By TAB
The political scene in Akwa Ibom State is rife with fray and tussles among political gladiators. There are a lot of controversies and blackmails on one hand and much lobbying and campaigns on the other. The atmosphere is hot with politicians slugging it out, trying to outsmart each other. The people, on the other side, have dusted their voter's cards and are ready to decide who and who occupy public offices, up for grabs in 2023. While all of these, which are commonplaces during electioneering periods, here is a story of an astute politician, a successful businessman, a philanthropist and a humanist who has been caught in the web of the goings on and whose heads fits a crown prepared for only illustrious citizens of Uyo Senatorial District.
This is the story of a man born a little over four decades ago in Ekim Enen Village, a community in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, a very down-to-earth and selfless person. He grew from being a thriving private businessman to a celebrated politician and a humanist, a man of the people. This is the story of Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Vice Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, Chairman of the South-South Speakers’ Forum and Executive Committee Member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, leading contender for Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District (Uyo Senatorial District) seat in 2023.
From being a business man with interest in the hospitality industry, construction and other fields, Rt. Hon. Bassey dashed into politics 2014 and moved on to become Honourable Member representing Uruan State Constituency in the 6th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in 2015. He served as the Deputy Leader of the House, Chairman of the House Services Committee and as Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology. In 2019, in his second term, he was elected by his colleagues to lead the legislature as the 12th Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
Few weeks ago, Hon. Bassey had indicated his interest to represent the people of Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District at the red Chambers in 2023. So far, his ambition has received massive support by stakeholders and supporters alike. But why should it be him for the senate job?
First, he is well educated and in an area of specialization which has much to do with understanding the people he seeks to represent. Armed with two Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degrees in Chemistry and Sociology and Anthropology; two Master of Science (M.Sc) degrees in Social and Cultural Anthropology, and Development Studies, the Speaker, who has attended courses including “Negotiation and Leadership” at Harvard Law School, Boston Texas, USA; “Managing Yourself and Leading Others” at Harvard Business School, Harvard University, USA; “Leadership Certificate in Win-Win Argument” at Emory University, Boston, Texas, USA, among others, is currently pursuing a Doctorate degree in Anthropology.
Secondly, as a successful businessman, Hon. Bassey has dealt a heavy blow on unemployment, especially amongst young entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom state with investments in over five private businesses.
Thirdly, in about seven years as member representing Uruan State Constituency and as Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bassey has sponsored and co-sponsored many Bills, some of which include a Bill to Establish Akwa Ibom State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency, a Bill to Establish Akwa Ibom State Social Housing Scheme, a Bill to Establish Akwa Ibom State Youth Development Fund, among others.
Prominent among the many Motions he has also sponsored is “the need for Akwa Ibom State Government's involvement in agricultural value chain to ensure sustainable food security and improve foreign earning.”
Through his pet project, the Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey Youth Support Scheme Foundation (RHAB-YESS Foundation), the lawmaker has assisted young entrepreneurs and rural women in the state. in fact, the Foundation has empowered 83 businesses with financial support to the tune of N24.7million, trained and empowered over 28 Artisans, embarked on four medical outreaches ranging from eye health awareness to general surgery and also given special support to 457 persons across the state and many more interventions.
This is outside much other assistance he has, in personal capacity, offered to different communities in Uruan Local Government Area. Some of them include the installation of 300KVA Electricity Transformer at Ikot Inyang Esuk, Anankpa, Ibeno Issiet, Afaha Ikot and Issiet Urua Akpa, provision of solar powered borehole at Ekim Enen, installation of 300KVA electricity transformer at Ikot Inyang Esuk, and many more.
He has financed the training of many young people in the areas of JAMB CBT and Computer studies, oil and gas, automobile repairs/maintenance, wood work, fabrication and spraying, among others. The lawmaker has also offered scholarships to several students in tertiary institutions.
It should be noted here that a number of the beneficiaries of his numerous programmes are not even indigenes of Uruan local government area, but from other parts of the state. The Speaker, as he has always maintained, does not discriminate.
The legislator has given out cars, mini buses, motorcycles, starter packs for small businesses as well as cash to the tune of tens of millions to his people during his several editions of empowerments over the years.
Let's apply the brakes here as it may take forever to exhaust the lawmaker's accomplishments in office.
With all these feats, it suffices to say that it is only a servant who is faithful with little that can be trusted with more. Little wonder the lawmaker is already enjoying a bumper support across Uyo Senatorial District. To his supporters, one good turn deserves another.
A true man of class and a faithful steward he is. If with the mandate given to him by the people of Uruan, Hon. Bassey has done this much, one wonders how much more he will do, given a higher office like the senate.
Well, that was the story of a competent, humble and responsible public officer, one who has dedicated his life to the service of his people; a man who has used his position to enrich lives and put smiles on faces. That was the story of a man whose head fits the crown. That was the story of Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, the next Senator to represent Uyo Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This piece was put together by Team Aniekan Bassey (TAB)
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