Andrew Uwanta: Serving the Collective Good of Akwa Ibom State

BY JOSEPH ATHANASIUS

Akwa Ibom people, I have nothing but praise for this great illustrious son of the state, Dr. Andrew Umanta, who in trial of duty never relegate his own to the background, while serving the collective good of his people and the state. However, history has instructs me to think differently. Retrospectively, one would submit that Andrew Uwanta was a driving force of Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance (ACA), a thriving socio-political group that His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel rode on its back to Hilltop Mansion. 

Emphasizing on Andrew Uwanta’s words then in 2015, he said that, ACA was seeking to galvanize, aggregate, shape and propagate public opinion and subsequently, act as a vocal advocate and voice of the people especially, in the unfolding build up of election in that year. He charged the people to continue to defend the truth and support the quest for justice, equity and fair play by massively embracing without sentiment, the movement for power shift to Eket Senatorial District. 

He reasoned that Akwa Ibom as a state, was of age to move beyond infrastructure development and dwell on capacity building, human development and empowerment, economic stimulation and industrialization of which he harped, will create the true dividends of democracy that will be people–driven and people–centered. A reason for his opinion in this regard was obvious because he (Uwanta) has been around in Akwa Ibom Politics since 1987, when Akwa Ibom State was created. 

Today, his effort and commitment has lit up a million smiles as Governor Udom Emmanuel stole the show in meeting this mandate for the good of Akwa Ibom people just within sixteen months in office. 

This contemporary history dawns on me the day I watched the inauguration of Dr. Andrew Uwanta and subsequently, his assumption of office as the Chairman, Assembly Service Commission. He made a statement that endeared me more to him, as he took over the mantle of leadership of the Commission from his predecessor, Obong Cornel Udoh recently. He said thus; “Today I assume duty with determination to actualize the objective of the Commission in the interest of the government of the commission in the interest of the government and workers”. 

The Assembly Service Commission helmsman, who was accompanied by Mr. Uno Etim Uno, Mr. Essien Ubeng, Mrs. Ebiere Etuk, Obong Francis Inyang, as well as the Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Sylvanus Akpan, promised to work with other members of the Commission for the purpose of achieving greatness. Uwanta however, commended the immediate past chairman of the commission for a job well done and for keeping the flag of the Commission flying. He pledged to always seek the face of God in the discharge of his duty. 

In another breathe, Dr. Uwanta said that he will not compromise government’s laid down procedures in carrying out his task as the case may be, even as he expressed sincere appreciation to Governor Udom Emmanuel for finding him and other members of the Commission worthy to serve Akwa Ibom people and promised not to disappoint the Governor and the people of the state. 

Nevertheless, the immediate past Chairman of the Commission, Elder Udoh has described Dr. Uwanta as a man of proven integrity, whose wealth of experience, he said, will help take the Commission to the next level of success. To a worthy son, I say congratulations!

Indeed contemporary history has revealed yet, that Dr. Andrew Uwanta has paid his due in Akwa Ibom politics since the state’s creation in 1987. Starting from the present era, Dr. Uwanta was one of the strongest forces that led to the emergence of this government. However, let take a look from when Akwa Ibom was birthed. As a Youth Activist then, Uwanta was a strong force in the defunct socio-political group called MAMSA. He served at the Youth wing of that group, which was known and called Akwa Ibom State Youth Association as the Youth Superintendent (Leader) and was very strident in getting things done. 

Having served as the President of the group at the ward level, Uwanta contested at the chapter level and won as the President of Akwa Ibom State Youth Association, Etinan Local Government Area. Then, Nsit Ubium and Nsit Ibom were still in Etinan. His sensitivity and critical spirit was further demonstrated, when he contested at the state level. He equally won as the PRO of the group at the state level because Uwanta needed a platform to act as a vocal advocate and as the voice of the people. 

And indeed, Uwanta spoke, mobilized and seduced men around the leading political party at the time, National Republican Convention (NRC). He made an advocacy that gave him prominence to work very closely with Obong Akpan Isimin. 

He single-handedly fixed officers in the party, when it was formed, as well as officers in the then 10 Local Government Areas in the state then. An underground work that saw Obong Akpan Isemin through as 1st civilian Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Obong Etukudo Ekpro, Don Etiebet, Victor Attah, Lambert Udoh, Ekpe Atakpo, Obong Akpan Esemin to mansion but a few were Andrew Uwanta’s political buddies at the time.

On September 5, 1998 at the Ibom Hall, Dr. Uwanta was one of the privileged few, who founded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State. He became a major factor in the negotiation process that led to the emergence of Obong Victor Attah as a consensus candidate for the office of a governor, when Ibibio elders rejected his (Uwanta’s) Principal, Obong Ekpro, who was also aspiring for governorship. It was the first time the issue of consensus came up in the state, but for the sake of peace, all structures were collapsed and they had to work together, and as a result Obong Victor Attah emerged the 2nd elected Governor of Akwa Ibom. 

“While Attah’s government was winding down, a very intelligence individual, who begun in the Attah’s Exco, who knew where the lapses were, and who opted to correct the wrong indicated interest to run for the office of s Governor in the person of Dr. Godswill Akpabio. When we saw the ingenuity of his mind, we all queue behind him and eventually, he became the 3rd elected Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2007" Uwanta had explained. 

In the case of Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s emergence as the state’s fourth elected Governor, Akwa Ibom people can of course, tell the story of this humble but an erudite politician, Dr. Andrew Uwanta’s effort in bringing this government to the fore. 

For those of us, who are yet to know Andrew Uwanta, and the stuff he is made up of. He is one Akwa Ibom man that is driven by interest for a greater Akwa Ibom. A man of strong character and integrity, who has staked his life for the good of the state and its people, since the creation of the state in 1987. He hoped to see a united Akwa Ibom, where people will be eager to pull their weights in the forward movement of the state in the pursuit of peace, prosperity and happiness.