Will Sunny Ibuot Accept The Representation Of Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency?
By
UbongAbasi Ise
“The House of Representatives is, and
was intended to be, the most representative element of our government” – Roger Davidson & Walker Oleszek. (Congress And Its Members, 2000)
Ikot Ekpene is one geo-political
arrangement that is historically rich with local governance and intriguing grassroot
experience. Of course in 1951, the area of Ikot Ekpene which then spanned the
present day Essien Udim, Ikot Ekpene and Obot Akara local government areas, was
the first geopolitical site the British colonial government experimented local
government administration in Nigeria. Irrespective of the fact that Essien Udim
was carved out from Ikot Ekpene local government area on May 3, 1989 by General
Ibrahim Babangida administration, followed by the creation of Obot Akara local
government area on 4th of December 1996 by the late General Sani Abacha, the
constituents of former Ikot Ekpene still weave their socio-economic and political
developments together in the present democratic setup in line with their
shared, common historical experience. Today, Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency,
comprising of Essien Udim, Ikot Ekpene and Obot Akara local government areas,
is a cohesive political union and would, probably, not enamour to be rendered a
featherweight and be relegated to the bottom of grassroot development and
legislative affairs in the country given its historical pedigree.
As 2019 general
elections are on the horizon, all Ikot Ekpene constituents need to do is to
reclaim its rightful spot at the forefront of national legislature, and they
would only achieve this by ensuring that a man who shares in their pride and
pulse is given a seat at the Green Chambers of the National Assembly. They need
to give a nod to an individual whose unruffled track-record proves him to be an
agent of local interest, not a representative of self-interest. They need a
representative who must have some capacity for relationships and strong acumen
to interpret and articulate their aspirations at the lower chamber of the
national legislature. To add to this, their House of Representatives member should
not be the one that stray too much from popular opinion. He should have, in
accordance with the words of James Madison, the former US president, “an
immediate dependence on, and intimate sympathy with the people.” Given the
foregoing, Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency would need to use 2019 general
elections to produce a lawmaker whose heart would beat in sync with the
collective pulse of the people.
There is
information making the rounds that some youths, women and other socio-political
stakeholders in Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, have identified Pastor Sunny
Ibuot as a right man to pilot the affairs of the constituency come 2019. If
this is anything to go by, then it is the nature’s way of selecting characters
for service to humanity. Indeed, nature would always adjure individuals with
alluring traits to pick up certain mandate for the progress of humankind.
Born in 1961 to
the family of Chief Ekanem Ibuot of Ibong Ikot Akan, Amayam in Ikot Ekpene
local government area, the life of Pastor Ibuot is that of industry, altruism, servant
leadership, and service to humanity. Pastor Sunny Ibuot is not a political
recondite. He has already built a gargantuan profile for himself as far as Akwa
Ibom politics is concerned. Serving as the executive chairman of Ikot Ekpene
local government area between 2008 and 2011, Ibuot left behind unassailable
track record. For instance, his administration built a new local government
secretariat, and equipped the offices; constructed the legislative chamber; distributed
various projects to all the eleven wards of Ikot Ekpene through constituency
projects through councilors. Ibuot’s administration also paid bursary allowance
to all Ikot Ekpene students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria; the
administration encouraged all government officials in the employ of the local
government to build their own houses and those that actually demonstrated
genuine effort were supported with 100 bags of cement each. He also provided
N500,000 grants to help government officials who got married during his
administration to help facilitate effective take-off of family life. To boost
manpower, all councilors in Sunny Ibuot’s administration were given brand new
Toyota Corolla salon cars. And his achievements did not stop there.
As a consummate
politician and a strong party man, he was earlier on appointed Chairman,
Election Panel for Ikot Ekpene by the State Chapter of PDP in 1999. In 2002,
Ibuot was made a member, Screening Committee for Chairmanship and
Councillorship candidates by the State Chapter of PDP.
 |
| Pastor Sunny Ibuot |
Having found
dependable by his party, Pastor Ibuot was in 2002, appointed a Returning
officer for Oron local government area Chairmanship/Councillorship Nomination,
while also serving as a caucus member in Ikot Ekpene local government area as
well as Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency.
Aside from his
towering height in politics, Pastor Sunny Ibuot is an astute professional
banker and economist of repute. Having distinguished himself through sheer dint
of hard-work and self-discipline, Ibuot was made Chairman, National Union of
Bankers, Insurance and Financial Institute Employee, NUBIFIE, of Union Bank of
Nigeria PLC, Calabar Branch from 1982 to 1986. He served Union Bank of Nigeria
PLC in Calabar from 1981 to 1988, and later became a Branch Accountant for the
bank in Ikot Ekpene from 1988 to 1991.
Owing to his
sagacity and profundity in statecraft, the Akwa Ibom State government has found
him dependable, and has been engaging him with certain strategic appointments.
Ibuot was first
appointed Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission
from 2001 to 2004, and had a stint as a Vice Chairman of Akwa Ibom State
Revenue Steering Committee in 2002.
On 13th
July 2015, the eleven-man Committee on Agriculture and Food Sufficiency was
inaugurated by Mr. Udom Emmanuel at Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office
in Uyo with the mandate to provide technical inputs and chart a direction for
agricultural development and food sufficiency, and Pastor Sunny Ibuot was sworn
in as Secretary of the committee – a position he holds till date.
Pastor Ibuot
holds a B.Sc. in Accounting from the University of Uyo, and MBA in Business
Administration in the same institution. He has attended several professional
courses. He is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria; Fellow of
Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; Member, Chartered Institute of
Management of Nigeria; Registered Member of Financial Reporting Council of
Nigeria; Certified National Accountant, Association of National Accountants of
Nigeria, and Principal Partner, Brain, Saints & Associates.
Since
the business of lawmaking today has overlapped to cover broad spectrum of socio-economic
and complex political matters, it therefore require individual with equal mix
of political and professional experience to grab the reins of legislative role.
And so, if a personality like Sunny Ibuot is given a shot at the Federal House
of Representatives, there is no doubt he would prove his worth. As a Pastor of
Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel, Ibuot is a man of candour with strong
command of spoken language – a perfect attribute of a lawmaker. His acuity
would stand him out in the Green Chambers should his people remain earnest in
sending him to Abuja come 2019. But it also remains a matter of concern if he
would not jib at the offer presented to him by his people. Should he acquiesce
the entreaty to vie for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives, then it
would be a good thing for the Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, a precursor of
grassroot development in the country.
Yes! I am UbongAbasi Ise. For comment,
send SMS to 08189914609 |ubongabasiise@gmail.com
Source: The Sensor Newspaper
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