All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Aba North and South Federal Constituency in the 2019 general election, Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu, has congratulated Prince Paul Ikonne on his appointment as Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to Igbere TV on Tuesday, Hon. Kalu described Ikonne’s appointment as well-deserved, considering his experience over the years, expressing confidence that the appointee would bring his experience to bear in the new national assignment.
He said the appointment would rightly place Prince Ikonne in the right stead to contribute his quota to national development, as a thorough-bred administrator with vast knowledge in management of human resources.
According to him, “I congratulate Prince Paul Ikonne on his recent appointment by Mr. President as Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA.
“The appointment is well-deserved. Prince Ikonne, with the appointment, is in the right stead to contribute to national development, with his decades of vast experience in public administration.”
Hon. Kalu said he believes Prince Ikonne would do well in serving the country given his background, adding that he was confident that the new appointee would make necessary contributions for the strengthening of the Commission’s work.
“Your appointment speaks volume of the confidence that Mr. President reposes on you to steer the affairs of NALDA towards attracting intervention programmes for the Nigerian agriculture, and strategic public support for land development.
“As my former colleague in a government where you served as Commissioner, while I was Chief of Staff, I know your work habits and equally know you will do well in this new role. It is, therefore, my prayer that you will use the opportunity of your appointment to promote and reposition NALDA for optimal performance.”
Stating that the family relationship between the Uzor Kalus and Ikonnes spans over 40-years, the APC candidate said Ikonne had equally worked tirelessly to promote the APC in Abia, urging him not to relent now.
While wishing Prince Ikonne a very successful tenure, Hon. Kalu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for finding him worthy of such appointment, saying, “Prince Paul Ikonne is someone who has toiled for the country.”
Igbere TV reliably gathered that Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu, who enjoys a long-standing personal relationship of over two decades with Prince Ikonne, had personally called to congratulate him on his new appointment.
Prince Ikonne was APC gubernatorial candidate under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 and former Commissioner for both Lands and Works in Abia State between 2007 to 2009. He was at a time the vice-chairman of APC, Abia South zone.