The former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Arc Obong Victor Attah has paid a glowing tribute to the late Mrs Nne Isong, the wife of the one time governor of the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) who died recently.
In a letter of commiseration, Attah extolled the virtues of the former First Lady of the old Cross River State saying she was “…an exemplary pillar of society.” And went on to say that Mrs. Isong had been a moral compass to many in her lifetime.
Nne Clementine Isong, was born on June 26, 1938. She married the late Dr. Clement Isong, Nigeria’s most celebrated Central Bank Governor, who shares the pride of place with Aliyu Mai- Bornu on the N1000 bill in recognition of his contributions to the nation’s economic development while at the nation’s apex bank.
Isong who also was the governor of then Cross River State between 1979 and 1983 was Nigeria’s former representative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) .
He was commended in many quarters and considered a genius for keeping Nigeria financially afloat throughout the debilitating three years of the Nigerian civil war without borrowing a dime or leaving the national coffers in debt. This remains a rare feat the world over considering the political history of nations at war.
Similarly, Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum in charge of Gas Resources described the late Mrs Nne Isong as a “big part of Nigeria’s history and development.”
Speaking during a visit to honour and bid farewell to the matriarch of the Clement Isong family at Ikot Udo Esang in Onna local government area, he said the late Nne Isong lived long enough to share profound knowledge with the younger generation.
“She had lived to become a big part of our national history and development,” Ekpo stated.
He acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the departed widow of Nigeria’s most celebrated Central Bank governor and urged a peaceful repose of her soul.