Akwa Ibom Speaker, Onofiok Luke Returns Power to the People.
By Aniekan Udofia
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for Etinan Federal Constituency held on 3 October 2018 at the Etinan Local Government Council Secretariat produced several amazing moments as the Rt Honourable Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Mr Onofiok Luke was elected to fly the flag of the party in the 2019 General Elections.
Mr Luke arrived the venue of the primaries to a rousing welcome as the people rolled out the drums to celebrate a man who has become the epitome of their hopes and aspirations of a better life and quality dividend of representation .A man who in every grace is like them and will not allow his current position to detach him from the people at the grassroots.
Expectedly Mr Onofiok Luke joined the people in beating the drums and singing to glorify God his creator in whom he has found AMAZING GRACE, a fulcrum on which his political campaign has rode on. To the delight of the people, Luke came down to their level with his security details knowing very well that their principal does not discriminate any man, allowed the people to surround the jubilant Speaker who churned out songs after songs.
The popularity of Mr Onofiok Luke had made the primaries a mere formality as his opponent , the incumbent Member Representing Etinan Federal Constituency Mr Sam Ikon had already stepped down , paving way for Mr Luke to emerge as a Consensus Candidate of the Federal Constituency.
At the end of voting, Mr Luke polled 323 votes while Mr Sam Ikon polled 31 votes for Mr Speaker to emerge winner. An elated man of the people expressed gratitude to the teeming crowd that had come out to witness the primaries . In his words " I say a big thank you to the leadership of Etinan Federal Constituency for deeming me fit to fly the flag of the party to go to the House of Representatives .
Let me thank you supporters men and women, the youth who have come out in their large number to give me support and give the party the support . We are a peaceful people that is why we have concluded our primaries, no soul is lost. We are not contesting elections on the blood of anyone and God who has seen how peaceful we are has coordinated everything.
Let me thank the youth of the PDP for being peaceful. This is because your leader the Governor is a peaceful man .Because of his peaceful disposition that is why we have been able to have a rancour free primaries , we've been able to have a strife free primaries. So I want to urge you to please remain peaceful." Mr Luke told the people that their welfare is paramount to the current administration.
The PDP Standard Bearer for Etinan Federal Constituency said that his party in the State trust in only God to achieve victory at the poll against their opponents who say they trust in Federal might. He said" the people that are running against us have not said we are going to win they say we have "Federal Might" but we have God almighty. To show you that they don't have people on ground, if they have people on ground to give them votes, they would not be talking about Federal Might but tell them that we say so that with God on our side we will resist their Federal Might. " He added that of all the people who have come out to govern Akwa Ibom State , Mr Udom Emmanuel has the best heart for the State.
The primaries was full of fanfare as a tireless Onofiok Luke drummed and sang with the people. The people could not hide their affection for the Speaker. A young man who stood perplexed managed to say " Chai se Speaker na a di ba me nyin, ibioto owo akama ke akamba iti eh" meaning look at how a Speaker came to be with us nothing minding the exalted office he holds. Mr Luke had on an occasion while speaking, said he is the original Showboy and this he demonstrated in Etinan.
The PDP House of Representatives primaries may have come and gone but the memories created in Etinan Local Government Council Headquarters by Mr Onofiok Luke will echo for a longtime. Mr Luke has clearly returned the power to rule to the people. He has demystified the office the Speaker to demonstrate to the people that their representative is their voice and can hear them anytime breaking protocols associated with the office.
Etinan Federal Constituents are more hopeful that a man with a voice, experience and a heart that cares has come to them. Many will only look forward to better days ahead when Mr Onofiok Luke speaks for them in the Green Chambers of the Legislature.
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