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| AKHA SPEAKER, BARR. LUKE |
By Gloria Ekong
Destiny as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, is something to which a person or thing is destined, a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power. Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke romance with destiny cannot be separated from his hardwork, and experience. Destiny has pushed and guided him through the thin and thick of Akwa Ibom politics and Nigeria as a whole.
From being a legislative aide to late Hon. Ernest Ukochio who represented Ibeno/Esit Eket State constituency in the 3rd Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly, to becoming an elected member representing Nsit Ubium State constituency in the 5th Assembly, and now Speaker of the 6th Assembly, Onofiok Luke is indeed destined for greatness.
His boldness, principles and power of oratory have earned him the respect and admiration of both the young and the elderly within and outside Akwa Ibom State. From his days as the president student union Government of the university of uyo,to his position as a personal Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom state on protocol matters, as well as the pioneer Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, a National Leadership and mentoring platform coordinated by the federal ministry of youth and the National Assembly.
To further demonstrate his resolve to the lead the youths in the path of legislation, he initiated (TOLLIP), a stipendiary internship to train youths on legislative basics, entrepreneurship, volunteering, conflicts resolution and community development. As Speaker Nigeria Youth Parliament, he was among those courageous youths that made the adoption and execution of the national youth employment action plan ( NAYEAP),possible.
Looking at his representation so far at the State house of Assembly, it is very visible to see that his people are counting gains of his effective representation. Till date, he is still putting smiles on the faces of his constituents, through his two frontline schemes that he initiated in 2012, which are the CONSTITUENCY TRANSPORT SCHEME (CTS) and the giving of SEED FUND for Business Start-up (SFBS) to small scale business owners.
Onofiok Luke as a lawmaker, has 13 bills to his name as Lead sponsor, some of which are: A bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Akwa Ibom State Social Housing scheme and the establishment of an agency to manage the scheme. A bill for a law to establish the state health insurance scheme. A bill for a law to provide for Akwa Ibom state primary healthcare development agency and for matters connected therewith. A bill for the protection to the physically challenged persons in our society against all forms of abuse and discrimination,among others.
These are laws that have far reaching positive bearings on the lives of Akwa Ibom people. Hence, the role of the legislature, whose cardinal duty is to make laws for the generality of the people still remains his passion, as he aspires to represent Etinan Federal Constituency, at the National Assembly in 2019.
On 3rd of October, 2018, the Peoples Democratic Party, the political party he is contesting the House of Representative seat for Etinan federal Constituency, with the overwhelming support of the party's delegates from the three local government areas of Etinan, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, that makes up the Federal Constituency, nominated him as the flag bearer of the party for 2019 election. It can easily be adduced that Barr. Onofiok Luke is a round peg in a round hole. Absolutely fit to represent Etinan federal Constituency at the National Assembly.
There is no doubt that he will replicate his excellent expertise in terms of lawmaking, oversight, and the effective representation he is known for, since he was first elected into the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in 2011 to represent Nsit Ubium state constituency.
Our Democratic experience has produced leaders of special attributes, men of courage, nationalist heroes, who bravely challenged the values of the existing order to make the world a better place. Onofiok Luke falls within this class of men. His achievements as a charismatic leader speak volume. He is a bridge builder. He is an amiable personality with the voice, experience, the Grace to speak and attract development to Etinan federal Constituency, and Akwa Ibom state from the National Assembly come 2019.
The office of the Nigerian youth Parliament is at the National Assembly, where Barr. Onofiok Luke presided over youth matters as the pioneer speaker of the Nigerian youth Parliament. In 2019, he will be elected to return to the National complex to speak, this time, for the people of Etinan federal Constituency, Akwa Ibom state and Nigeria as a whole.
According to former Cuban Leader, Fidel Castro, "Men do not shape destiny, destiny produces the man for the hour".
Onofiok Luke is the MAN of the hour for Etinan federal Constituency in 2019. An enigma, an epitome of intelligence, a man who is always ready to serve. The pendulum of destiny has swung in his favour. This is indeed the direction of the tidal wave of destiny.
Indeed destiny beckons on Onofiok Luke.
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