EFFIONG BOB: AN ASSET WORTH OF CELEBRATION.
Edidiong Ita .
As Akwa Ibom is clocking 34 this month, the state Government will again celebrate every good and great Akwa Ibom person. For this year, entry is already opened for nomination of 34 Akwa Ibom persons who are considered as community heroes, people with inspiring stories,people with the spirit of enterprise, resilience, community development and other virtues associated with the Akwa Ibom persona.
At the moment,l can not think of another person that best fit into the descriptions than distinguished Senator Effiong Bob.
We have told his stories in many platforms and on several occasions, however, l will remind us of how best Effiong Bob deserves every form of celebration in Akwa Ibom State.
Inspiring story: How best can a story inspire you than that of Effiong Bob; He was employed by the ministry of Land as a civil servant and was posted to Ikot Ekpene as the pioneer Secretary, Lands allocation advisory committee, he later resigned his position to further his education, graduated as an overall best student in Law from the University of Lagos, returned to the state to practice his career and then responsibility came in and he was called upon to represent his people in the council as Supervisory Councillor, became the Council Chairman, member representing Nsit Ubium State constituency(Deputy Speaker), Attorney General, senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Member of the ECOWAS Parliament, Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Benin. One thing is sure, integrity, humility,resilience kept him that far. How best can you be inspired!!!
Spirit of Enterprise: Outside Running one of the best Law firms in Nigeria, Bob runs one of the most successful Broadcasting stations in Uyo, he didn’t take it anywhere, he brought it home where his people can be employed.
Community Development :The story of Shelter Afrique can not be completed without considering the sacrifices of Senator Bob, as the Attorney General, he led the delegation that sealed the contract in Kenya, the risk he and his team took that day can better be told than experienced.
As Attorney General, Bob brought the Federal High Court to Akwa Ibom, he also saw to the sitting of the Appeal Court in Akwa Ibom state, no one has done that after him.
Bob practically Changed the face of the Judiciary in Akwa Ibom and raised standard in the practice of law.
Again, as an Attorney General, he was an instrument through which the Nigerian Bar Association acquired a land for the building of their secretariat, under Bob, the NBA was able to have two new branches;Ikot Ekpene and Eket branches adding to the already existed Uyo Branch.In his days,Lawyers were sent for long courses training within and outside the Country in their different fields of Specialization like petroleum Law, Environmental Law, Chemical Law, oil and gas Law etc in Countries like Singapore,London etc.
Last year in the floor of Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly, Barr. Uko Udom, the current Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State while answering questions from the law makers noted that Bob was a fine Attorney General who saw to the codification of the laws in Akwa Ibom, according to the Luminary, we never had one before him and has not got one after him. He took time to appreciate the achievements of the distinguished Senator during his screening on the floor of the AKHA.
How can we forget the boundary dispute between Cross River and Akwa Ibom and that of Abia and Akwa Ibom, as the Attorney General, Bob saw to the end of those crisis in his time.
Even if we were to forget about the boundary crisis,how about the Onshore-offshore dichotomy fight! We are enjoying today, because people laboured. Bob was at the forefront of the battle as the Attorney General of the state.
As a politician, Bob is also a writer, he has more books to his name than any Akwa Ibom politician, these books will inspire you to become a great leader at any level.
As the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Bob facilitated the employment of over 200 Akwa Ibom persons as both Academic staff and none Academic staff, they are still working there as we speak.
IBOM VOICE MEDIA 