Nse Essien fetes constituents on new year eve

Hon. Nse Essien dancing with Women Group

BY GODWIN SAM

The member representing Onna State constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. (Otukong) Nse Essien on Thursday 31st December, 2015 visited his constituents to share the joy of Christmas and new year with them.  Hon. Nse Essien on that day made his first stop at the Edor Palace, the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Onna, Akwa Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, where Clan and Village Heads gathered to receive him. Though the Paramount Ruler could not come down to welcome the House member, his wife Akwa Obonganwan Patience Akpabio Udo Ukpa; the Clan Head of Nung Ndem, Etebom Akpan Eno Akpan; and that of Awa Iman, Etebom N. U. Umoren were on hand to welcome and receive the House Member on behalf of other traditional rulers and village heads.

In his speech at the Edor Palace, Hon. Nse Essien informed the traditional rulers that during the last six months he has moved many motions on the floor of the Assembly, in addition to paying at least two persons from each of the 44 villages that make up Onna Local Government Area the sum of N10,000. “I came to render the report of my stewardship in the Assembly these past six months. Since I went into the Assembly, I have spoken very well on your behalf, I don’t just speak but I speak what I know my people back home will be happy they sent me. For instance, I moved a motion some time age about the condition of Ikwen-Odio Road and I’m very happy to announce to you that the Governor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel, has assured me that the road will be constructed very soon” he informed them.
The urged the traditional rulers to always send people with the capacity to deliver dividends of democracy to the people whenever there is need for a representative in any capacity. Especially so, as the chairmanship elections are approaching. “please my chief, I want to beg with you people, any time you want to send somebody to represent you in any capacity, let it be a person who can attract good things to Onna like me. Especially now that the chairmanship election is going to be conducted very son,” he admonished them.
The House Member then told the village heads to give him a list of all the roads they would want graded before the rainy season set in so that he can pass same to the Governor and the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen, who is also an Onna son for possible action. “Any village that has roads which need grading should write such roads and the name of the village in a list and that list should be given to me between today and tomorrow so that I can forward same to the Governor and the Commissioner for Works for action before the rainy season sets in. Also, any community that needs electricity and water should let me know so that I can report same to the Governor. This our time and we must make the utmost use of this opportunity that we have.”
The Onna Representative however ended his speech at the palace by donating a physical  cash of N500,000.00, 10 bags of rice and drinks to be shared among the traditional rulers.
Also, at his village, Ikot Akpan Nkor, where he hosted the whole local government, Hon. (Otuekong) Nse Essien donated 120 bags of rice to be shared 10 bags each to the 12 Wards in Onna Local Government Area. He also added N100,000.00 to each ward amounting to N1.2million  for the 12 wards. He also donated additional N300.000 to be shared among elders (N100,000), women (N100,000) and youths (N100,000). In essence, Hon. Nse Essien donated the sum of two million naira (N2 million) 130 bags of rice, and drinks to his constituents to share in the spirit of Christmas and the New Year.
Addressing the mammoth crowed that came to welcome him in Ikot Akpan Nkor, the Onna House Member expressed his delight at the number of people who came out for the event. He used the opportunity to intimate his people in his first six months as their House member. He told them of his exploits at the Assembly in terms of moving motions and generally speaking on their behalf, which by his assessment he thinks he has performed creditably well. But in addition to speaking he informed them of his other activities to the people of Onna. “I have at least 2 people from each of the 44 villages in Onna that I am paying at the minimum, N10, 000 each, and I have paid up to November. Other things I have been able to do include working in partnership with  the government to give work to my people. For instance, the son of Elder Essien Akpan Essien (Akanimo) through my facilitation is now outside the country for the Power Sector training. While he is undergoing the training he is being paid, and on completion of the training he will be gainfully employed. Another opening came in the Civil Defense where I sent two of our sons to be employed there. I have given people scholarship, paid hospital bills, house rents, and I have also empowered people to start small scale businesses,” he informed his people. He urged the people to support the government of their son Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel adding that as Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Senatorial  Districts had four years each as governor, Udom must also be support to govern for eight years.
Scores of speakers both at the Edor Palace and the community arena at Ikot Akpan Nkor poured encomium on the House Member. Among those who spoke at the palace was the representative of the Paramount Ruler, the Clan Head of Nung Ndem Clan, Etebom Akpan Eno Akpan. The Clan Head thanked the House Member on behalf of the Onna Traditional Rulers Council, stating that such thanks would encourage the House Member to do more for the people of the local government and to also serve as an incentive to those who do not do well to sit up. He called on government to do something about the road leading from Ikot Anang to Ikot Ndor Iman to Ikot Akan. According to the Clan Head “This road is very important because there is a cottage hospital situated along that road and women cannot access the health facility due to the poor condition of the road”.
The Nung Ndem Clan Head also appealed for intervention to clear the 13 months unpaid stipend of traditional rulers by the local government administrations, and that of their drivers. He also made a case for town criers who are currently paid N2,000.00 stating that no cadre of worker should be paid such a meager by amount in an oil producing state like Akwa Ibom. He however passed a vote of confidence on the House Member. “We as the Traditional Rulers Council of Onna do hereby pass a vote of confidence on you. We are satisfied with your representation and we also say that this cap fits you well and therefore who the cap fits, let him wear it” he declared. 
Another speaker at the palace who is the Chairman Conference of Village Heads, Onna Chapter, Eteidung Inyang James Idiokakpan, urged the House Member to do something about the omitted clans and villages in Onna Local Government Area from state government gazette. These omitted clans and villages if captured in government gazette will help Onna to maintain its place as the leading oil producing local government in the state. He also made a case for increased welfare package for traditional rulers in the state as the N25,000 they are currently being paid is nothing to write home about. He however stated that “our position as the Traditional Rulers Council is that we will stamp out feet on the ground and make sure that our son, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, governs the state for eight years as those people who came from other Senatorial District did”.
The wife of the Paramount Ruler and the “Eka Onna” Akwa Obonganwan Patience Akpabio Ukpa gave a mother’s blessing to the House Member, calling him a beloved son of the Paramount Ruler. “When you see him you will know that it is God who sent him to the Assembly. God Himself gave him to us as a son. Whenever I see him on television representing us at the floor of the Assembly, I’m always very proud of him. For coming to put smiles on people’s faces today and for putting food on the tables of sons and daughters of Onna under  your payroll, may God bless you and continue to lift you higher and higher in Jesus name, Amen.”
On his part, the Clan Head  of Awa Iman, Etebom N. U. Umoren thanked the House Member for the wisdom to come back to the community that sent him to thank them and to update them on his exploits so far and what he intends to do in the future. He urged the House Member to consider sponsoring a bill on the floor of the Assembly for an increased welfare package for traditional rulers in the state. According to the Clan Head who happens to head the clan of the House Members, “You’ve tried so much for the people of Onna. We did not make a mistake in sending you to go and represent us and today we are saying may God bless and give you the wisdom to always do things and remember that you have brothers and sisters and parents back home”.
Present at the event were distinguished sons and daughters of Onna from all walks of life. Some of them included the Clan Heads, village heads, the House of Reps Member of Eket Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon (Mrs) Owoidehe Ekpoattai, Elder Ezekiel Umoh, a Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Nkenang Nkenang, S. A. to former Governor on project monitoring, Hon Vincent George, campaign D. G. to the House member and many others.