The Edge

How Ekong Sampson Has Begun His Senate Representation on Good Note

By Theophilus Akpan

It’s already four days since the Distinguished Senator representing Akwa Ibom South in the Nigeria’s Red Chambers, Sen. Ekong Sampson was sworn-in as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

The after-party held in honour of the former Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources was epic and rich in content. The Bolton White Apartments&Event Centre, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja – one of the biggest event centres in the FCT, was agog with personalities of no mean repute.

Sen. Ekong Sampson didn’t disappoint in wearing his bridge building mien as he gathered ‘big names’ in Nigerian politics, across party affiliation and spread across walks of life. The party was adjudged to be one of the thickest receptions of the day in terms of personalities, excellent planning, locale, time and numbers of persons who graced the event.

Yes. Talking about bridge building, it should be recalled that the promise to build bridges to marry the different spectrums of ethnic nationalities in the senatorial district became a mantra during Ekong Sampson’s campaign tours across the Eket senatorial district.

Senator Sampson kept stressing that “we can only maximize the advantage of our rich mix – the Oro, Obolo, Ekid, Ibibio, when the right bridges are built to accommodate the pluralistic and diverse nature of the senatorial district”. He added that his mission was to unite the different strata in Akwa Ibom South and ‘tell our fuller stories on the floor of the Senate’.

Beginning to walk the talk, Sen. Sampson converged an assemblage of stalwarts from across party lines at his reception. Top of his bridge building demeanor was seen in his his invitation of former Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Ekere and former Minister, Mr Don Etiebet, both being active bigwigs in the APC. Etiebet hails from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

It was uncommon, at least, in this part of the world, having stakeholders of other political parties attend political events organized by members of another political party. Ekong Sampson did it effortlessly. It wasn’t a surprise to many though, considering his famed bridge building disposition.

The Onomkpoinam Mkpat Enin believes in “handshake across borders”. In his speech during the reception ceremony, the former two-term State Assembly member hinted that he has reconciled with all his opponents, from the party primaries to the general elections and that all of them have promised to support him to offer effective representation by offering advice when necessary.

In his speech, the former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr Nsima Ekere did not hesitate to confess that Distinguished Senator Ekong Sampson has helped him to reconnect with several men and women of valour in the PDP whom he had not had the privilege to meet for the past eight years. Obong Nsima Ekere left the PDP in 2015 where had risen to become the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State and joined the APC where he became the Gubernatorial candidate during the 2019 general elections.

It is worthy of note that due to Dr Sampson’s affinity for peace and unity, all his opponents who challenged his declaration as the winner of February 25, 2023 Akwa Ibom South Senatorial election have voluntarily and unconditionally withdrawn their petitions against Barr Sampson from the tribunal. This means that nothing will distract Dr Sampson’s smooth take-off in his representation of his people.

Looking at the scheme of things in the senatorial district, one cannot but quick to judge that he had already commenced it on good note. Ekong Sampson Sampson awed the assemblage when he said in his speech that he has asked his Director-General of Campaigns, Sir Michael Essang to get offices in Oron, Eket and Ikot Abasi Federal Constituencies to aide access and equitable representation across the senatorial district.

Ekong Sampson, with the above, has scored an early goal in his Senate representation, and has caused his constituents and observers to affirm that Akwa Ibom South made the right choice by supporting him to go to the Senate and represent them.

Speaking glowingly on Dr Sampson’s demeanor in bringing people together, the Chairman on the occasion, former Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma noted that he was impressed when he walked into the hall and realized that almost everyone in Akwa Ibom State was in the hall. He noted that Sen. Ekong Sampson has begun on a very good note.

Sen. Udoma went further to make the following remarks;

“As many of you know, Dr Ekong Sampson has every rich experience, and when I was in the Senate, I was extremely impressed by his intelligence, because he worked for me as a Senior Legislative Assistant. I was impressed by his experience, acute legal mind, his quick grasp of any subject matter and his commitment to hard work. Indeed, having him as my Senior Legislative Aide was truly invaluable. And to top up his skills, he was also politically savvy. Some of the things you saw me doing in the Senate, it was because of people like him who helped me in doing a lot of underground work.

“Worthy of note, is the fact that, even though he was working with me in Abuja, he still kept in touch with his constituents back home. His politics has always been one of full identification with the grassroots. It was no surprise, therefore, that his first time of trying, he was elected as the Chairman of Council, and later on, State Assembly member and later on, appointed the Commissioner in several ministries in the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel. And now, a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Akwa Ibom South.

“He is a great achiever. Everywhere he has gone, he has always performed. In every office he has handled, he excelled. He has served in executive position. He has served in legislative position. And in all of them, he has excelled. In addition, on top of all that, he has found time to complete his doctorial thesis. He has a doctorate degree in law. He has author many books. He a very talented man of many sides. And I must say, I cannot imagine any other person better qualified, better prepared to serve as the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Senator Udoma Udoma submitted.