When I first met him, I thought he was an aspiring professional swimmer with dreams of winning laurels at the Olympics; slim and tall, slight build, slick appearance, brisk body movements, athletic gesticulations. That thought only lasted for a while because experience has shown me that most great men and women are largely disguised by nature with physical features that do not suggest their big and bulldozing capabilities.
For Barr Aniefiok Dennis Akpan, I knew that in his sparse frame, in the Barack Obama mould, belied his huge potentialities, strong resolve and commitment to deliver in his assignments. What has always endeared him to me, and perhaps to a billion others is his unassuming lifestyle, his ubiquitous smiles, affable mien and a face that is easy on the eye. It didn't surprise me when my people in Etinan State Constituency unanimously first voted the Ikot Ebo son to represent the people in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The people spoke in one voice, "Afo ke Iman Eyem".
Armed with a law degree from the University of Uyo and fortified by over two decades of active law practice since called to the bar in 1992, Barr Dennis has kicked off his legislative career in sparkling form, despite the tiny setback of a re-run, he will keep soaring. He dazzled in his previous assignment as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters and Documentation. He was the spine that saw the legal team of Chief Godswill Akpabio overcome its numerous legal hurdles.
Even while serving at the state level, Barr Dennis was always in touch with his people at home. On numerous occasions, he purchased and distributed thousands of exercise books to school children in Etinan Local Government in support of the free and compulsory education of the Governor Akpabio led administration. He also gave scholarship and other educational support initiatives from his pay to students from the area studying in various higher institutions across the country. If he did so in that capacity, he can only do more in his present capacity, making good laws and attracting development home. I now fully understand why National Association of Etinan Students recently endorsed him as the sole candidate for the Etinan State Constituency seat come 2015 against the odds. The students leaders then stated quite boldly that their actions were informed by the capacity and effectiveness they have seen in Dennis Akpan to represent the people efficiently with quality dividends of representation.
Barr Dennis' hair-raising ride to this remarkable level on the political ladder has been impressive. It is clearly evident that he has rapidly grown in wisdom and understanding of the dynamics of power play. He has learned and earned political maturity and savvy through hard, enduring experience and this has translated, without a doubt into his deliberate assured strokes of excellence.
As an erudite lawyer, his representation in the state House of Assembly has been impactful and rewarding. When combining his judicial arguments with his legislative prowess, certainly Etinan State Constituency have and will continue to have a strong voice and effective representative in the state house of assembly. As a man who has been on the other side of interpreting the law for years now, he is sufficiently poised for the task of law-making, with a full grasp of judicial interpretation of laws passed by the state house of assembly, he is ready to give the necessary imputes that will enable Akwa Ibom laws stand the test of time.
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly aware of Barr Dennis' abilities made him the Chairman, Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics And Privileges. We cannot blame the judicial process for taking that away, things can only get better. A vibrant legislature imparts on the state positively. From developing policies relating to the environment and education to passing laws that protect the community, legislators affect people’s lives every day. Achieving success as a legislator means collaborating with various interest groups, listening to constituents’ concerns, and debating and compromising with colleagues. Representing others deals with the relations between the legislature and the public, lawmaking is internally focused. It relates to the processes by which laws (and policies) are fashioned. The legislative role in formulating, reviewing and adopting a state budget has special significance. The budget is probably the most important bill that a legislature passes. A legislature that performs poorly on the budget is likely to be an ineffective legislature overall. The legislature's oversight role is also worth considering; that is, how and to what extent does the legislature monitor the application and effect of the laws it has enacted. This is the picture of the kind of legislature our own Barr Dennis would contribute his quota to make effective.
Akwa Ibom State is developing in many remarkable ways. She deserves representatives like Barr Dennis Akpan. Our belief system has catapulted from the bleak shadows of inertia and lack luster representation to the klieglights of success, prominence and glamour recently. We should sustain this feat.
As the people of Etinan State constituency match out again to confirm the mandate it freely gave to Barr Dennis, the people will bear in mind that the business of lawmaking requires a time tested and experienced hand like that of Barr Dennis Akpan. He simply unrivalled in the game.
So, It doesn't matter which part of the divide one stands, friend or foe, the man for whom I spare a few lines for looms large like a unicorn, straddling the mass consciousness. He brandishes super self-confidence spiced with a disarming sense of humour. I am glad he represents me and will continue after the re-run elections. Barr Aniefiok Dennis Akpan represents the new face of politics in our clime: brilliant, focused and wired to deliver.
Finbarr is Special Assistant (Media) to Governor Udom Emmanuel. Writes from Afaha Iman, Etinan.
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