KufreAbasi Etuk: A leader par excellence BY HENSHAW NYONG.

It was G. R. Elton in his book, Renaissance and Reformation, who said that a “Prince is like a mirror exposed to the eyes of all his subjects who continually look to him as a pattern on which to model themselves, and who in consequence without much trouble discover his vices and virtues”.

In the same vein, Chief Zebrudaya in his recent jingle powered by Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) postulates that: “No one carries mirror to look what he holds in his hand”.
Juxtaposing the aforesaid, I wish to first of all draw inspiration from the comic icon as I reel out an uncensored collection of deepest, darkest secret about a man who is like my hand-held mirror; a husband and father. I bet, you never knew this about him.

HOKE, an acronym carefully coined from Hon. Obong KufreAbasi Etuk, has no doubt become a household name in the State polity.

I have been following Obong Etuk’s activities, politics, and performance and found him to be a rare individual in the context of Nigeria’s socio-political environment.

For those who do not know him too well, KufreAbasi is a successful parliamentarian; the mouthpiece of the people of Uruan in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The last time I checked, I discovered that the handsome ‘dude’ is selfless in his relationship with his constituents, people across board, communities and institutions including churches.

According to him: he’ll forever remains peoples’ person than a government man.
The Ekpene Ukim village in Uruan LGA born lawmaker is indeed an epitome of true philanthropy; a visionary leader who is wholly coated with prodigious humility.

This Five Star Legislator is actually a man whose mental engineering faculty revolves round the welfare of his constituents.

For emphasis, he’s a man who has the interest of the people he serves at heart and the happiness of the people counts a whole lot.

For those who have come across this intriguingly enigmatic leader, they can attest to the fact that HOKE is a rare gem who uphold that an important ingredient of the leadership function is the ability to draw the best out of other people and inspire them to maximize their potential. 

What baffles me though, is that, KufreAbasi Bassey Etuk is a man with an absolute, corruption-free mindset, which is rare to find in the Nigerian political landscape faced with the flagrant embezzlement of public funds.

A leader who leads his people into discovering themselves is doubtless a man with human heart of love, care and passion for his people irrespective of the village, party affiliation, status, stratification and camp.

As he said in one of his media chats: People with GOOD INTENTIONS make PROMISES but it is only those with GOOD CHARACTERS keep them.

He has been a strong moderating voice bringing different factions together. Unlike his compatriots, the-41-year old believes that political posts is not a profession rather it is service to humanity hence his vocal utterance that there’s money in politics and those who say otherwise should not seek a second term in office.

He believes that legislative work is a career, nurtured by experience, passion to serve the common and public good rather than a desire to prosper individual interest.

Don’t forget that a legislator is to make laws. However, in making laws, Super legislators often do more than this. Apart from the fact that they are elected to represent certain geographical areas and constituents which make them a link between Government and the people, they actually enable society develop and prosper by the quality of laws that they make.

It must be made very clear to our electorate that IT IS NOT THE ROLE OF A LEGISLATOR TO BUILD ROADS, HOSPITALS or SCHOOLS, but the kind of laws that they make can enable the quick and efficient delivery of those services and prosper society at large.

As an exceptional lawmaker, HOKE has given the Uruan people even more than what he promised. A visit to the School of Midwifery and School of Nursing, all in Ituk Mbang in Uruan, explains why the children, nursing mothers and the aged are singing his praises. Blackout which was synonymous to the two health institutions for decades due to lack of adequate power supply was remedy when KufreAbasi donated 2 Giant-size generating plant to them.

Till date, the Atakpo traders at Ekpene Ukim Market, are still praying God to bless the lawmaker for giving them a befiting market completed with borehole.

The Atakpo Elders, youth and Children are saying, “Ete Sosongo” for innumerable empowerment programs they never witnessed in the history of the Uruan people.

Students of Uruan origin say they never had it so good as they are smiling each month to Palm Coast Micro Finance Bank for their education endowment fund courtesy of their representative.
Regardless of his personal success and lofty achievements in life, Hon. (Obong) KufreAbasi Etuk- HOKE, still identifies with the common man because of his humility and selfless attitudes.

Now, listen to this true story between two love birds. A girl asked a boy if she was pretty, he said “No”. She asked him if he wanted to be with her forever, he said “No”. Then she asked him if he would cry if she walked away, he said “No”. She had heard enough; she needed to leave. As she walked away, the guy grabbed her arm and told her to stay. He said “You’re not pretty, you’re beautiful. I don`t want to be with you forever, I need to be with you forever. And I wouldn’t cry if you walked away, I would rather die.”

Like the lover boy in the story, the good people of Uruan Inyang Atakpo have grabbed HOKE and insisted he must stay beyond 2015.

The reason is not far to seek; Etuk has given them an overdose effective, effectual and responsive representation.

In terms of Representation, Lawmaking and Oversight, KufreAbasi has made gargantuan impacts. No wonder the Uruan people would not only cry if he walks away, like the lover boy, they would rather die than to allow HOKE walk away in 2015.
Keed ama anem ntom, iba adiba die?

Nyong writes from Uyo.