Former A’Ibom State Military Administrator, Idongesit Nkanga dies of COVID-19

Etim Ekpimah

The Akwa Ibom State first Military Administrator and chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Idongesit Nkanga, is dead.

A friend to the family said Nkanga, who was 68 years old, died of COVID-19 on the Christmas Eve.

It was learnt that his family members, who were at church service on Christmas day refused to speak with other church members and visitors as they hurried away after the service.

The Late Nkanga was Akwa Ibom military administrator from September 1990 to January 1992 during Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime.

He retired as an air commodore in the Nigerian Air Force.

Nkanga as the chairman of PANDEF, was vocal in the campaign for the restructuring of Nigeria and the development of the country’s Niger Delta region.

He contested for the governorship election of Akwa Ibom State in 2003 under NDP but lost to Obong Victor Attah.

He later served as Director General of Chief Godswill Akpabio’s campaign for second term in 2011 and served in the same capacity in 2015 and 2019 for Governor Emmanuel.

He was also the Chairman Board of Directors of Ibom Air, an airline floated by the Akwa Ibom State government.

As at the time of filing this report, neither his family nor the state government had yet to make any public statement about his demise.