By: Abasiama Umoh
In recent political history, the name Aniekan Umanah resonates to the ends of Abak/ Etim Ekpo/ Ika Federal Constituency, and that is on the heels of the practicality of his political ethos.
On Tuesday, June 11 2019, Elder Aniekan Umanah, Member Representing Abak/ Etim Ekpo/ Ika Federal Constituency, was sworn into the Green Chambers of the National Assembly, NASS. One year and few months down the line, his representation has been adjudged “unprecedented” by onlookers, political analysts and cynics alike, given his very unprecedented and robust relationship with constituents, in terms of accessibility, reliability and competence even as those virtues interact with social and economic empowerment of the people.
Similarly, from an adjudication standpoint, yours truly veered into fact findings and verifications. I sincerely had cause to engage a first hand beneficiary of Hon. Aniekan Umanah’s largesse and empowerment gesture – talking about, Mr. Eseme Essien, who was the PDP collattion centre agent for the 2019 elections in Abak. Mr. Essien submitted very sound, fundamental and hopeful responses, giving in the same vein very applaudable remarks on Hon. Aniekan Umanah.
“To be honest, Elder Aniekan Umanah has done extensively well, he has taken legislative representation to an entirely new pedestal. The kind of things that we have been reading on the pages of Newspapers about other people are the things he is replicating and bringing to the fore in Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency. We have never had it this good in a long while, Hon. Aniekan Umanah is sound in legislation, committed in oversight and magnanimous in representation. If he continues in this same spirit, which am sure he will, the Federal Constituency would have recorded jinx breaking representation for the first time in recent history. Aniekan Umanah is a man that matches words with actions. Before we went to town during campaigns, he did mapped out some agenda, he talked about massive empowerment of the youths, and I think that was what endeared him to the youths of the Federal Constituency who came out enmase to to support him.
Today, he is increasingly delivering on all his campaign and electioneering promises, because if we want to talk about his representation in the National Assembly, we have the first of its kind through his people oriented Motions and Bills. Such as, A Bill to elevate Technical College, Ikot Uko, Ika Local Government Area, to a higher institution of learning and a Bill for an act to establish a college of Aviation Technology in Akwa Ibom State to mention but a few.. Again, there are other things he is doing that does not come online and are not seen on the pages of Newspapers. Retrospectively, during the last JAMB examination, he bought forms for students as a medium of encouragement for them to advance their educational pursuit to University, Polytechnic and College of Education. He has advanced effort to provide unemployed graduates with job placement in state and federal parastatals. Recently, he took a toll in dolling out Agriculture Development funds for constituents to become engaged in not only subsistence farming but commercial production of farm produce for the purpose of producing products in large scale fit and ready for exportation.
Away from empowerment programmes, we now have in him a perfect representative, very erudite and articulate. The voice of Abak is loudly heard at the National, and we are proud of that. He is not missing in the game of legislation and representation.
Again going forward, he has proposed for an entrepreneurial training that would involve the training of youths on vocational and skills acquisition. A programme that would afford the youths the opportunity to stimulate and widen their vocational and entrepreneurial skills towards becoming sufficiently self sustaining and independent.
There are a lot of programmes in the offing going forward, but I think he wants to take on them one after the other until he gets to the possible realization and completion of his blueprint for the people of Abak / Etim Ekpo/ Ika Federal Constituency.
Being that he represents the three local government areas of Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika, if you look at his empowerment trajectory closely, you would find out that, it has been all inclusive, he does not discriminate, he has been able to carry everybody along.
More so, for me, having been a direct beneficiary of his empowerment gesture, which recently, he gave me a four wheel machine. Particularly, l do not call that a car, he gave me a Ford Edge Utility Vehicle, which for me, that does not go for a car, but a machine. Specifically, l thank him for the good gesture considering the times that we are in, the lockdown, the dwindling economy and paucity of resources occasioned by COVID – 19, he still stays true to his empowerment inclinations.
Remember, he came home and gave out palliatives to cushion the hash effect of the lockdown. For me, that was huge considering the fact that he had already let go his two months salaries to NASS in that regard.
So far, we are not disappointed, we are hopeful that more dividends of democracy are underway because he has been very focus.
Another beneficiary collaborated all what Mr. Eseme Essien averred by saying “Yes, it has been an eventful one year plus. Call it an eventful period with no dull moment, full of unprecedented activities despite seen and unseen vicissitudes. Those whose eyes can see beyond the immediate already know where Hon. Aniekan Umanah’s representation is headed, but those who are blinded by fear, self delusion, mischief, deliberate unbelief and outright hatred may never fathom where Hon. Umamah is taking Abak Federal Constituency to. Not even time and space will convince them to see any change in his representation”.
To Abak constituents whose hearts are pure, one year and a few months down the lane, Hon. Umanah has enforced their hope that tomorrow will be better. Constituents in this category have seen signs of effective representation in Hon. Aniekan Umanah’s youth empowerment and emancipation programmes, job stimulation, provision of financial assistance, political inclusiveness and his open door policies. They are already hopeful that better days are near and they are thankful to God for Aniekan Umanah and the effort he has engendered so far.
Unfortunately, to constituents whose hearts and minds have been polluted with the diarrhea of hatred, malevolence and spitefulness just because they never contemplated Hon. Aniekan Umanah’s victory, the one year plus is a waste. This category of constituents could be likened to the famous Biblical Thomas. To them doubting is fun. They are wired never to see anything good in what is good. They are universal doubters. It gives them orgasm because they can even doubt their own shadow and deeds if the opportunity presents itself. Remind them that, on political inclusiveness, Hon. Aniekan Umanah has given political appointment to many youths and still counting, they will question why it should be those people and not them.
I remember informing one of them who now resides in far away Benue state though claims to be very conversant with ongoings in the constituency, that on June 5, 2020, Hon. Aniekan Umanah gave appointments to a handful of youths in the constituency, to include, Nsima Umanah – Chief of Staff, Nsimene Ekpo – Protocol and Data Management, Charles Ekukinam – Inter Party relations, Udeme Adaka – Logistics, Unyime Ekpo – Technical and Graphics Assistant, Sixtus Tom – Media and Public Affairs, Michael Hanson, Ubong Isonguyo, Lawrence Enoidem, Ekerette Benson and Solomon Udo, who had since resumed work as Special Assistants to the Honourable Member. To them, Hon. Aniekan Umanah is still yet to commence representation. This also could be likened to the Jewish people in the Bible who are still waiting and hoping for the coming of the Messiah. Meanwhile, the Messiah is here. Borrowing a leave from this Biblical example, it is my pleasure to announce to them that the Messiah of Abak Federal Constituency is here.
Going forward, let me refresh our memories with Hon. Aniekan Umanah’s action plans for the people of Abak Federal Constituency. Hon. Umamah has constantly reiterated his action plans to include, effective representation, political integration and recognition, senior citizens support, functional constituency office, youth ICT hub, constituency online, radio and television programmes, education support, constituency briefing and constituents empowerment, empowerment hub with overwhelming emphasis on servant leadership.
On human empowerment, his gaze is fixed on wealth creation, healthcare support, talent hunt and creativity support, annual youths and women Congresses, local and international scholarships, student bursaries and grants, skills acquisition and startup capitals and stakeholders engagement.
A careful analysis of the above action plans in line with deliverables on ground can be convincing that Hon. Aniekan Umanah’s eyes are keenly fixed on the ball. So, it does not matter what naysayers and rabid wailing wailers who have remained fixated on what they either lost or have failed to gain think about on where Hon. Aniekan Umanah is headed. What is important is that huge gains have been recorded one year and two months down the road, and more gains will be recorded as months succeed months and those who have eyes to see clearly such gains will be happy that it is not by accident that his campaign train was christened Divine Restoration, that the dignity of Abak Federal Constituency have been restored.
Recently, l have read some post online from those who still delude themselves about the achievements of Hon. Aniekan Umanah, even when the man himself replied back recently that “those whose current job is to run pernicious blackmail against me should look forward to their usual failure”, still, those whose stalk in trade is to run down peoples achievement are still marketing their mischievousness.
The goodnews remains that Hon. Aniekan Umanah has not reneged, he has not lost focus, he knows where the journey to deliver on his mandate is headed. He understands clearly where the effective representation journey is taking him and the good people of Abak Federal Constituency to. Surely and steadily, he has kept his eyes on the ball regardless of blackmail, propaganda, slander and uncountable mischievous demeanor political traducers deploy to derail the journey.
He knows the journey is promising, a year plus gone by, the foundation of effective representation has not only been laid, but the people of Abak Federal Constituency are beholding the tangible things that go side by side with effective representation. What we see today as gains after one year plus are simply the result of strategic thinking on what constitute good and effective representation which Hon. Aniekan Umanah symbolizes and irrevocably poised to vigorously pursue as the coming years will show.
Hence, one must be blind not to see that Hon. Aniekan Umanah’s insightful and pragmatic representation blends with his time tested public sector experience that will ultimately lead to the translation of the intangibles to tangibles in Abak Federal Constituency.
Within the last one year and two months, Hon. Aniekan Umanah’s indelible imprints and achievements tower to high heavens in terms of oversight, legislation and representation.
From hosting of the first ever Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika Federal Constituency stakeholders Consultative Forum, donation of a new Ford Car to constituent, Provision of end of year Christmas largesse, Construction and completion of village Hall and market stores in Iwukem, Massive recommendation of constituents for state and federal jobs, Provision of more than 15 statutory and ad hoc employment to constituents, Provision of financial support to constituents on a need to need basis, Donation of over 1500 face masks to cushion community spread of COVID -19 in Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika, Restoration of power supply in Offot village by repairing transformers across the villages, Partnering with USAID on Healthcare development initiative in Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika, Donation of palliatives worth 10M to Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika to cushion the hash effect of the lockdown occasioned by COVID – 19, Donation of two months salaries to Federal Government in support of the fight against COVID -19, Provision of over 100 Free JAMB forms to students in the federal constituency, to sponsoring Motions and Bills – A Bill for the Establishment of Federal College of Education in Ika; A Bill for the Establishment of Federal College of Aviation in Uyo; A Bill to amend the Nigerian Defense Academy Act for multiple campuses which has passed first reading, among others.
Including, A Motion to end the lingering boundary dispute between Ikot Udo village in Ika Local Government Area and Okirika Obu in Abia states; Motion for the protection of Nigerians abroad; Motion for Federal Government’s intervention on Ecological Control System in Abak and A Motion to investigate the 3.4B failed solar powered project by federal government which the House of Representatives have constituted an ad hoc committee to carry out investigations.
Among other things, he has also advocated for the establishment of COVID -19 test centers across the States in the nation; Advocated for government MDAs to render timely accounts to federal government; Advocated for the revitalization of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR; Advocated for federal government to re – award Calabar – Itu High Way as well as East West Road and Advocated for the Correction of the Poor and Shabby Construction of Abak-Ikot Abasi Road Project.
Obviously, in his one year and two months in office, Hon. Aniekan Umanah has reenergised and redefined representation. Those who pretend not to know that Hon. Aniekan Umanah has achieved tremendous feats because of their bias inclination may never reckon with anything good about him even if they are the direct beneficiaries of his largesse.
Suffice it to say that, never in the history of Abak Federal Constituency has there existed such focused and robust representation as exemplified by Hon. Aniekan Umanah, he is visibly trading on the heels of practical politics.
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