The Cross River State Representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. (Otuekong) Orok Otu Duke, has extolled the life and legacy of the late Hon. Asuquo Ekeng William Andem, fondly known as โWakilo,โ who died on June 20, 2025, at the age of 60.
At the funeral ceremony held in Calabar South, Rt. Hon. Duke described the late politician as โa true grassroots mobilizer, a pillar of Ward 4 politics in Calabar South, and a loyal ally whose contributions remain etched in the political history of Calabar South and Cross River State at large.โ
Hon. Andemโs political career spanned decades of active service. He was a former Councillor representing Ward 4 in Calabar South and later served as Supervisory Councillor for Budget and Planning between 2003 and 2007. Beyond the council chambers, he played prominent roles in state politics as Special Assistant to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, Board Member of Forestry, and Coordinator of the โYES AYADEโ Political Movement. His political ingenuity and loyalty to grassroots causes culminated in his appointment as the Director-General of the People Liberation Alliance (PLA), a political structure that galvanized popular participation and gave ordinary citizens a stronger voice in governance.
Rt. Hon. Duke, recalling their long-standing political alliance, noted:
โHe was the APC Ward 4 Elections Coordinator, while I served as the Calabar South Local Government Coordinator, and together we delivered the highest votes in the 2023 elections. He was a dependable partner, disciplined leader, and a community man to the core. His loss is a painful one, not only to his family but to all of us who worked closely with him.โ
In a show of solidarity, the NDDC Commissioner pledged to support the late politicianโs family, promising to stand by them particularly in the area of the education and welfare of the underaged children he left behind.
The burial ceremony drew a large gathering of political leaders, associates, family, and admirers, who all spoke glowingly of Wakiloโs multifaceted life. Many remembered him as a sportsman, grassroots politician, and community advocate whose humility, accessibility, and service-oriented leadership earned him enduring respect.
Born into a modest family, Hon. Andem rose through the ranks of local and state politics to become an influential figure in Calabar South, particularly within Ward 4. His friends and associates say he lived as a bridge-builder, a problem solver, and a reliable voice for his community.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Margaret Asuquo Ekeng, two sons, a stepson, siblings, cousins, and extended family members.
As the curtains fall on his earthly journey, the memory of Late Hon. Asuquo Ekeng William Andem remains alive in the hearts of the people he served and the political family to which he devoted his life.
