LEGISLATIVE EXIT OF RT. HON. OKPOLUPM ETTEH: THE LONGEST SERVING STATE LEGISLATOR

LEGISLATIVE EXIT OF RT. HON. OKPOLUPM ETTEH: THE LONGEST SERVING STATE LEGISLATOR

 BY Torobong Ekpo

“The credit belongs to those people who went to the arena and captured it… who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions to a worthy cause, who, at best, know the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt.

The ideals of one the world’s greatest leaders, Roosevelt, have wrapped the embodiment of the man, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Ikpong Etteh, who went, saw and conquered.

Born on the 19th day of September, 1970, to the royal family of Chief Ikpong Ikpong Etteh of Ukpenekang, In Ibeno Local Government Area, he became a member of the State Legislature, representing Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency, in September, 2006, at the age of 36 after the demise Hon. Ernest Ukocho in the Third Assembly, a journey that saw him till the Fifth Assembly.

He positively affected so many lives within and outside his state constituency despite the duration of that tenure in the Third Assembly. The benevolence triggered a call on him by his people and the leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to retain the constituency’ seat in 2007 and 2011 in order to attract more dividends of democracy to the area, which prior to his assumption of office was rare, if not impossible.

At the Fourth Assembly that was headed by Obong Ignatius Edet, Rt. Hon. Etteh, due to his leadership strides, was endorsed the Chief Whip of the House, a position he managed to the envy of many in the discharge of his legislative duties. This is what the Deputy Leader of that Assembly, Hon. Ekere Afia, said of him: “A man who drew a thick line of distinction between politics and governance. He was accountable, accessible, approachable and presentable during his reign as the Chief Whip of the Fourth Assembly irrespective of the fact that he represented Esit Eket and Ibeno people. He extended his hands of fellowship and empowerment prowess, to other constituency, by way of appointment, employment, empowerment et al.”

Mr. Daniel Daniel Solomon, a native of Ibeno Local Government Area, in an interview posited, “Before 2009, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, had positively touched the lives of all the families in our constituency. Being a lad with Pan-Akwa Ibom Identity, he proceeded to coincidentally provide dividend of Democracy to both members of our constituency and the outside world.”

Suffice to add that the Pan Akwa Ibom Identity of Rt. Hon. Etteh implies that his genetic roots cut across the three Senatorial Districts of the State. He hails from Ibeno in Eket Senatorial District; marries his beautiful and God fearing wife, Ekaette, from Utu Etim Ekpo, in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District; while his mother is a native of Ikono Local Government Area. Also, His late grandmother hailed from Uyo Local Government Area, in Uyo Senatorial District.

As a result of his exemplary lifestyle, the six tribes, Governmental and non-governmental groups and the entire people of Akwa Ibom State and beyond, bestowed on him several Patronship, titles and excellence leadership awards such as: Honorary Award of Texan, by the State of Texas, United States of America; Best State Legislator Award by The Ultimate Projector Magazine; Legislative Merit Award by Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria; African Democrat Merit Award as an African Outstanding Leader and Philanthropist by Trust Magazine; 2011 Merit Award for Humanitarian Service by NYSC Vanguard, Akwa Ibom State; 2011 African International Role Model Leadership Gold Award from Beema Communications Ltd.; Gold Service Award from Rotary Club of Uyo Metropolis of Rotary International, District 9140 – Nigeria; African Achievers Leadership Award, from Accra, Ghana; Excellence in Leadership Award from Ikot Akpa Idem Elite League, Southern Afaha Clan, Ukanafun LGA; Award of Honour from Afigh Iwaad Ekid and Certificate of Leadership from Oron Development Union, Atlanta Chapter, USA. His honoured chieftaincy titles are: Iberedem Ikono, Obong Uforo Esit Eket, Nta Nta Ekpene Ukim and Offong Ubuedai Mbo.He is also a member of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio.

In 2011, with such intimidating profile, awards and titles, Rt. Hon. Etteh, returned to the hallow chamber, almost unopposed, for the third time, where he did not only represent his constituency, but also served as the Leader of the Fifth Assembly.

He had chaired several House Committees; notable among them is the House Committee on Special Projects, Monitoring and Implementation. So far, he has remained the longest serving legislator the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has ever produced and has garnered sufficient experience in the art and science of law making.

His close associates are of the opinion that, Etteh’s strongest factor for success is self-esteem; believing he can do it, believing he deserves it, believing he will get it.

However, Rt. Hon. Etteh’s philosophy could better be summarized as follows; “Hate no one, no matter how much they have wronged you. Live humbly, no matter, how wealthy you become. Think positively, no matter how hard life is. Give much, even if you have been given little. Keep in touch with the ones who have forgotten you, forgive those who have wronged you, and do not stop praying for the best, for those you love.”

Many people describe Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Ikpong Etteh, depending on the manner they came in contact with him.

For Comrade Leo Leo Umanah, the Publicity Secretary of Akwa Ibom State Youth Caucus, Rt. Hon. Etteh “is a conscious politician, who takes care of his thoughts, when he is alone, and takes care of his words whenever he is with people.”

For Pastor Sunday Umanah of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Etteh “is the leader of Excellence leaders, a dynamic and God fearing gentleman, a lad, whose virtue is seldom in this present generation.”

For Mr. Usen Etteudoh, a Youth Leader in Esit Eket, Rt. Hon. Etteh “is an asset to the state and the nation at large, he plays a no-dirty-kind-of-politics,” and in the words of the International Coordinator of Ikpoto Akwa Ibom, Mr. Nsima Awak, Rt. Hon. Etteh is portrayed as “a faithful servant, a leader, a kingmaker, a father to the fatherless and a bridge across the divides.”

Critics have in various platforms criticized him. Albeit, several of them have posited that Rt. Hon. Etteh is a man of integrity; one that is courageous, focused, principled, dedicated, humble, simple, reserved, open, broadminded, magnanimous, meticulous, approachable, confident, energetic, influential, exposed and experienced leader.

Prior to his legislative elevation,he had his secondary education in Secondary Grammar School, Ibeno, where he bagged Senior Secondary Certificate (O’level) and proceeded to Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, where he had Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and thereafter got a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing from the prestigious Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State.

Not tired of learning, Rt. Hon. Etteh later proceeded to Galilee International Institute of Management, Isreal, where he bagged Post Graduate Certificate in Public Administration and civil service management.

He has been a President of National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS), a youth leader of Ibeno Local Government Area. Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh did his National service primary assignment at Genesis Motors, Enugu, later joined Courdeau Limited, an offshore oil service contractor to Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, as Dispatch Supervisor.

He then moved on to Jena Industries Limited as Operations Manager, and Ikang Conglomerate Nigeria Limited as Director, Operations, before incorporating a limited company called – Olgette Project Ltd, OPL, where he served as the Chairman, Board of Directors until his voluntary resignation to be in active politics.

On Friday, 5th June, 2015, this pan-Akwa Ibom leader will bid farewell to the State legislature.