To many, humble people can only be found among the poor and downtrodden in the society but some people in positions of leadership has gone a long in debunking such claims. One of such persons is Rt. Hon. Barr Ekong Sampson.
The member representing Mkpat Enin in the state constituency and Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petition Rt. Hon. (Barr) Ekong Sampson has not only given his people an effective representation but has serve as a symbol of humility to the people of Mkpat Enin especially the younger generation. He has enhanced the horizon of being a legal practitioner, a great community leader, lawmaker, a renowned and prolific writer of many books, journalist, and also a philanthropist who does not advertise his philanthropy.
In his political carrier, as a local government council Chairman and his current position as a lawmaker in the state House of Assembly, Barr Ekong Sampson has made humility his watch word. His humility can be seen as he often times chose not to advertise his philanthropy unlike many public office holders and leaving his gates and phone lines open for all to have access to him.
After serving the people of Mkpat Enin as a council Chairman and having performed creditably well, it was easy for his people to call upon him to serve them in the State House of Assembly. And this came at a time when the people of Mkpat Enin state Constituency were looking for someone who will be a voice to reckon with in the House and not just an ordinary member of the House. Hon. Ekong Sampson emerged as the best candidate who had these qualities and a lot more to offer, when given the mandate he did not let down the trust his people reposed in him. Prior to his surfacing in politics, Barr. Sampson served the distinguished Senator Udoma Udo Udoma as the Chief legislative Assistant, he used this platform to prepare his path in governance.
The Mkpat Enin Unity Hall or the Four Groups Unity Auditorium at the council Headquarters is one of the high points of his stint as local government chairman, Onomkpoinam used the edifice to unite the four clans of Mkpat Enin – Ukpum Minya, Ibiaku, Ikpa Ikono and Ikpa Ibom.
The people of Mkpat Enin local government, holds Barr Ekong Sampson in a very high esteem for so many reasons, one of them being that throughout his stay as a council boss, he lived with his people and made his office and house open to all not just to people from his village or clan but to all Mkpat Enin people. Even as a legislator his gates are widely open to all. This is rear in today’s Nigerian politicians.
Hon. Ekong takes matters affecting the people of his constituents seriously as can be affirmed by his colleague in the 5th Assembly. Hon. (Barr) Onofiok Luke in one the interviews described Hon. Ekong “as a fighter when it comes to issues that bothers Mkpat Enin state constituency”. To many of us, he is a dynamic personality poised to making great impact on the lives of his people. His representation and leadership has touched the lives of all, the Elderly people are happy with him, the youths, market women, teachers, community and indeed the students are very okay with his leadership style.
As a man brought up by a great mother of substance and as a leader who understands the problems of women, ONOMKPOINAM built ultra modern stalls in Urua Akpaudo at Ikot Akpaobong to relief the sufferings the women pass through in the popular market. It will take a leader who has been a grass rooter for many years to embark on such an immeasurable project. The market women have continued to render prayers to the Assemblyman wishing him well in his political carrier.
In terms of educational development, ONOMKPOINAM has done a lot in this sector for the people of Mkpat Enin. He has attracted a number of projects to the constituency. As part of his constituency project, Rt. Hon. Ekong Sampson has twice given out bursary and scholarships to Mkpat Enin students in not just in Nigerian Universities but also to students studying Abroad. He did this during his 2009 constituency briefing where he gave out cheques to over 100 Mkpat Enin students. The number of beneficiaries is also unprecedented for someone in the state House of Assembly. For many students who were beneficiaries of that uncommon benevolence they still refer to Rt. Hon Ekong Sampson “as a leader who has the interest of the students at heart”. I must also mention here that Rt Hon Ekong Sampson has being supportive to the students of the local government. Record has it that he pays school fees for many students from the local government without going to the media to announce it. It is not surprising that many students from the local government have made him their role model because of his love and humility in leadership.
It is also worthy to mention that ONOMKPOINAM facilitated the free Medical services at Ikot Idiong where over 300 patients at Ikot Idiong were treated for free. This singular act has made the people who could not avoid the expenses of such treatment to forever remain grateful to the ever performing House Member.
As an astute lawmaker who is a fighter when it comes to matters that bothers his constituency, Rt. Hon Sampson in his usual manner of paying great attention to matters affecting his people drew the attention of the state government to the Mkpat Enin/ Ikot Abia road which today has been commissioned. The project is the only road construction in Mkpat Enin since 1982 and has certainly brought great relief to the general public who had to go through untold hardship before they could connect with other parts of the local government. This indeed has been a nice way to repay the confidence his people reposed in him by giving him the second term mandate. ONOMKPOINAM has assisted many indigenes of Mkpat Enin to gain employment into the public and private sectors of the economy.
As a leader who knows the pains of his constituents especially the youths Rt. Hon Ekong Sampson through is empowerment programme donated 50 cars Vehicles to youths of the local government, this measure has gone a long way in putting food on the table of such youths. All of them today are proud owners of cars. Aside from giving them cars, he still keeps in touch with most of them to ensure that their well being is properly taken care of.
As a leader who has spend most of his time with his people back and understands their needs, ONOMKPOINAM personally funded the building of Ikpa Ikono Clan centre at Iffe town. Such projects have also been built in Ikot Ekpuk (Ukpum Minya hall) amongst others. He has also indicated to do more for his people in the future. The wellbeing of his people is something that he does not joke with.
Rt. Hon. Ekong Sampson has in many ways touched the four clans of Mkpat Enin local Government positively. He strongly belief in Mkpat Enin, every time he is addressing youths of the constituency he enjoins them to see themselves as “OWO MKPAT ENIN” and not according to their clan, ward or village. As an exemplary leader both as a local government chairman and a lawmaker, his cabinet members cut across all the four clans of the local government. He has also followed up such exemplary style of leadership in the state of House of Assembly.
He has also provided a number of transformers to some villages in the constituency both as a local government chairman and as a legislator.
As a strong member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has funded many projects of the party and keeps a close relationship with party chieftains, ward chairmen, women and indeed all the party members in the constituency.
Another quality that the Rt. Hon. Sampson has shown is the way he honours invitation of all kinds. Be it burials, marriage, student’s inauguration, child dedication he will always find time to come. For those who know him well, apart from coming to the event, unlike most of our politicians, Onomkpoinam will spend time in the occasion and will donate handsomely to such occasion. This kind of gesture can only be found in leaders in the class of Onomkpoinam.
As a man after the people’s heart, he has been conferred with many titles both in Mkpat Enin and outside the local government. He has not forgotten the people he met go his way to the top. Most of the ward chairmen that were in office during his electioneering campaign still speak well of him and have promised to always give him their unflinching support throughout his political carrier. In other words he is not a use and dump politician who runs to the electorate only when he needs their votes, he recognizes them by their face and calls them by their name without making mistakes. This is a clear indication that he is not the type of politician that becomes inaccessible after he has been voted into office.
ONOMKPOINAM recently shocked students of the University of Uyo when he attended the inauguration ceremony of National Association of Mkpat Enin Students (NAMES) and stayed with them for more than two and half hours. This has continued to form the bases of discussion in the University community as this has been the first time such a personality will attend such occasion in person without sending a representative.
His ability to mix up easily with his people is something that have attracted encomiums from all even from the opposition’s camp, when he is with the students, he sees himself as one of them, when he is with the market women, he jokes and dance with them, when he is with the elderly people in the society, he sees himself as part of them. He respects both old and the younger generations not minding if he is older than them.
With the number of lives that he has affected positively so far both as a local government chairman and as a legislator, one may think that he will stop his benevolence but the reverse is the case here, he has promise to always be there for his people anytime they call on him. To him the essence of all human is to render help to their brothers and sisters in the society.
For the people of Mkpat Enin state Constituency you have not disappointed them as a legislator in the state House of Assembly. In fact, you have performed above our expectations. Your effective and vocal representation have been reflected in the number of individuals, groups and organizations yearning for you to go a step upper and represent the people of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency in the green chambers come 2015. Indeed he is a great man without equivocation.
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