Nse Ekpenyong: Still a man of the people

Nse Bassey Ekpenyong

BY SAMPSON ENYONGEKERE

Sir Alexander Winston Churchill, the greatest and finest English statesman of all time, who saved Britain in her most hour of peril, had no chain of academic certificate. The topic sentence above has become an established fact globally and it underscores why the learned, hardboiled and good people of Oro Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State are not happy with their erstwhile representative in the Green Chambers, Hon. Robinson Uwak.

It is their conviction that the set-back experienced in the development of the constituency presently is a direct consequence of Hon.U wak’s feud with his kinsman, the deeply revered and reverent Hon. Nse Bassey Ekpenyong who now represents the Federal Constituency in the Lower Chambers. Their anger was recently heightened when the traditional rulers from the clime gathered in unison to banish and traditionally place an injunction and vote of no confidence on Uwak,for attempting to cut a pound of flesh from his brother’s body owing to discontentment and greed.

But Hon. Nse Bassey Ekpenyong would have Robinson Uwak pardoned as he pleaded with these custodians of tradition and culture to maintain their apolitical stance, likening Uwak to both the proverbial farmer who allowed his farming implements to rust away when they were not immediately required, but later turned to blame them in time of need for daring to go rusty and, the Biblical prodigal son who realized his mistakes and  came back begging for forgiveness, and was graciously forgiven by his father.

Arrested a few days ago by the Asokoro district Police for championing series of unfounded and baseless petitions against numerous people of goodwill, the notorious oil-pipe-line vandal turned parliamentarian sponsored an aggressive media attack and falsehood on the March 30th, 2017 Federal High Court, Uyo sitting, that Hon. Nse Ekpenyong was again remanded in police custody, when Ekpenyong was in reality, granted bail.

Hon. Nse Ekpenyong at the Federal High Court Uyo, was constantly beaming with smiles. Not because he was granted bail but probably owing to the deep love and passion he has for his people; the quest to serve them without any further distraction as is the case with the politically incited allegations leveled against him, which actually led to his arraignment. On a broader perspective, Ekpenyong’s visible radiance portrayed the gradual triumph of good over evil. Coasting through to victory, Ekpenyong knows what it means to remained focus and that it could help him render a conscientious legislative and developmental service to his   people, contrary to what obtained in the last legislative tenure of Hon. Robinson Uwak between 2011 and 2015.

Born, nurtured and trained in his native Oron, at a very tender age Hon. Nse Ekpenyong understood the need to be at home with his people and wisely connected massively with his folks.  Little wonder why the Oron people known for their doggedness and strong-will rose in unison to elect Hon. Nse Ekpenyong as their sole representative to the National Assembly.  Sole representative because there are people like Robinson Uwak who, out of infantility and greed believes they should have been allowed to tarry much longer in their poor representation to the Federal Constituency.  No thanks to poor performance!

Despite the several attempts to distract this man of goodwill and substance, Ekpenyong still utilizes his constituency allowances with prudence and propriety, entirely to the development of his constituents.  What manner of man is Ekpenyong?  Some detractors would even ask.  Like anyone who attended the last Federal High Court, Uyo sitting, I was appalled to see Hon. Nse Ekpenyong still exuding ineffable confidence in the face of a seemingly great tribulation.  His carriage, comportment, humility, and calm only reminded me of a man who is not distressed by the temporary travails of the moment, with the conviction, that one with God is majority and that truth shall eventually triumph over falsehood.

Unfortunately, we play politics with everything in this nation, even with peoples’ reputation and image.  The spate of falsehood and lies in the land leaves much to be desired.  Granted bail after due considerations of all the constitutional provisions and conventional instances cited by Hon. Nse Ekpenyong lead counsel, Samuel Isangedoho Esq., the opposition camp sponsored by Robinson Uwak and other numerous forces of darkness went to town with a trailer load of lies that the people’s hero was again remanded in custody.  Quite brazen!  Some highly rated media houses and even the one reputed to be the most famous television house in Nigerian and black Africa threw media ethics to the winds by peddling the impudent falsehood, which was the height of unprofessionalism.  The soul of the once noble journalism profession has, by these instances been strangled.  Hungry media men who are looking for their stomach are prepared to call black, white.

But Hon. Nse Ekpenyong is not one who will shudder at the mention of media attack.  Transparent, poised and hard boiled; Ekpenyong is on top of his political career.  He will rather touch lives than engaged in an unnecessary blackmail.  A highly spiritual individual, Ekpenyong believes there is a force that controls the affairs of men hence, no reason whatsoever to constantly draw his sword.  He describes those who have connived to peddle falsehood against him as a bunch of liars.  He says the election to the National Assembly in Oron Federal Constituency was won and loss and implores all aggrieved parties to join in developing the Federal Constituency.  As a grassroots man, Hon. Nse Bassey Ekpenyong knows the demerits the numerous accusations and counter accusations could cost his beloved people, development wise.  He knows it could rob them of unity, peace and brotherhood.  Nse Ekpenyong believes that election comes and go but brotherhood remains.

So for how long would the Oro Federal Constituency people quarrel over a gone election?  We are enjoined to be our brother’s keeper by lending a helping hand, not by pulling down.  The people of the Federal Constituency existed from time immemorial.  They have always peacefully been there even in the military days when they were ruled with the barrel of the gun, why tear yourselves apart now that you have been given the right and privilege to lead yourselves?  As individuals, we all have shortcomings and you don’t wash your dirty linen in public.

The legendary American statesman and leader, Abraham Lincoln was apt and correct when he said that civil rule was basically for the people.  Robinson Uwak should throw discontentment into the trash can.  You cannot fight what is your own.  You do have an Oron Prince speaking on your behalf in the National Assembly and the generality of Oron people must queue behind him.
Hon. Nse Ekpenyong loves the Oron people.  He knows many Oron people by their names.  That means he has always been with you.  Your problems are his problems and your challenges, his challenges.  He goes to bed and wakes up with thoughts of Oron people in his mind.  Uwak and his paid detractors should develop the mentality of men of history.

Robinson Uwak

All the socio-cultural organizations in the Federal Constituency – Oron Union, Essu Nlap Oro, Oro Elders Forum to mention a few recently   condemned in its entirety, the belligerence of Hon. Robinson Uwak.  They say it is uncalled for.  At a time when unity is preached on a global scale, Uwak is busy fanning embers of discord.  Several conscious efforts by the political and traditional leaders of the zone to broker a truce meets a brick wall hence, exercise in vanity as Robinson Uwak would not shift ground.  Uwak was born and brought up in Lagos and had never resided in the land of his nativity.  Imagine a Federal Legislator of Uwak’s standing with no abode in his Federal Constituency.  His coming into the political arena should not tear the once united Oron people apart.

Hon. Robinson Uwak’s legislathief tenure had long expired.  He should look for something else to do than stay in the Oron political space to instigate acrimony; these are the sterling words of our elders!  The words of our elders, Uwak should know, shall eternally be words of wisdom!