calabar
For honouring her father’s sacrifices which led to the acquisition of higher education, Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, recently offered automatic employment into the state civil service, to an ex- corps member, Arit Abam.
The said Abam had returned to her father’s thatch house in their Ugep, Yakurr home and filmed herself marching towards him with a military-style salute, to thank her father.
She further handed over both her NYSC jacket and the face-cap to him, after which she posted the video on social media, with a touching note of gratitude and a charge on youths not to be ashamed of their humble backgrounds, a development which eventually went viral.
Touched by the action of the ex-corps member, Otu hosted her in his office recently and charged youths in the state and beyond, to emulate Abam, admitting that her show of concern remains worthy of reward.
The governor, while playing host to the lady offered her the privilege to choose any ministry, department or agency she would prefer to work with, within the state civil service.
It would be recalled that Akwaibom governor, Pastor Umo Enoh, piqued by the said lady’s expression of gratitude and the story of the father’s sacrifice to see his child through school, had sent a delegation to Ugep, Yakurr local government area of Cross River, for some background check.
Upon the team’s verification of the story, Eno pledged to build a three-bedroom flat for Mr Abam and family in recognition of his sacrifices.
Governor Otu also applauded his Akwaibom counterpart for the gesture on such an exemplary young Cross Riverian, noting that, the love so displayed by Eno confirms the bond which the two sister states share.
Abam, a graduate of Mass Communication from Temple Gate Polytechnic, Abia State, at the visit to the Governor’s temporary office in Calabar, expressed thanks to Otu for his magnanimity.
According to her, the gesture from the state governor serves as an encouragement for the maintenance of cultural norms and values.
She also thanked God for granting her goodwill through a simple act of gratitude she displayed before her father who deprived himself of leisure in a bid to send her to school.
