Over the years, there has always been a problem of representation when it comes to Oro. I stand to be corrected. Reason based on the fact that the seasoned sons and daughters of Oro have decided to sit on the fence, less careless about what is happening on the political spectrum of Oro leaving the mediocre, the necessary than unnecessary to take the space and attempt to build the walls of mediocrity through their half baked ideology and selfish aggrandizement.
Many letters have been written on the rebirth of Oro political arena, of those letters, there seems to be one challenge as to carefully understand how election engineering can produce a contemporary social, economic, and political knowledgeable sons and daughters of Oro on the positions of authority locally, State and Nationally. Viewed from the fact that a rundown of what attempted to place the people on the farce, was the assassination of effective representation by the unqualified individuals and groups with little or no understanding of the polity.
Let me say here that without any iota of ambiguity, with the entry of Barr. Mary Ewa in the race of representation, the fear of ‘who opens the book’ in the representation of Oron/Udung Uko State Constituency has vanished. Otherwise, it would have been another search for an acceptable and applauded son or daughter with force of character, penchant for truth, uncompromising, detestation of corruption, wholly committed to championing the cause of the constituents in the turbulent arena of Akwa Ibom politics.
The question is, why Mary Ewa? In 2005, to be precise, I attended and participated in the seminar that was organized by the Provident Organization where Barr. Mary Ewa presented a paper entitled “Legal Right and Political Participation of Women in Nigeria”. She cited Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the right of an individual and said,” There is no section in that chapter that reference is made to a man or a woman, instead we have words like any person, every person, a citizen of Nigeria, to citizen of Nigeria… This goes to show that men and women have equal rights before the law”. She challenge women to equipped themselves with skills, knowledge, moral and ethical character that will pronounced their dexterous prowess in all field of human endeavour, not allowing themselves to be seen as inferior and second class citizens, be frustrated and met with resistance in a male dominated structure.
We are glad, she does not only advocate the aforementioned, but over the years, has proven herself to be that seasoned daughter of Oro, respected by the brothers and calling to represent the good people of Oron/Udung Uko State Constituency.
There is no doubt that her dexterous ability opened the door of admission into the Pan Akwa Ibom platform with a mission to build a detribalized team that fosters Justice, equity and good governance, with vision to create a sustainable framework for political inclusion, social stability and economic growth within Akwa Ibom and beyond, The Ibom Patriots.
Barr. Mary Ewa education and exposure is a source of strength to Oron/Udung Uko constituents and the entire Oro at large. I don’t want to be carried by the illusion of a woman representation, because women’s abilities to exhibit political potential are not far-fetched. The tablet of history has shown that women have performed creditably well in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria.
Aside from these, the profile of this humble Barr. Mary Ewa spelled out her primary education in Lutheran Primary School, Igoli, Ogoja in Cross River State. She had her secondary education in the prestigious W.M Briston Secondary School, Gboko, in Benue State. Then after, proceeded to Calabar Polytechnic, Calabar, Cross River State where she obtained her Nigerian Certificate in Education. She studied Law and graduated with LLB at the University of Calabar, Cross River State and also acquires her Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and Masters in Public Administration.
She began life career as a civil servant and had served the state in different capacities as a classroom teacher, State Counselor in the Ministry of Justice. Barrister Mary Ewa had been a Chairperson to two Local Government Councils of Ukanafun and Uyo local government area respectively. She has served as: Director Legal, Law Reforms Commission; Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of Akwa Ibom State; Coordinator, Justice Intercession Fellowship, Ministry of Justice; Chairman, Defaulting Contractors Committee, Akwa Ibom State; Legal Adviser, Akwa Ibom State Youth Council; President of Business Profession Women (BPW); Permanent Secretary, etc.
Obviously, she will make a remarkable difference as a member representing Oron/Udung Uko in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
