Penultimate sunday was a full day of thanksgiving to God when youths of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area set aside their respective Christian denominations to gather under a platform called Onofiok Luke Believers (OLB) at the Apostolic Church, Nnung Obong, to thank God for his show of love and care to Nsit Ubium through their representatives in the state house of assembly, Hon. (Barr) Onofiok Luke, and for his grace, love and protection of the legislator throughout his first three years in office.
According to a statement of invitation jointly signed by the state chairman and secretary of the OLB (Names) group which was made available to newsmen few days before the event, the plan to receive the legislator and as well thank God for him was a collective decision of Nsit Ubium youths group was made up of.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Hon Nse Peter and Hon Blessing Mbakara, both Councillors in the area thanked God for Hon Luke whom they described as a special gift to the area.
The duo noted that the positive impacts of Hon Luke’s representation cannot be over-stressed, as everyone in the area has either seen or felt it.
They commended Hon Luke for submitting himself to the will of God who sent him to Nsit Ubium to affect the lives of his people and in a positive way, and pledged the full support of the women to his return bid come 2015.
Speaking on behalf of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Nsit Ubium Chapter, the Chairman, Rev Daniel Akpan appreciated God for finally looking towards the side of Nsit Ubium by raising a son of the soil who has compassion for and positive desires concerning his people.
Rev Akpan noted that Hon Luke is the first among all political leaders in the area to establish a strong partnership with the church. He stressed that there was no need for one to wonder about the secrets of his success, as the word of God had assured that whoever partners God in his endeavour is already a huge success.
He commended the lawmaker for being a true believer and also proving same through his actions; and also for recognizing the supreme power of God and holding tenaciously onto him, despite the odds of life, especially in the political circle.
Rev Akpan stressed that having proven such capacity while serving the first mandate, Hon Luke deserves a second term mandate. He further urged every well meaning indigene to support the lawmaker’s return to the state assembly.
The legislative council of the area did not miss out, as their Leader, Hon MichaeL Leo was full of praises to God for his grace and divine direction on Hon Luke, that which he said, has enabled him fulfill the requirements of true representation.
Hon Leo also commended his senior colleague in the legislative business for setting, a pace for future leaders in the area; and for giving hope of a better life to his people.
Obong David Udo Umana, a former vice chairman in the area and Obong Friday Udo Dick, a former PDP Chapter Chairman in the area, while thanking God on behalf of the Elders described Onofiok Luke as a treasure to Nsit Ubium people whose origin in Nsit Ubium was no mistake but divinely arranged by God.
He also, on behalf of the elders, pledged an undeterred support of the elders to Hon Luke on his second term bid.
Leading the students’ body, the worldwide President of National Association of Nsit Ubium Students NANUS, Comrade Silas Obot joined the crowd in thanksgiving to God for the fulfilled life of Hon Onofiok Luke in the past years, and even in the ones ahead, adding that he has been a source of evident blessings to Nsit Ubium students everywhere in the world.
While describing him as the pride of Nsit Ubium students, Comrade Obot who appreciated the state lawmaker for proving himself a worthy and credible leader, and noted that the entire Nsit Ubium students are behind his second term bid, and shall all support him in all relevant aspects to ensure his return to the state assembly.
Still in the spirit of Aluta, a former number one student citizen of Nigeria, now assisting Governor Akpabio on student matters, Comrade Ini Emembong Essien who joined the students’ session also thanked God for the life of Hon Luke, which he said, is full of testimonies.
Comrade Essien equally thanked God for the betrayals Hon Luke had suffered in times past which he noted, had taught him lessons that has helped him shaped his life for the better.
The governor’s aide who described Hon Luke an elder brother to him stated authoritatively that he is a product of the lawmaker; hence, one major evidence of his positive impacts on people lives.
He urged the former doubting thomases of Hon Luke in 2011 to leave the doubting angle before 2015 and join the believers as they begin the second journey.
He urged the indigenes to pray for Hon Luke’s political father, Governor Godswill Akpabio who did not only discover Hon Luke, but had also believed in, and raised him to become a pillar that is now strong enough to shoulder great responsibilities.
Taking their turn as the chief organizers of the day, the Onofiok Luke Believers OLB, through their state chairman, Tom Edung thanked God for Hon Onofiok Luke whom he described as a precious gift to Nsit Ubium people, especially the youths.
Edung noted that from the days of the old, every generation had a leader which was specially sent by God to touch people’s lives, adding that the youths under the auspices of OLB have spotted Hon Luke as the leader in their generation; hence, their resolve to celebrate and honour him. He noted that the gesture and the success of the event were all made possible by the contributive efforts of the youths, adding that the celebrant had no idea of the cost of planning and plans for the event until the day the group decided to notify him of their plans, which according to him, was necessary at that point.
The OLB Chairman was full of praises to their state representative for his benevolence and progressive mindset towards the youths, and his entire constituency at large.
As a way of showing appreciation, the chairman on behalf of the group, pledged their continuous support and loyalty to Hon Luke’s remaining first term days, while also pledging the massive support of the group to his second term bid come 2015, while also presenting the lawmaker with a gift of the holy bible.
Edung fruther urged the lawmaker to hold onto God’s word, as imprinted in the bible, adding that crisis and afflictions shall arise, but the holy book which he was presented with shall lead him and help him surmount all hurdles.
The Council Chairman Hon Ekpedeme Akpan was not left out of the praise galore, as he took his turn graciously to thank god for originating Hon Luke from the area.
Represented by the Leader of Legislature, Hon Michael Leo, the council boss extolled the lawmaker for his excellent virtues in leadership and for submitting himself to the fulfillment of God’s will to the people of Nsit Ubium.
The Chairman pledged the support of the council, as well as his personal support to the second term bid of Hon Luke.
Beginning with a few songs of worship and a short prayer, the celebrant, Hon Luke while responding, thanked God for keeping him alive and protecting him and his entire family, as well as raising and lifting him to an unexpected height in life.
The lawmaker was also full of thanks to God for lading him to the state Governor Chief Godswill Akpabio making him find favour through him. Hon Luke also thanked the state governor for mentoring him and playing a fatherly role in his life; and his wife, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio for her show of love towards him through the years since meeting her.
He extended his words of appreciation to the former secretary to state government, Obong Umana Umana, Senator Effiong Bob for their support in the past years; and to Rt. Hon Aniefiok Thompson, a former PDP Chairman in the area, Obong Friday Dick and Obong David Udo Umana for their role in connecting him to the grassroots.
The lawmaker thanked the OLB group for leading the crowd of indigenes to celebrate him in God’s presence, and further commended them for choosing the house of God as venue for the celebration, rather than a bar or hotel, where drunkenness, immorality, violence and other vices would be the order of the day.
Hon Luke confirmed not being a party to the arrangements and funding of the event, further admitting that, by the kind gesture of the youths and the entire indigenes who left their regular Sunday engagements to join in his celebration, he has been challenged with an extra burden to do more for his people.
He thanked the council chairman for partnering with him faithfully in leading the people, and for being a brother to him. The lawmaker pointed out that while some areas experience political bickering between their lawmakers and council chairmen, he has only enjoyed a cordial relationship with the chairman. He further urged the people to continue to support the chairman in his administration.
Hon Luke also thanked his wife, Mrs Uduak Luke for her supportive role which according to him, has aided his success greatly. He ended his thanksgiving by donating a trailer load of cement to the church, and also requested to see the work progress at the site before deciding on any further commitment.
The lawmaker further requested for a special prayer session for the Governor’s Wife, Her Excellency, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio as she adds another year to her years of existence on earth; asking the congregation to pray God to grant her more grace to enable her continue in her supportive work to the governor.
High points of the event were praise and worship session, as well as special thanksgiving sessions by the celebrant and the respective groups, which mostly ended in cash donations in support of the ongoing building project of the church.
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