Legislative Acumen

10th Senate: Ekong Sampson Reaches Out To Ephraim Inyang-eyen, Other Opponents

…describes Inyang-eyen as a friend and brother; lauds Umo Eno, Udom Emmanuel

…assures reconciliation will strengthen unity in A/Ibom State.

By Samuel Udoma

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Nigerian Senate on June 13, 2023 in Abuja, Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom South, Rt Hon.(Dr.) Ekong Sampson has reached out to Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen and the other opponents who vied for the Eket Senate seat with the Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin.

Dr. Sampson, who will be making a spectacular return to the nation’s Red Chambers, where he once served as Chief Legislative Aide to Senator Udoma Udo Udoma in the early 2000s, has extended a handshake of bridge building to his opponents in both the primaries and main election.

In the PDP Primaries held last year at the Police Special Protection Unit Base, Onna, Barr. Sampson went head to head against Rt Hon. Francis Charles Uduyok, House of Reps Member for Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency, where he emerged candidate of the party.

Other aspirants of the PDP including business magnate, Barr. Ben Udowa and Dr. Markfre Ekefre, a member in the Akwa Ibom State Secondary School Board, who both hail from Mkpat Enin just as Sampson, had already thrown their full weights behind the now Senator-elect. Barr. Udowa, who is the MD of Madelyn Group of companies, particularly, even offered his Eket facility for several meetings of the Ekong Sampson Campaign Organization.

Recently also, two of Sampson’s challengers in the February 25, 2023 elections – Obong Martyns Udoinyang of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and Dominic Essien a.k.a DUE of Labour Party had both openly and unconditionally withdrawn their petitions against Dr Ekong Sampson at the elections tribunal.

Barr. Sampson speaking on his interactions and cordial relationship with his erstwhile opponents, said he appreciated them for ‘their patriotic gestures aimed at the common good and interest of Akwa Ibom South and the State’. He confirmed that he has spoken with all of them and has urged them to join hands with him to move the senatorial district and Akwa Ibom State forward.

Earlier this week, Dr. Sampson spoke with Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen, whom he described as ‘a friend and brother’. Recall that Dr. Sampson and Mr. Inyang-eyen worked together in the State EXCO under former Governor Udom Emmanuel. While Inyang-eyen was Commissioner for Works and later Chief of Staff, Barr. Sampson served as Honourable Commissioner in a number of ministries, his last portfolio being that of Environment and Petroleum Resources.

Mr. Inyang-eyen, who was the senatorial candidate of the Young Progressive Party(YPP) did not challenge Ekong Sampson’s victory at the elections tribunal. Dr. Sampson thanked Mr. Inyang-eyen for exhibiting spirit of sportsmanship by not going to the tribunal and maintaining great cordial relationship. He noted that reconciliation across board will foster unity in Akwa Ibom State, saying that elections were over and called on all to joins hands for state building.

Dr. Sampson said he will need the input of Ephraim Inyang and those of the other candidates to deepen his legislative performance. The ex-State Lawmaker then used the opportunity to invite them and other constituents to his Senate Inauguration next Tuesday.

It is noteworthy that during his campaigns, Dr. Sampson had continually preached bridge building as a panacea to fostering sustainable peace and development in Akwa Ibom State and the reach-out to his erstwhile opponents is a testimony to that disposition.

To further ensure optimal performance while in the Senate, Barr. Sampson also has a novel ‘Public and Policy Analysis Committee’, which among other things, will advise on policy thrust and legislative interest of the Senator-elect. The widely acclaimed Committee, which was inaugurated in April, by Gov. Umo Eno, has Prof. Etie Ben Akpan as Chairman and Prof. Peter Esuh as Secretary. At the inauguration, Gov. Eno praised the composition of the high powered Committee, noting that his government will equally tap into their rich reservoir.

The Eket Senatorial District Senator-elect has also consistently called for support for the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Bassey Eno. Barr. Sampson hailed Gov. Eno’s ARISE Agenda commitment to rural development, saying the administration’s master plan will help spread development in the state.

He canvased support for Pastor Umo Eno whom, he said, is coming aboard with a clearly defined blueprint to develop Akwa Ibom State. Sampson said Umo Eno’s blueprint was a game changer for the state. The Senator-elect also lauded former Gov. Udom Emmanuel for bringing notable innovation to governance, laying a solid industrialization foundation and earning for Akwa Ibom, the respect of Nigeria.