OBA: Towards effective representation of Uyo Senatorial District people

BY PROMISE ETIM

The 2015 general elections may have come and gone,  but the electorates are looking forward to consolidating on the gains of Democracy, through various campaign promises made by candidates of various political parties in the run down to the polls.

For the people of Uyo Senatorial District (USD), there is a new sigh of relief and an entirely different feeling following the emergence of Obong Bassey Albert (OBA) as their Senator-elect. This exceptional feeling is characterized with the many human capital development and empowerment opportunities the former commissioner for finance will bring to the table as their representative in the red chamber.

Across the nine Local Government Areas of the Senatorial District, the anxiety, expectation and believe is the same. The people are eager to witness the swearing in of OBA as Senator, given their desire for effective representation combined with manpower development and stomach reconstruction.

Throughout his electioneering campaign, OBA maintained a positive relationship with the people, thus leading to political pundits referring to him as a strong bond between the in-coming administration and the masses.
OBA’s political acceptance was hugely reflected on the choice of USD people, nominating him as candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the December 7th , 2014 National Assembly primaries held at the Uyo Township Stadium, defeating a ranking Senator and three times House of Representatives member, Barr. Ita Enang, and others.

His success at the March 28 polls was a true indication that he is not only loved by the people, but a means of justifying the people’s believe in him as one capable of replicating his goodwill to the masses in the National Assembly. This gesture saw the people return the former banker as senator with over ninety percent of votes cast in the election to Akwa Ibom North east Senate seat, despite strong opposition from a former House of Representatives member and candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Obot.

Mr. Albert’s political antecedent has led to effective fostering of synergy between political ranks in the state. He has succeeded in bringing elders, youths and women together, thus blurring the line and promoting trust amongst the people. This is evident in his political structure that accommodates all classes of people, and creates opportunities for the masses to make meaningful contributions to the advancement of the polity and general development of the society.

As part of his plans to see to the continued transformation and empowerment of USD people, OBA has offered to work in collaboration with the governor-elect, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, National Assembly members-elect and state House of Assembly members-elect to bring development closer to the people. This will ensure that, people at the grassroots will be carried along in the scheme of things as regards to their welfare and sustenance.

It is worth mentioning that challenges of the people vary in location and demands. The Senator-elect during his consultation and campaign tour to the various units, wards, local Government and Federal Constituencies in USD, took stock of some of these challenges and has already began mobilization for research to unravel issues bothering some of these areas as observed. The move has been hailed by many as a step in the right direction.

For the people of Uruan, the Senator-elect as a matter of urgency has identified the need for dualization of a road linking North and Central to South Uruan as key to development of the area. To tackle this infrastructural challenge, OBA in a recent interview on planet radio 101.1fm, Uyo promised to work in synergy with the in-coming administration of Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to ensure fixing of a road that will link the three co-ordinates of Uruan Local Government.

The scenario appears different for the people of Uyo Local Government, who seek for improved manpower development. This is one issue too many, the senator-elect acknowledged and prayed Uyo people to vote for the emergence of Hon. Monday Eyo as House of Assembly member and Dr. Michael Enyong as House of Representatives member. This, he said will enhance his plans for a bottom-top approach for empowerment of Uyo people. It’s believed that the choice of Uyo people to elect Hon. Eyo and Dr. Enyong has satisfied the request made by the Senator-elect to tackle the impediment of ineffective manpower development in the area.

For the people of Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal constituency, where the Senator elect-hails from, the people seek massive infrastructural development, revitalization of ailing industries and increased Government presence in the constituency. To complement the adage which says “charity begins at home”, OBA as Senator will work in synergy with Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel (Governor elect), Dr. Henry Archibong (Member elect Itu/Ibio Federal Constituency), Prince Idongesit Ituen (Itu State Constituency) and Barr. Ime Okon (Ibiono State Constituency), to ensure the demands of the Itu/Ibiono Ibom people are met at all times.

During his electioneering campaign at Nsit Ubium, the Senator-elect adopted Barr. Effiong Bob as his mentor on issues relative to the red chamber and promised to continue development of people of the area from where the Chairman, University of Benin Governing Council stopped. With such political artistry, Nsit Ubium people can only hope for better days, as Mr. Albert looks certain to keep to the various campaign promises he made to people of the area. The re-election of Barr. Onofiok Luke as member representing Nsit Ubium State constituency, is a true indication that people of the area are in support of the collaboration, OBA aims for, to ensure massive development of USD people. 

Etinan and Nsit Ibom which falls under Etinan Federal Constituency will also be of huge interest to the senator-elect. In one of his campaign visits to the people of Afaha Offiong , Youths in the area openly offered to relinquish huge plots of land to interested investors for Agricultural production and other activities that will bring development to the area. OBA promised to convey their request to the new administration for immediate consideration, as part of his commitment to ensure promotion of Public Private Partnership (PPP) throughout USD.

Under the PPP arrangement, OBA is expected to serve as mediator between Government, masses and private investors to develop programs and projects that will transform economy of USD and the state at large. The emergence of Hon. (Mrs) Mfon Ekong as House of Assembly member-elect will give OBA the opportunity to foist his much desired gender oriented empowerment schemes, as she will serve as link between women of the constituency and the senator-elect.

The emergence of Barr. Aniefiok Dennis and Rt. Hon. Sam Ikon as House of Assembly and House of Representatives member-elect will be pivotal in OBA’s plan to ensure zero tolerance to poverty and underdevelopment. As a grassroots oriented individual, Barr. Dennis will enjoy a positive working relationship with the senator-elect, given the latter’s involvement in grassroots politics, beginning from his days in the banking sector to the successes recorded as commissioner for finance and chairman Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee. Mr. Albert’s grassroots mobilization index can be seen in his ability to capture all 329 wards of the state at a glimpse.

OBA as commissioner for finance enjoyed a good working relationship with the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Sam Ikon. It is genuinely believed that the experiences garnered by the duo in recent years will not only ensure their success at the National Assembly, but will also go a long way to attract development to the people of Etinan Federal Constituency, Uyo senatorial District and Akwa Ibom State at large.

For the people of Ibesikpo Asutan, their choice of Mr. Aniekan Uko will transcribe to a robust legislative relationship with the Senator-elect, as the a latter has already developed a template for development of the area. The House of Assembly member-elect is poised to Key into any of sure developmental gesture in collaboration with relevant stakeholders from the area and the state at large to ensure speedy transformation of the two clans of the area.

With Hon. Mark Esset as member-elect, the people of Nsit Atai are eager to see their demands for increased Government presence in the area met. During a consultative visit to the area, the people pleaded with Senator-elect, OBA to liaise with Government to see to the utilization of the barren Hectares of land in the area. Respite is on the way of people from this area, because the in-coming administration of Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has identified Agricultural development as its top priority.

With the in-coming administration’s focus on the building of an Akwa Ibom beyond oil, OBA sees Nsit Atai as key element with respect to transformation of the state to an Agro-based economy. This forms, the basis for his funding of a research work on the area, which is aimed at realizing the economic potentials of the area, in relation to Agricultural Mechanization and Food Production. It is widely believed that when such intervention start yielding positive results, the people of the area will be in for better days.

As Senator Representing the good people of Uyo Senatorial District, Obong Bassey Albert is also poised to record massive in-roots in the area of education, women and youth empowerment, creation of jobs, provision of micro-credit facilities to the people alongside setting up other people oriented programs.

Plans are already underway to ensure some of the programs set up by the Akpabio led administration that directly affect USD people are adequately sustained. The senator-elect will also look forward to complementing the free and compulsory education programme of the present administration, by advancing the course for effective education at the university/polytechnic level through setting up youth development centers that will prepare students for future examinations. The center will also serve as a platform for training and upbringing of young entrepreneurs, to complete favourably in the local and international market. 

As part of his campaign promises, the senator-elect will reel out massive scholarship programs that will not only cut across the Senatorial District, but will provide opportunity for the less privilege to be empowered through a free, fair and credible process. The women will not be left out in the scheme of things, as the senator-elect has already laid down plans to ensure empowerment of the women through establishment of micro-credit facilities that will be rooted through a bottom-top approach for effective grassroots participation.

Uyo Senatorial District people, the elections have come and gone. It is time we come together as family to give our Senator-elect, Obong Bassey Albert, the much needed support to ensure he keeps to his numerous campaign promises, at the same time fuel him with innovations and ideas that are capable of promoting positive collaboration with the in-coming administration of Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for continued development of USD and Akwa Ibom State at large.