A political chieftain and businessman, Dr Ekong Sampson has joined the Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District race.
Sampson, a two-term lawmaker who represented Mkpat Enin State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, also served as the immediate past Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources and Special Adviser, Political, Legislative, and Water Resources to Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Prior to working under Governor Emmanuel, Dr Sampson had served in Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration as Commissioner for Economic Development and Commissioner, Ministry of Rural Development. He was also Chairman, Mkpat Enin Local Government under Governor Victor Attah, where he learned grassroots representation.
Sampson, a thoroughbred professional and lawyer, speaking at an endorsement meeting at Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, where he met with the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders from Eket Senatorial District on Thursday, said that having served as an aide to Senator Udoma Udo Udoma between 1999 and 2007, he was versed in the workings of the Senate.
He said, Senate is an institution that is driven by capacity and experience and requires people with mental range and pace and deep understanding of the complexities and pluralistic nature of Nigeria.
According to him, “today, I have shown my intention to return to the Senate, this time not as Special Assistant but as a Senator representing Eket Senatorial District. Let me thank Senator Udo Udoma, a former chief whip and the then chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriation who taught me a lot about parliamentary practice and politics.
“I began my sojourn in his office as Special Assistant in the Senate, so now I am returning to familiar ground. You know that when you are returning to a familiar ground you will do well.
“Truly, the Senate is an institution that is driven maximally by capacity and experience. If you are privileged to have experience and capacity then you will do well in the Senate. The Senate needs Nigerians who understand Nigeria; someone who understands Nigeria will do well in the Senate because the Senate needs people with mental range and pace”.
The Senatorial aspirant said if given the opportunity, he would use the Senate as a major bridge-building component to build bridges among the different pluralities in the district.
“It’s important that we build bridges that will advance the frontiers of Akwa Ibom State as a people. My message is that I am a bridge-builder, I intend to use the Senate as a major bridge-building component to take Akwa Ibom State to greater heights.
“Our major challenge is how to build the right bridges especially, given the plural nature of our Senatorial District; we come from a district that is very pluralistic. I intend to build bridges among the different pluralities in the region,” Sampson stated.
Also speaking, a former house of Assemblymember, Barrister Jack Udota, expressed confidence that Ekong Sampson would represent the district well.
He said the Senate is not a training school for incompetent persons but a place for experienced persons to succeed.
According to him. “We support him to go to the Senate and we pray that with God on his side, he would succeed. He has experience, having been a member of the state house of Assembly. The Senate is not a training school, it is a place for experienced people and we believe that Sampson will succeed if given the opportunity.”