TOROBONG EKPO
Perhaps, this is going to be my last article for the year 2016. I purposefully reserved this to honour a lawmaker who within his one year and some months in office has been able to touch positively nearly all the families in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA via life touching empowerments, effective representation and has gone beyond his constituency to seek for ways of bettering the lots in the society.
On the floor of the sixth Assembly he pleaded that our late heroes should be eternalized, campaigned for the bring back our language as well as sponsored other life touching bills.
How the name IBOROAKAM came to the political space is a mystery somehow impossible to be unveil by carnal mind.
It wasn't his official, native nor childhood nickname, but a political slogan that has turn out to be a "Second name" of the immediate past Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Elder Aniekan Uko, who also is the legislator representing Ibesikpo Asutan State constituency.
Unlike some political figures, who now own facebook accounts so as to upload pictures and video clips in readiness for a surreal future ambitions, as at late 2000s, IBOROAKAM was new media compliance with Facebook, twitter, Instagram and all other accounts except Badoo.
By 2014, IBOROAKAM was a household name in the new media industry. I am sure even Mark Zuckerberg was delightful on the manner the name was trending on Facebook.
I had an opportunity of first interacting with him on the social media after reading his article, "I will respond my blackmailers with effective representation".
It was a response to an earlier fabricated news about his persons. Off course, that is a necessity in the politics as practiced in this part of our clime.
During our interactions, I queried why he chooses IBOROAKAM as his slogan and which of the "akam" he he referring to? Coz, as we are fully aware, there is good and bad prayer (akam). He insisting that it was the Prayer of Ibesikpo Asutan people.
Well, I kept tap on him, within a twinkle of an eye, he emerged victorious at the party level, proceeded to the general election and won. It was then an opportunity for me to carefully assess his effort towards fulfilling the prayers of his people, in tandem with his campaign slogan.
Before his constituents could pronounce Jack Robinson, this lad landed with two Lexus SUV jeeps, eleven Toyota Corola cars, One Toyota Camry car, twenty motorcycles, sewing machines, hair dryers, wheelchairs (for the physically challenged), two live cows, three thousand bags of rice, five million Naira cash among other items and equitably shared them to members of his constituents...a situation which left his critics dumbfounded as they wondered if he was indulging in MMM, Ultimate cycler or yahoo plus plus business.
Nay, it was the dividend of Democracy bestowed to the natives of Ibesikpo Asutan people provided to them by a chronic and an addicted giver.
He is not the Pioneer Assembly man from that extraction neither the richest man from that enclave but he is the first to bestow such gesture to his people despite the dwindling economy that welcomed this administration.
He went ahead to bring to the fore of the assembly human oriented bills, appointed more than sixty aides from his geopolitical zone, including physically challenged and also provided electricity, pipe borne water, scholarships to uncountable students in his political jurisdiction, while also embarking on his own Masters degree programme in the University of Uyo.
Those who knew him from childhood claim he is like ant which caters for its food during the dry season ahead of rainy days. I may not know what that mean but I guess, it denotes a foresight and visionary leader.
Critics would have expected that he will pause or end his benevolence at that juncture, however, he ventured into another realm. This time, by taking charge of his other campaign promises.
In conjunction with MADAM CHARGE-Evangelist Mrs. Ememobong Aniekan Uko, IBOROAKAM, brought together five women per ward and empowered them to the tune of 2.5 million naira as well as submit another 1.5 million for the upkeep of his people thereby totalling the sum of four million naira, in spite of economic recession.
He went ahead to pledge another round of cars to women in his locality during his forthcoming constituency briefing and pleaded with electorates to shun political rascality and embrace unity.
One character that really endears this young man to his critics is humility and respect to constituted authority. Despite his present portfolio, his loyalty to the governor and his political leader, HON. UWEM ITA ETUK knows no bound.
He sees the domain of the political leader as the only place he could tender his campaign promises to the people, knowing fully well that to whom much is given, so much is expected.
What baffles me is, of all the businesses in the world, why IWOUD Ekporoko business? Neither IBOROAKAM nor Madam Charge has been in the business in time past. So why did he made the promise during campaigns?
While digging deeper into these questions, I was amazed to realize that, among the trades in our local markets, IWOUD Ekporoko, (stock fish) is one of the most lucrative.
It doesn't get spoil so easily like other edibles, it prices appreciate and it is widely consumable by members of the society.
Coming from an enclave which houses markets such as Urua Afaha, Urua Nung Udoe and others, I don't see any other conducive place to ply this trade other than Ibesikpo Asutan local government Area.
I see the discovery of IWOUD Ekporoko as a worthwhile project, a welcome development and an empowerment that will go along way to erase poverty in various homes.
It is an act of showing traders how to fish, especially in this recession era where hope of livelihood is jittery as shortsighted Nigerians are said to be giving up.
It is a project that shouldn't be undertaken with kids gloves as it may turn our dear state to the stock fish basket of the nation if properly managed and executed.
It is good to know that the lawmaker has set up committee to ensure effective utilization of the cash. I pray the committee will work in tandem with the modus operandi.
I strongly believe that if all our political office holders will emulate this gesture, political sycophancy will be a thing of the past.
Is there any possibility of those women gatecrashing and turning nuisance into political event henceforth? I doubt, coz, their business will be of immense value and definitely occupy their time, energy and effort...
If same effort is channelled to the youths, I think, MY LEADER, MY LEADER profession will disappear.
As we cross over to 2017 in some hours to come, let's think towards this direction... On this score, I wish to say, Rt. Hon. IBOROAKAM and Madam Charge, I give it to you... Well done!
Happy New Year in a jiffy.
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