By Edet Okpo Ph.D
From whichever angle one looks at it, Senator Ekong Sampson must be commended for his mantra of representation- not just giving fish, but showing Constituents how to fish with adequate and functional tools. That is his own approach to governance and representation. It ultimately follows that whoever thinks he can discourage him or alter his record of quality performance and unquestionable democratic credentials, must be rowing against the tide. Judged by available statistics since June 2023 when he assumed office in the National Assembly, from impact on constituents and the Constituency at large to the promises of more to come, there is no argument that the Chairman , Senate Committee on Solid Minerals and Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Ekong Sampson, has performed outstandingly, bringing about a paradigm shift in the history of representation in the Senatorial District since the advent Of democracy in Nigeria. This is an incontrovertible statement of fact anchored on verifiable evidence both in the public space and testimonies of appreciative constituents and objective commentators.
Exponentially, for the emphasis, the first thing we must study and understand is Senator
Ekong Sampson's modus operandi: His peculiar style is not just to give people fish and forget about them, but to show them how to fish for self-independence, sustainability towards collective chain-effect strategy as a catalyst for individual and communal growth and development. This easily explains why his highly commendable empowerment packages are diverse, people-oriented, vocational, pragmatic, and utilitarian in approach.Interestingly, as should be expected, it would not be surprising that those who are allergic to change, those suffering from inertia, those looking at matters through fractured prism of politics, hand-to-mouth opportunists and incurable sadists were wont to weave conspiracy theories to discredit what cannot be discredited in the eyes of overwhelming record. As inconsequential as this sounds, it is a clear case of ingratitude on the part of those who have been in darkness for centuries and now that light has come, still choose to remain captive in darkness. In other words, Senator Ekong Sampson's stellar record of performance on the canvas of history is like a house of gold built on top of a mountain that no clouds can becloud. It becomes even more imposing and consoling when we remember the past in the context of representation in Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District.
Indeed, Senator Ekong Sampson has become the crux of assessment in contemporary discourse of effective representation. Like one popular Public Affairs Analyst from one of the Eastern States recently observed, if Ekong Sampson has done elsewhere what he has done in his Senatorial District in the last two and half years as a Senator, he would have been nominated for a national award by his constituents. Not long ago, he donated 100 Million naira grant for students and has proposed a whooping 500 Million Naira to boost sports facilities in selected Schools within Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. In the words of the Secretary, Senator Ekong Sampson Empowerment Committee, Engr. Dr. Ben Edesenting, the money was not given as as loan, or bond, or promissory note or as a postdated cheque, but in gratis, to encourage scholarship, incentivise intellectual commitment, build a leeway for tomorrow's stars who will both better their lives and bring glory directly or indirectly to the senatorial district, Akwa Ibom State, and the country by extension.
Symbolically, the grant was like a tree to yield fruits in and for the future. It would be recalled that prior to the disbursement Of the 100 million Naira grant for about 500 Students and teachers, Senator Ekong Samson also used the occasion Of his 2025 Birthday Anniversary to teach and donate educational materials to students Of St. Vincent Secondary School, Oti-Oro, Okobo local government area. It came as a sweet shock not only to the primary beneficiaries but to parents and guardians on whose shoulders such a huge burden has been lifted. The simple economic dimension to this is that the monies the parents would have expended on school fees and related obligations, could now be used for other developmental purposes. Some political heavyweights and key Stakeholders from Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District described the gesture as historic, unparralled and emancipatory .
Today, by virtue of the impact he has created, Senator Ekong Sampson is a household name not just in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District but in entire Akwa Ibom and the Country. The immediate past President of Eket Students Association (EKSA), Miss Torobong Obot; the President of the National Association of Mkpat Enin Students (NAMES) worldwide,
Comrade Mfonobong Joseph;
President of Oron Students Union, Worldwide, Comrade Anthony Eyoh, did not suppress their gratitude. Prof. Desmond Wilson, a renowned Communication Scholar and Public Affairs Analyst, described the largesse as "phenomenal and historic, an altruistic departure from the past". He accordingly dedicated many pages to the celebrated lawmaker in his book, "Communication Nuggets for Public and Private Spaces'.
Prior to the donation of the N100milion grant, the Senator had initiated other education-based interventions in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. Amongst these include construction of CBT/ICT Laboratories in selected secondary schools in the Senatorial District; construction of a school block at the Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi; construction of staff quarters and hostel at Excellence College, Mkpat Enin; and Staff Quarters at Community Secondary, Udung Uko, lighting up more than 50 Communities with solar light, Construction Of roads and provision Of electricity in various Villages, intervention in erosion ravaged Communities, ongoing Construction Of Medical facilities in Immanuel Hospiral Eket and General Hospital in Ikot Abasi, employment of constituents in federal Government Agencies among others are evidence beyond doubt.
His empowerment thrust is diversified. Within his first one year in office, the Senator initiated several empowerment programmes targeted at demography across the Senatorial District.
They include capacity-building for professionals in diverse desciplines; startup packages to hundreds of entrepreneurs; Media , fashion designers and various vocations. Hence, the name Senator Ekong Sampson is synonymous with impact and hope, love for service and all-round development of the intellectual, economic and physical development Of the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District. His impressive scorecard is widely celebrated as a fresh wind of passion for service and narratives of representation in Akwa Ibom South (Eket) Senatorial District. Outstandingly, the former two-term State Assembly Lawmaker, Local Government Chairman and Member Of the State Executive Council does not limit his services to his primary constituency but also extends the tentacles across the three Senatorial Districts of the State. His service delivery statements have become a hallmark for redefinition and assessment of Parliamentary responsibilities to constituents. As a result, Senator Ekong Sampson has been a source of testimonies, comfort, hope and greater expectations amongst constituents, far and near.
This is what the Executive Chairman of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, Hon. Ime Williamson, had to say when the Senator flagged off Construction of Medical facility at General Hospital, Ikot Abasi: "Thank you Senator Sampson for giving Akwa Ibom South focused, visionary and result- oriented representation'. What you are doing in our local government area today will arrest the infrastructural deficit in the Hospital.
While this article was not intended to enumerate Senator Sampson's comprehensive achievements as a lawmaker, it must be mentioned that he has both sponsored and cosponsored bills that have and will continue to impact on Akwa Ibom State, including those for the establishment of different kinds of tertiary and healthy institutions in the State; the reactivation of ALSCON in Ikot Abasi, etc. He has empowered constituents through employment in government and private institutions as well as given hope to the hopeless. This is to pragmatically justify the Mandate given to him. Thus, he has not failed in the areas of Lawmaking, oversight and representation. He has been a critical contributor to many bills and participated in strategic and consequential oversight functions. From the very start on June 13, 2023, when the 10th National Assembly was officially constituted, neither Senator Sampson's capacity in public service nor his cumulative profile of unblemished record of dedicated public Service has been in doubt. He is dependable, trusted and populist in stewardship. But like
John C. Maxwell reminds us, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
Ekong Sampson is a textbook example of the People's lawmaker who knows the plights of his constituents and constantly provide solutions to them. Therefore, the recent clamour for Christmas rice over development was not necessary.
Senator Ekong Sampson's 's second component of Empowerment where Constituents will be given exotic Cars, mini buses, Keke Napep, Motor cycles, outboard engines, finishing net and accessories and lots more are in the offing, wαΊΉ must be patient with the Senator and give him our Support.
Despite the acerbic attacks, politics Of bitterness and Campaign Of calumny recently launched by an individual against him, Senator Ekong Sampson has chosen to remain resolute and unwaveringly committed to giving his Constituents quality Education, empowerment, improved Infrastructure and quality representation rather than responding to unwarrantted and needless propaganda..
To further justify his Passion for Education, just last week, Senator Ekong Sampson donated 5 Million Naira to Okobo Development Union to Support Schorlarship scheme Instituted by the Organisation.
What Senator Ekong Sampson needs is Commendation from Constituents not Condemnation.
Comments
Post a Comment