By Edet Okpo
It did not surprise any of her teeming supporters and loyalists that Rt. Hon Princess Felicia Bassey did not only secure victory at the 2019 elections to represent the people of Okobo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for a second term but also emerged, for the second time, the Deputy Speaker of the 7th Assembly following the swearing-in of new Members and inauguration of the House yesterday. These rare feats will remain a recurrent subject of legislative excellence for a long time in our history.
From official formalities at the House of Assembly, the jubilation cascaded into a jamboree at the Oti-Oron residence of the principal celebrant, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey, to the fullest expression of people’s state of mind for her historic achievements and the greater expectations and future they see in her. Stakeholders, party Members at all level, women groups, socio-cultural organizations, political associates, students and youths shut down their shops and personal businesses to celebrate with their prominent daughter who has creditably distinguished herself as a representative, even as she returns to the 7th Assembly to track down more dividends of democracy to the people.
The Chairman on the occasion, himself a seasoned legislator who is a former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Member, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Barr. Chief Peter Linus Umoh, set the tone when he said that the unity of purpose amongst the electorate that resulted in the second victory of the Deputy Speaker was a result for hard work, loyalty, diligence, commitment and emancipatory dispositions of Rt.Hon. Felicia Bassey to the cause of PDP in the State and desires of the people of Okobo Local Government Area.
He then commended PDP stakeholders and stalwarts as well as the entire constituency for their steadfastness and not betraying their general resolve. Chief Linus Umoh who is also the immediate past chairman of Divine Mandate Organization who spoke the collective minds of stakeholders of Okobo equally expressed gratitude to Governor Udom Emmanuel for being a true democrat and leader by his sterling character of transparency and non-interference in the processes that led to the election of the Deputy Speaker of the 7th Assembly.
In their separate Goodwill Messages, the Paramount Ruler of Okobo, HRM Edidem Ita Okokon and the Chapter Chairman of PDP in Okobo, Hon. Maurice Fimba, said the event of the day served both as a lesson and challenge to others who aspire for political offices to always remember that in democracy, power belongs to the people, there was the impelling need for each representative to prove his or her mettle by performance. The duo maintained that Okobo people by way of entrenched democratic standard had since advanced those days when wielders of power would sit in their offices and impose their personal preferences on the people in times of elections. He lauded the Deputy Speaker for serving in way that won her the general goodwill of Okobo people.
The Chairman of Local Government Area, Rt.Hon. Ubuo Effiong Ubuo, a consummate admirer and exponent of the pragmatic leadership philosophy of the Deputy Speaker, said even if the existing template of political leadership in the local government had allowed for multiple terms of representation, Rt. Hon.Princess Felicia Bassey would still have had no opposition because of the high stakes she raised in legislative excellence. Speaking through the wife, Mrs. Mmokutmfon Ubuo, the chairman expressed joy for the turnout of events in the Deputy Speaker’s political career and also thanked the people of Okobo for not limping upon opinions but consistently supporting quality representation. He said that the renowned legislator has given them a sense of belonging.
Rev. Emmanuel George , the Presiding Pastor of Royal Power-House of God International gave a spiritual dimension to the record the Deputy Speaker has set in her leadership exploits and maintained that, it would have been extremely difficult or impossible for her to excelled if she had not taken God as her chief adviser, stronghold and greatest supporter. He said because God has endowed the celebrated parliamentarian with wisdom, strength and good health, she has been able to set a precedence that challenges every existing ones. He further stated that with the cognate experience the Deputy Speaker has so far gathered, Okobo people should expect more from her.
Before her entrant into the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey had been a Transition Committee Chairman and Executive Chairman of Okobo Local Government Area. The general opinion is that her coming to the State House of Assembly in 2015 and subsequent enthronement as Deputy Speaker were commiserate rewards for the landmarks she set in her previous capacities. Expectedly, her first term in the House of Assembly did not fail people’s expectations. For the first four years she spent in the Hallowed Chambers, Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey was said to be not an excellent legislator but a utility player in the cardinal aspects of lawmaking, oversight and representation. These attributes, as her fellow colleagues in the 6th Assembly have testified, gave her an edge over others in many matters that needed expertise.
Beyond her routine commitments in the House in advancement of the collective interest of Akwa Ibom State, her first four years also bequeathed hallmark innovative initiatives and policies that touched lives of constituents across demography and all areas of need. Most outstanding perhaps was the Deputy Speaker’s open door diplomacy that made for regular interfaces between her and the people. It was therefore no surprise that the people voted massively for her return to the 7th Assembly. Equally instructive is the number of members of other political parties who were conspicuously present at her second term and inauguration victory ceremony to reaffirm their appreciation for her.
Like she said in her remarks for the honour done her and the level of support she has always enjoyed, “With a sense of modest expectations I can say that my momentous re-election to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in the 2019 election was a pointer to greater things to come to the people, even as I have resolved within me to beat my previous record and deepen the roots of democracy at the grassroots, to take government much more closer to the people”.
Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey is the first woman of Okobo origin to have served two-terms in the House of Assembly; to have been elected Deputy Speaker twice; and to have changed completely the leadership costume of Okobo Local Government. With this, as analysts have observed, her second term holds more promises and positive surprises.
Also present at the reception Ceremony were: The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Honourable Member, Urueoffong/0ruko State Constituency, Hon. Asukwo Archibong, immediate past Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Nsikan Nkan, former Honourable Member, Okobo State Constituency in AKHA, Rt. Hon.Chief Asukwo Odiong, former Member, Okobo and Urueoffong/Oruko State Constituencies, Hon. Chief Efefiong Antigha and Hon. Bassey Etienam, former Transition Committee Chairman, Princess Precious Selong, International President, Oro Unity Forum, Hon. Elder Ben Oyombio, President General, Atak Oro Supreme Council, Dr. Asukwo Uya, former Aides to the Governor, among others.
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