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Ekong Sampson: The Legislative Powerhouse Who Was Destined To Be Senator

By Samuel Udoma

By June this year, Dr. Ekong Sampson, the Senator-Elect for Akwa Ibom South will be walking into the hallowed Red Chambers of the National Assembly as one of the legislative aristocrats of the 10th Nigerian Senate. Here is a man who is making an emotional, yet spectacular return to the Senate where he began his odyssey in the early 2000s as a Senior Legislative Aide to the inimitable Senator Udoma Udo Udoma. HE, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwwal, current Governor of Sokoto State was one of Sampson’s National Assembly colleagues back then.

Dr. Sampson, trained lawyer and journalist, enjoyed early legislative tutelage in the Senate among a sea-bed of pearls. Senators Chuba Okadigbo, Azuta Mbata, Adolphus Wabara, Ike Nwachukwu, Khairat Gwadabe, Mike Achebo and the maverick, Francis Arthur Nzeribe among other leading lights, were in the same Senate era as Dr. Sampson, albeit in the upper wrung.

It was a truly bridge building National Assembly where for instance, Northern Senators teamed up with their Southern counterparts to support the abrogation of the Onshore/Offshore Dichotomy, which principally favoured the South. Sampson’s boss, Senator Udoma was an engine room of the abrogation, while Barr. Sampson, then a relatively young lawyer, fed coal to the steam.

The abrogation of the Onshore/Offshore Dichotomy will go on to revolutionize resource control in the country, creating windfalls for oil producing regions.

Years went by, water passed under the bridge and Barr. Ekong Sampson reemerged at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly as Member representing Mkpat Enin. He was elected to the House immediately after rounding up his reign as Head of Council, Mkpat Enin. He was one of the youngest Chairmen as at then.

Throughout his two tenures as Council helmsman, he lived in Mkpat Enin among his people. He built infrastructure, most notably, the Unity Hall(now named after him), and also built a strong political foundation for the local government area to blossom politically. Today, Sampson’s structures in Mkpat Enin remain extant. He was a much loved Chairman of Council.

In the State House of Assembly, Ekong Sampson rose to prominence. He was in the ‘Inner Caucus’ of the House and was nicknamed ‘The Compendium’ by his colleagues because of his mastery of parliamentary procedures, practice and knowledge of nearly every topic brought on the Floor.

It remains incontestable that a gamut of some of the Laws used in this State came from Sampson’s brains. There was hardly any bill that Sampson sponsored that wasn’t signed into law. He was so adept at lawmaking that people used to travel distance to come and witness Barr. Sampson’s earth-shaking moments in the House of Assembly. Some Assembly Correspondents believe Samson’s era in the AKHA was one of the finest since the creation of the State.

After serving out his two terms in the House, Gov. Udom Emmanuel appointment Dr. Sampson into the State EXCO as Honourable Commissioner. He will later go on to serve in a number of ministries, his last folio being the Ministry of Environment and Petroleum Resources.

As such, when Barr. Sampson grabbed the Senate ticket for Akwa Ibom South at the Primaries in SPU, Onna in May, 2022, there were no questions as to his experience, capacity and competency for the Senate Senate job. Sampson’s eventual emphatic win in the February 25, 2023 elections was only but expected.

Dr. Ekong Sampson is taking the Nigerian Senate a rich legislative and executive resumé, which will make him favorite for any Committee in the House. He is a first timer Senator but with the depth of a veteran. Sampson also goes to the Chamber as a true patriot and pan-Nigerian – dispositions that are critical to one’s impact in the House. Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin has great understanding of Nigeria and the workings. A constant conveyor belt of ideas, Dr. Sampson will offer the Senate great perspectives on how to make Nigeria a better place. He is a Senator to watch.