By Ndifon Joseph – Calabar
The State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Barr Venatius Ikem, stated that he chose to celebrate his 60th birthday due to the turbulent life and career that have defined his adulthood.
He made these remarks on September 20, 2024, during a cake presentation by members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the PDP at his residence in Calabar.
In his address to the delegation, Barr Ikem expressed gratitude, saying, “I thank you all for standing by me despite my flaws and shortcomings. I often pray for God to look into my heart. Human interactions inevitably involve conflict; it’s natural that we disagree, but we must learn to agree.”
“I choose to celebrate my 60th birthday because my life and career have been challenging. As I approached this milestone, I realized that if I didn’t celebrate now, I might never reach 70.”
He emphasized that the core purpose of his celebration was to launch his foundation, which he unveiled that day. “My birthday serves as a platform for this initiative,” he concluded.
Earlier, Elder Mike Ojisi, the State Publicity Secretary, conveyed the significance of the occasion, saying, “We are here to celebrate our mentor and leader in the party. This day is meaningful for both us and our chairman, who turns 60.”
Presenting the cake on behalf of the SWC, Hon. Denis Nkiri, the State Deputy Chairman, reiterated the purpose of their visit: to celebrate the chairman’s milestone birthday.
Hon. Florence Inyang, the State Woman Leader, shared the SWC’s admiration for Barr Ikem: “We are here to express our gratitude for your leadership. The cake symbolizes our love and best wishes for you.”
In closing, Mr. Boby Brown, the State Youth Leader, referenced Isaiah 43:18-19: “Do not cling to the events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago. Watch for the new things the Lord is going to do,” encouraging unity and the de-escalation of conflict within the party.
