By Ubong David
Self importance and stubborn pride destroy fellowship faster than anything else. Pride builds walls between people; humility builds bridges. Humility is the oil that smoothes and soothes relationships. That's why the Bible says, ''Clothes yourself with humility toward one another.'' The proper dress for fellowship is a humble attitude.
The emergence of Hon. Elder Aniekan Uko as the Speaker of 6th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has really astonished many and till date many tongues are still wagging for a first timer to suddenly emerged as Speaker while other ranking members from his Senatorial District which the position was zoned to were not elected instead. Yes, it is something to ponder on but we must not always forget the God's factor in every situation. If God only used perfect people, nothing would ever get done. The Bible is filled with many examples of how God loves to use imperfect, ordinary people to do extraodinary things inspite of their weakness. That God uses imperfect people to accomplish His purposes is encouraging news for all of us that He can use anybody to perfect His plan. Let me highlight some of those examples as found in the Bible.
A limitation can act as a governor to keep us from going too fast and running ahead of God. When
Gideon recruited an army of 32,000 to fight the Midianites, God whittled it down to just 300, making the odds 450 to 1 as they went out to fight 135,000 enemy troops. It appeared to be a recipe for diaster, but God did it so that Israel would know it was God's power and not their own strength that saved them. The great missionary Hudson Taylor said, ''All God's giants were weak people.'' Moses weakness was his temper. It caused him to murder an Egyptian, strike the rock he was supposed to speak to, and break the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Yet God transformed Moses into the humblest man on earth.
Gideon's weakness was low self-esteem and deep insecurities, but God transformed him into a mighty man of valour. Abraham's weakness was fear and he claimed his wife was his sister to protect himself but God transformed Abraham into the father of those who have faith. Impulsive weak-willed Peter became a rock, the adulterer David became a warrior and Sampson became a pillar of strength by destroying a strong building killings thousands of people when his power was taken away by the cutting of his hair. What about Jephthah, Samuel and countless examples in the Bible, their weakness was turned to strength. God specializes in turning weaknesses into strength and that was the case with Hon. Elder Aniekan Uko.
When I reacted on his emergence as the Speaker as an act of God, I was rebuked and seen as being blasphemous. Nothing is far from the truth, if God was not involved in his emergence, it is either Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke or Hon. Barr. Ime Okon. I earlier tipped Hon. Luke representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency ahead of Hon. Okon and on that thread, I gave an analysis of my submission. I wasn't alone on this as majority of Akwa Ibom people also rooted for him especially the youth population in solidarity of their own. I recalled vividly at the breaking of Fasting and Prayer at Government Banquet Hall, some youth who were present at the event has already addressed Hon. Luke as ''My Speaker to be.'' That was much expected because as human, the thinking was that the pendulum is swinging to his direction. I also recalled an article in favour of him that generated an argument on facebook and other posts from individuals and groups still in his favour as the incoming Speaker of the Assembly. On the eve of the election, I received about 53 inbox messages and several calls across the country requesting to know who will emerged the Speaker. One of such enquiries came from the Chairperson of 1.2 billion youth in the 53 Commonwealth nations from UK requesting me to update him on the proceedings. When the pressure was much, I put off my phone.
When I earlier stepped into the premises of the State House of Assembly, thousands of youth were trouping in across the state and am convinced that majority came in solidarity with Hon. Luke, all pointing to the fact that they want him to assume that exalted position in the state. That was the yearning of majority but the scripture says in the book of Isaiah 55:8-10, ''For my thought are not your thought, neither are your ways my ways, declare the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thought than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give SEED TO THE SOWER and BREAD TO THE EATER; So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.'' From that passage of the scripture, you can see the workings of the word of God. The phrase ''give seed to the sower and bread to the eater'' is something to ponder on.
I may not know Hon. Elder Aniekan Uko very deeply but the few times we met, he is a man with exceptional pleasing disposition. With his smile, you can cash a cheque in the bank. If you doubt it, just have an encounter with him. I think his official portrait speak volume. Might be that is his unique selling point. But as a distance admirer, he is friendly and accommodating. I recalled at his Thanksgiving Service and Dedication of his second son, AmekiidAbasi, how he received his guests at his residence and attended to every groups and organizations that visited was amazing. He loves the people and the people loves him.
There is this wise saying that ''First impression is lasting impression,'' on the basis of my first encounter with him, I can submit that Hon. Aniekan Uko is a man of the people. His colleagues in the entertainment industry, Moses Eskor has already attested to this fact even before he was elected member for Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency. His investment in young people through his entertainment outfit, the Magic Finger has single him out as a man that think beyond himself but has passion for humanitarian services of his people. No wonder when the chips were down, he was highly favoured among his colleagues. His ascension to the speakership position of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is a divine plan and an act of God and should not be seen from a different perspective. His emergence has broken the vicious of limitations that we do placed on ourselves based on our weaknesses. He has set a precedent that God can use anybody to fulfill His purposes. I must salute the courageous and patriotic position taken by Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke to stand by him and give him the necessary support to succeed in his new office. That is the character of a real politician by displaying such spirit of sportmanship. We must learn from his example.
Self importance and stubborn pride destroy fellowship faster than anything else. Pride builds walls between people; humility builds bridges. Humility is the oil that smoothes and soothes relationships. That's why the Bible says, ''Clothes yourself with humility toward one another.'' The proper dress for fellowship is a humble attitude.
The emergence of Hon. Elder Aniekan Uko as the Speaker of 6th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has really astonished many and till date many tongues are still wagging for a first timer to suddenly emerged as Speaker while other ranking members from his Senatorial District which the position was zoned to were not elected instead. Yes, it is something to ponder on but we must not always forget the God's factor in every situation. If God only used perfect people, nothing would ever get done. The Bible is filled with many examples of how God loves to use imperfect, ordinary people to do extraodinary things inspite of their weakness. That God uses imperfect people to accomplish His purposes is encouraging news for all of us that He can use anybody to perfect His plan. Let me highlight some of those examples as found in the Bible.
A limitation can act as a governor to keep us from going too fast and running ahead of God. When
Gideon recruited an army of 32,000 to fight the Midianites, God whittled it down to just 300, making the odds 450 to 1 as they went out to fight 135,000 enemy troops. It appeared to be a recipe for diaster, but God did it so that Israel would know it was God's power and not their own strength that saved them. The great missionary Hudson Taylor said, ''All God's giants were weak people.'' Moses weakness was his temper. It caused him to murder an Egyptian, strike the rock he was supposed to speak to, and break the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Yet God transformed Moses into the humblest man on earth.
Gideon's weakness was low self-esteem and deep insecurities, but God transformed him into a mighty man of valour. Abraham's weakness was fear and he claimed his wife was his sister to protect himself but God transformed Abraham into the father of those who have faith. Impulsive weak-willed Peter became a rock, the adulterer David became a warrior and Sampson became a pillar of strength by destroying a strong building killings thousands of people when his power was taken away by the cutting of his hair. What about Jephthah, Samuel and countless examples in the Bible, their weakness was turned to strength. God specializes in turning weaknesses into strength and that was the case with Hon. Elder Aniekan Uko.
When I reacted on his emergence as the Speaker as an act of God, I was rebuked and seen as being blasphemous. Nothing is far from the truth, if God was not involved in his emergence, it is either Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke or Hon. Barr. Ime Okon. I earlier tipped Hon. Luke representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency ahead of Hon. Okon and on that thread, I gave an analysis of my submission. I wasn't alone on this as majority of Akwa Ibom people also rooted for him especially the youth population in solidarity of their own. I recalled vividly at the breaking of Fasting and Prayer at Government Banquet Hall, some youth who were present at the event has already addressed Hon. Luke as ''My Speaker to be.'' That was much expected because as human, the thinking was that the pendulum is swinging to his direction. I also recalled an article in favour of him that generated an argument on facebook and other posts from individuals and groups still in his favour as the incoming Speaker of the Assembly. On the eve of the election, I received about 53 inbox messages and several calls across the country requesting to know who will emerged the Speaker. One of such enquiries came from the Chairperson of 1.2 billion youth in the 53 Commonwealth nations from UK requesting me to update him on the proceedings. When the pressure was much, I put off my phone.
When I earlier stepped into the premises of the State House of Assembly, thousands of youth were trouping in across the state and am convinced that majority came in solidarity with Hon. Luke, all pointing to the fact that they want him to assume that exalted position in the state. That was the yearning of majority but the scripture says in the book of Isaiah 55:8-10, ''For my thought are not your thought, neither are your ways my ways, declare the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thought than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give SEED TO THE SOWER and BREAD TO THE EATER; So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.'' From that passage of the scripture, you can see the workings of the word of God. The phrase ''give seed to the sower and bread to the eater'' is something to ponder on.
I may not know Hon. Elder Aniekan Uko very deeply but the few times we met, he is a man with exceptional pleasing disposition. With his smile, you can cash a cheque in the bank. If you doubt it, just have an encounter with him. I think his official portrait speak volume. Might be that is his unique selling point. But as a distance admirer, he is friendly and accommodating. I recalled at his Thanksgiving Service and Dedication of his second son, AmekiidAbasi, how he received his guests at his residence and attended to every groups and organizations that visited was amazing. He loves the people and the people loves him.
There is this wise saying that ''First impression is lasting impression,'' on the basis of my first encounter with him, I can submit that Hon. Aniekan Uko is a man of the people. His colleagues in the entertainment industry, Moses Eskor has already attested to this fact even before he was elected member for Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency. His investment in young people through his entertainment outfit, the Magic Finger has single him out as a man that think beyond himself but has passion for humanitarian services of his people. No wonder when the chips were down, he was highly favoured among his colleagues. His ascension to the speakership position of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is a divine plan and an act of God and should not be seen from a different perspective. His emergence has broken the vicious of limitations that we do placed on ourselves based on our weaknesses. He has set a precedent that God can use anybody to fulfill His purposes. I must salute the courageous and patriotic position taken by Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke to stand by him and give him the necessary support to succeed in his new office. That is the character of a real politician by displaying such spirit of sportmanship. We must learn from his example.
With Hon.
Aniekan Uko on the leadership of Akwa Ibom Legislature, I am very
convinced that they will give the government of Mr. Udom Emmanuel all
the legislative support to deliver on his promises. To this end, I once
again congratulate Hon. Elder Aniekan Uko and his colleagues for a
peaceful election of the House leadership and urge them to use their
good offices to make laws that will have positive impact on the lives of
Akwa Ibom people. They should run an open policy that will align with
the yearnings of Akwa Ibom people. They should carry out their oversight
function with the probity that their offices demanded. By so doing, the
people of Akwa Ibom State will have confidence in them that truly the
House belongs to the people. I wish them well.
BELOW ARE PICTURES OF RT. HON. ELDER ANIEKAN UKO INAUGURATION AS SPEAKER OF AKWA IBOM STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
BELOW ARE PICTURES OF RT. HON. ELDER ANIEKAN UKO INAUGURATION AS SPEAKER OF AKWA IBOM STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
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| New Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko taking Oath of Office |
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| Behold the new Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Aniekan Uko on resumption of duty |
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| Rt. Hon. Elder Aniekan Uko with his political leader, Hon. Uwem Ita Etuk and wife Mrs. Ememobong Aniekan Uko |
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| Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko and Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke |
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