OBA’s Compelling Signatures

By Anny Michaels

One signature that has defined Akwa Ibom most colourful, charismatic, progressive and broad minded politician - Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert (OBA)  - is his perchance for adding value to lives. This clearly forms the nexus of his thoughts and one that prompts him to ensure that in whatever capacity God has used him to serve humanity he leaves enduring legacies that make people to see him as a true representative . 

Akwa Ibom people's quest for him to serve them come 2023, despite and inspite of intrigues associated with politics is therefore not very surprising because service to the people has become his signature.  I was privileged to criss-cross all the 31 LGAs of Akwa Ibom State with him consulting the people of the State of his Governorship aspiration. That afforded me an opportunity for close discussions with the masses on the love and acceptance of the man they earnestly want to serve them as Governor come 2923.

A typical moment with OBA is not just inspiring but rewarding,  considering his depth of  knowledge. He understands that mental empowerment is the greatest asset for a transformational life, perhaps the very reason he has set an unprecedented record of empowering Akwa Ibom sons and daughters academically and more through his all-expense-scholarship scheme, that has seen 481 in public universities.

This, from my survey, is very peculiar of the enigmatic Senator OBA because what people call scholarship in this clime is giving of a percentage of school fees to such beneficiaries, while they are expected to raise the balance. But OBA, the real solution provider, has corrected all that. Today, the beneficiaries of his scholarship programme have every cause to focus on their academics, without the stress  of hustling for fees.

Away from this huge financial commitment to human capacity, the ebullient Akwa  Ibom Governorship hopeful has supported another 450 students, different from the scholarship beneficiaries,  with financial grants as a consolidation to boost excellence, alleviate poverty and human capacity. Hence, OBA is worth celebrating in a clime were involvement in politics could mean thinking more of self than the people. Truly, he has decided to think outside the box, deliberately changing narratives and impacting lives .

Give it to him as regards taking the welfare of his people personal.  That is why, when some Akwa Ibom people come to him anytime he is in town from legislative engagements, he addresses their emerging challenges,  pragmatically. Sustaining a close ties with the people is one of his indelible signatures. 

On record is the fact that Senator OBA, as he is fondly called gave 500 randomly selected widows cash reliefs that has assisted them venture into small-scale businesses inorder to sustain their families .

Another of his signatures that strikes me is that he is “a cheerful giver”  - his quality of gifts ranging from brand new cars, mini-buses , tricycles, block moulding machines , sewing machines, generators, fish drying equipment and more. OBA has donated over 150 quality cars to people Akwa Ibomites, since he became a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A man who gives out more than half of his salary monthly to salvage the survival of his constituents is worth celebrating. 

OBA has done more road projects than some governments. That is in addition to numerous boreholes/water schemes, provision of modern stalls and conveniences in some markets across the nine LGAs that make up Akwa Ibom North East.

Notably is the fact that he a grassroots politician who is deeply concerned about people at that level, no wonder thousands have so far benefitted from his various vocational trainings and start-up grants. That us, beside partnering with SMEDAN, NDE, and Border Community Commission to touch the people positively. 

In the last few years, OBA has intervened at various fronts for Akwa Ibom people. Such interventions include medicals, fees payment for children of widows and orphans (unreported in the media), purchase of JAMB forms for constituents,  and other social supports considered too inconsequential to be enumerated as achievements.

Another of OBA’s signatures is that he tajes his assigned duties with utmost seriousness and commitment. For instance, he is a delight to watch during robust legislative engagements in the Nigerian Senate. 

So far,  he has several bills and motions to his credit including the Gas flaring and Prohibition bill. His ability to put an end to the over three decades   rift between NNPC/ Chevron in the Excravous liquid to Gas project that has now yielded billions of dollars to the Federal Government, is a testament to his dedication to his job. To his credit and those of some of his colleagues, Nigeria now has a Petroleum Industry Act!

The uncanny move by the  people's preferred to restore Mr Celestine Obot Williams from Ini LGA back to the Nigerian Police after 21 years of  wrongful dismissal, with emoluments paid, aside from the car he bought for him and as well as Mr Thompson Ntia from Mkpat Enin LGA, who was wrongfully dismissed from Ministry if Foreign Affairs, for exposing curruption remains remarkable.

OBA, Akwa Ibom’s incoming Governor is not just a graduate of Harvard Business School, USA, he also holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is a  graduate of Economics from the University of Uyo and attended the famous St Patrick's College, Ikot Ansa, Calabar.

Like Shakespeare wrote in one of his classic plays - Macbeth: ''Some are born great while others have greatness thrust on them''. However you weigh him, OBA is a leader with unique signature imprints, which Akwa Ibom needs in 2023 because of their potential impacts.