Okon Uwah: Portrait of a quintessential politician BY OFONIME UDOTU

If apparel proclaims the man, then antecedent can project  a politician.
That is what Rt. Hon (Obong) Okon Joseph Uwah the immediate past deputy speaker of the 4th Assembly (2007-2011) exemplifies when he represented Ukanafun State Constituency and domiciled dividends of democracy among the good people of the area. He had done it before and he wants to do more for his people by offering selfless service using their mandate to represent the good people of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency.

Obong Uwah’s main focus as the representative of the people was on human capital development, poverty alleviation, jobs for the jobless and scholarship awards for the students of the area and beyond. Some his constituency projects undertaken by Obong Uwah include: construction of 6 classroom blocks at Government School, Afaha Obo, renovation of laboratory at Community Secondary School, Afaha Obo, renovation of Corpers lodge at secondary school Afaha Obo, water projects at Ikot Akpa Idem and Ikot Odiong, construction of stalls at Afopa market, extension of electrification to community secondary school, Afaha Obo and construction of 6 classroom blocks at Ndot Afaha Obo. Apart from those projects geared at promoting free and compulsory education of the state government, Obong Uwah had initiated the policy in his community since 2004 when he established a private Nursery/Primary School at Ikot Antia Afaha Obo to tackle illiteracy among the grassroots.

In the 4th Assembly, he was the chairman, House Committee on petroleum (June – December 2007), member, House committee on information, member, House Committee on women affairs and chairman, House committee on Boundary matters and conflict reconciliation (January 2008-2011). He made various outstanding contributions to the House debates and motion on matter of urgent public importance on dilapidation of College of Agriculture, (now a campus of Akwa Ibom State University) Obio Akpa. This was outside other bills and resolution like sending a message of congratulation to the President and commander – in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan during his historic visit to the state.

He was born some five decades ago on 27th July, 1964 to a royal family at Ikot Antia Afaha Obo in Ukanafun Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. A well –educated gentleman with three degrees to his credit, Obong Uwah is a lawyer, a sociologist and management expert with about a decade in the banking sector, having worked meritoriously at the Citibank Nigeria, Lagos between 1992 and 2001. Obong Uwah obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Ambrose Ali University in the year 2000. He graduated with an honour degree in sociology for the University of Cross River State (now University of Uyo) in 1990. He later bagged a bachelor of law (LLB) degree from the same University. A product of Western Annang Secondary Commercial School (WASCO), Ukanafun and the School of Arts and Science, Uyo, Obong Uwah began his journey to the top at Government Primary School, Afaha Obo.

A member of many professional and social organizations, Obong Uwah is a fellow of the Institute of certified management of Nigeria, chairman, broad of Trustees, International Society for Safety Health and Environment, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Akwa Ibom Democratic voice (ADV) and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Okon Uwah foundation. He is a patron, Afaha Obo Progressive Association.
His outstanding achievements, over the years have not gone unnoticed as many traditional political and socio-cultural organizations have recognized these and honoured with accolades. In 2003, he was honoured with the chieftaincy title of Obong Unwana Ukanafun. Etim Ekpo people crowned him with Obong Uforo Etim Ekpo Local Government Area. He was conferred with Ubokudom Akwa Afaha in 2004 and Otuekong Afaha in 2010. In 2009, he was recognized as the best performing legislator in the 4th Assembly and best performing deputy speaker in Nigeria in 2010. He is a recipient of Rotary Gold Service Award for Humanitarian Services. 

As he sets out to represent the good people of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Obong Uwah is determined to create more positive impact on human capital development and poverty alleviation through empowerment.  He has seen poverty as the bane of development of his people. To achieve this purpose, he has counted more on his effective representation at the 4th assembly which was a political watershed in the annals of the political history of the people of Ukanafun State Constituency. Similarly epoch-making achievements characterized his administration as caretaker chairman in 2003 and Head of Council of Ukanafun Local Government Council between 2004-2007. During the period, he rehabilitated the waifs and loiterers, widows and orphans, idle youths and the recalcitrant who enjoyed a decent existence to exhibit their skills and talents for self – actualization and community development.

As massive support trails his ambition, Obong Uwah has promised to kick start an era of radical improvement of his people’s fortune whose mandate he sees as a social contract to deliver on his manifesto in concrete terms. He believes that the power which is the people’s commonwealth should not be usurped for self-aggrandizement. This is the more so as power corrupts and lack of it corrupts absolutely. Even as optimal utilization of power of the people is the very essence of good governance. This is what Daniel Webster (1782-1852) had in mind when he said “the people’s government (is) made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people.”

As a sociologist, he understands the development challenges of the rural communities especially ignorance and the peasantization of political power by liable empowerment frivolities. He has been pointing out that education of his people remains a veritable springboard, a creative solution to the people’s liberation to catch up with the 21st century development trend. Indeed, Obong Uwah has educated many people- some of them were “rural transplants”, uprooted from their rustic environment to join the “people in process” to distance themselves from social deprivation and dependency which characterize a peasant economy which has been exacerbated by the political representatives. Obong Uwah has been addressing this social reality as a pragmatic politician. This is to say that he has interpreted the broken dreams of many into actualization as he understands the sanctity of power of the people.

Unchained from rural pauperization which caged the victims under severe disadvantages and deteriorating conditions, Obong Uwah through liberal sponsorship of their education and skill acquisition programme, has created a new social stratum that continue to douse the dangerous discordance of social disorder which was increasing in octaves. Obong Uwah has created a new class of people that are proud members of the society. His vision is that these liberated men would reproduce a new generation of educated elite nurtured by enlightenment.

It is based on this experiential antecedent that Obong Uwah has received massive endorsements to represent the good people of Ukanafun/ Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in 2015.