The Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District Dr. (Barr.) Ekong Sampson is said to be receiving unprecedented applauds from several socio – political groups and student associations across the state for his performance so far in the Senate and the mature manner he is handling the political upheavals in his Local Government Area.
This is sequel to the growing solidarity visits and press releases by different socio-political and professional groups which have poured encomiums on the Senator on regular basis.
Our reporter who is monitoring activities in Mkpat Enin since the controversial declaration of Prof. Eno Ibanga as the ‘political leader’ in the area said several groups have declared their support for the position taken by the Senator in respect of the political leadership issue. One of the groups, Ibiaku Peoples Forum in a communique’ signed by the elders and youths of Ibiaku Clan recently commended Senator Ekong Sampson for his sense of probity and positive impacts which he has made in Mkpat Enin political landscape over the past two decades.
The group praised Senator Sampson for impacting positively on the lives of his people on regular basis and promised to stand by him in his quest for more amplified development in the area.
The group however condemned Prof. Eno. Ibanga for creating serious security infractions among the people of Mkpat Enin through his inordinate ambition.
The group wondered how Prof. Eno Ibanga, who adventured into politics through appointment about 36 months ago, would proclaim himself the political leader in a local government area where people who have stood for several elections abound. More worrisome according to the communique, is the fact that Senator Ekong Sampson, a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, being the highest political office holder in the Senatorial District, was neither briefed nor involved in the process, not even the State and Chapter Party Officials or key political chieftains from the area were carried along in the controversial appointment; a situation the communique decried and rejected vehemently as unacceptable to Ibiaku Clan people.
The Communiqué warned the erring commissioner to be cautious of his actions to avoid breaching the already fragile peace in the area and causing disunity among Peoples Democratic Party faithful in the local government area.
In a similar development, Ikoa Ibom Grassroots Assembly, one of the foremost socio-political groups in Mkpat Enin has thrown it’s weight behind Senator Ekong Sampson’s stance on the political leadership issue which is predicated on the need to respect the subsisting political leader of Mkpat Enin, Chief Richard Umoren popularly known as Chief Tractor Umoren.
The group in a communique dated 30th August, 2023 and signed by major stakeholders across Ikoa Ibom Clan, expressed serious concern about the desperateness of Prof. Eno Ibanga and his cohorts over the political leadership issue warning of dire consequences if the situation was not checked. The group said rather than waste energy on such fruitless ambition, the commissioner should channel his energy towards ensuring that major roads in Mkpat Enin especially Ibekwe-Ikot Akpaden road which the group described as a nightmare, should be rehabilitated to aid economic development in the area.
The Communique however commended Senator Ekong Sampson for his love for the people in Eket Senatorial District as emboldened by his developmental effort for the area saying, his constant plea for a peaceful co-existence among the people in his constituency in particular and the state in general represent a mark of statesmanship and patriotic gestures for his people.
In another development, the National Association of Mkpat Enin Students (NAMES) Worldwide, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic Chapter has also applauded Senator Ekong Sampson for his achievement in Mkpat Enin in particular and Eket Senatorial District in general since adventuring into politics, describing his political profile as laudable.
The commendations were contained in the association 10 points resolutions issued at the end of it’s congress held recently at the State Polytechnic Auditorium, Ikot Osurua.
The student’s body in a unanimous adoption noted with delight the leadership qualities of Senator Ekong Sampson which they believe have metamorphosed into several economic developments enjoyed in Mkpat Enin local government area today.
The students cited key projects such as Barr. Ekong Sampson Unity Hall, the first of it’s kind in the state, Excellent Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Unya, believed to be among the best in the state, which he built, furnished with up-to-date facilities and donated to government. Facilitation of the building of Health Centre at Odoroikot Community in Mkpat Enin local government area, award of scholarships to vulnerable families across the Senatorial District and several empowerment and intervention projects too numerous to mention in the Senatorial District.
The students described the Senator as a man for all season and urged him to remain steadfast as always, especially as he gets into the highest level of legislative activities in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They resolved to honour Senator Ekong Sampson in a date to be announced in due course for his ebullient lifestyle saying, he has carved a niche for himself following his sound leadership qualities which they said have propelled him to political stardom.
It is on record that Senator Ekong Sampson has enjoyed massive support from his people in Mkpat Enin and is well admired beyond the frontiers of Akwa Ibom State for his diligence and creative mindedness in service.
He has been commended at several fora for evolving durable socio-political matrix in which vast majority of his people are relying upon today for sustenance.
Meanwhile, the amiable Senator has promised to use his wealth of experience and membership of key Committees in the Senate to impact more on the lives of the people in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District and beyond.
The Senator said this during his first briefing at Barr. Ekong Sampson Unity Hall, Mkpat Enin Council held recently.
Senator Ekong Sampson said during the occasion that his position as the Vice Chairman of Senate Committees on FCT and Education (Basic and Secondary), and membership of the Committees on NDDC, Custom and Employment coupled with his verse experience in legislative activities, will afford him the opportunity in the 10th Senate to add value to the quality of legislation made by the Upper Chamber.
As at the time of filing this report, Senator Ekong Sampson is said to have made a case on the floor of the Senate on the need to re-instate an employee in his constituency whose appointment was wrongfully terminated by his employers. The motion is said to have received overwhelming acceptability and has since been referred to the appropriate Committee for further legislative action.
He urged Akwa Ibom people to eschew divisive politics and close ranks with the state governor, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno to ensure peace and good governance in the state assuring that, the governor means well as already seen in his burning zeal for service and achievement recorded so far in his first 100 days in office.
