Onofiok Luke: One Endorsement too Many

By OtobongNsekpong

Outside the huge cost of organizing political rallies, gathering like the one of Saturday May 26, 2018 is quite necessary and important in deepening the roots of democracy in Nigeria. It afforded people the opportunity to meet and perhaps interact with their representatives most of whom will be too engaged with official duties for such informal meetings.

Standing under the scorching Sun at Uyo Township Stadium venue of the 2nd term endorsement rally in honour of Governor Udom Emmanuel by the people of Uyo Senatorial District, I felt a friendly tap behind and when turning around I saw a serving councilor in Etinan legislative council. He immediately handed to me a sticker with the bold picture of Rt. Hon (Barr) Onofiok Luke with the message declaring him as the preferred candidate for Etinan Federal constituency seat on the platform of PDP 2019.

A closer look at the purple colored sticker, I also discovered that it is sponsored by councilors from the 31 wards in the federal constituency.

To have powered the sticker with such strong message is significant in many ways. It shows that the aspiration of the Right Honorable Speaker has penetrated the entire federal constituency and has received open endorsement by councilors who represent the people at the grassroots.

The open support by the councilors indicates that such support has the backing of major stakeholders in the entire federal constituency. To support this argument is the fact that each of the councilor comes from one political structure or the other and their endorsement was not approved it would have amounted to disloyalty whereas loyalty to the structure is 100%.

The support by the Councilors shows that democracy has come to stay and it is deepening the roots day by day. Etinan federal constituency is already reaping the beautiful fruits of democracy such as free will to take decision without being guided by forces outside our control. This is not surprising as Barr Onofiok Luke represents that independence.

The support means that Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke has been able to inspire upcoming legislators in the federal constituency. He has inspired hope in them and has unknowingly set a standard that they will love to attain or surpassed in their legislative career.

This is coming on the heel of very many other endorsements of the Speaker’s aspiratio who is seen as the best for that seat in Abuja. Whether in the open or secret many constituents from the federal constituency declaring support and are mobilizing daily towards the actualization of his ambition.

It is clear that the people of Etinan Federal Constituency are very lucky to have a lawmaker of Honorable Onofiok Luke’s standing and pedigree. Having started his public life very early right from secondary school, he went on to lead the students of University of Uyo as the president of the Student Union Government. At the inception of Nigerian Youth Parliament he became the pioneer Speaker.

Since 2011 he has been the voice of the people of NsitUbuim state constituency where he has performed above expectations of all. He has seconded motions, moved some and sponsored bills that have become laws of AkwaIbom State and has briefed his constituents on very many occasions. (landing)

As a presiding officer of a state legislature, Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke is going to the National Assembly as an experienced (ranking) lawmaker member who will be strategically positioned, based on his towering political profile and academic excellence, to bring home dividends of democracy for the people. Needless to say that there is a high level of expectation from his representation as those from NsitIbom and Etinan are thrilled by the fact that the same man who broke records and made history in the empowerment of constituents will from 2019, be their representatives as well.

This explains why Etinan is where he has the strongest support base as no one wants to be left out in the glory of the later day.

Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke is well positioned to win the race coming from NsitUbuim that is yet to complete the eight years circle started by NsitIbom from 1999 to 2007. Etinan will complete eight years by 2019 whereas NsitUbuim had only represented the federal constituency once between 2011 and 2015. In an event where zoning becomes is the only criterion he is highly favoured to represent us in Abuja.