Time To Make A Mark For Uyo Federal Constituency
A month ago, I stumbled on a piece on Facebook about the succession process in a certain Constituency. In an attempt to draw a comparison between the incumbent lawmaker and the succeeding one, the writer expressed fear and doubt in the ability of the succeeding lawmaker to equal or atleast near the ‘dazzling’ record of the incumbent.
I immediately caught a thought on my Uyo Federal Constituency – Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo Asutan Federal Constituency where Hon. Mike Enyong (BabaNtan) is currently representing.
BabaNtan as he is fondly called has become a shinning example in the comity of Akwa Ibom representatives in the National Assembly due to his appreciable efforts to better the lots of his constituents through federal job placements and gifts of business capital.
Fast forward to June 2023 where the incumbent BabaNtan will be seeing off his 8-years representation and competently succeeded by Rt. Hon. Mark Esset who is the party’s flag bearer for the federal constituency seat.
Known as the Mark-of-Effective-Representation, the Nsit Atai born state lawmaker is a thorough bred legislator who is currently serving his 2nd term in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Mark Esset fits into an A-list legislator in every word of it as he has risen to become a loud and dependable voice in and out of the hallowed chamber, whose opinion and contributions have formed part of the many decisions of the 6th and 7th Assembly respectively.
Uyo Federal Constituency will have in Mark Esset a seasoned businessman turned politician who has gathered massive private sector experience as former M/D of the prestigious EM-SSET PETROLEUM NIG. LTD; an oil and gas marketing and consulting firm. He has served meritoriously as Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for Akwa Ibom/Cross River State branches among others.
In politics and public service, Mr. Esset has served Nsit Atai LGA as Executive Chairman before his elections into the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly where he is currently serving out his 2nd term in 2023.
In addition to his pragmatic nature, Mark Esset has been very proactive and productive in the discharge of his responsibilities no doubt he was awarded the Akwa Ibom State best legislator in 2019.
As Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government, the otherwise lifeless committee has witnessed tremendous impacts to the admiration of friends and foes alike.
Through his oversight engagements and regular interface with the local government actors and stakeholders, the local government system has become more disciplined, responsive and accountable to the people.
If you take away anything from this National Assembly candidate, you will definitely not take away the love and passion he has for his constituents which has translated into tangible empowerments, provision of business capital and grants, scholarship and educational supports, medicare etc which are done at appreciable intervals.
According to Heywood, the role of legislators vary from one country to another and from one system to another but most importantly, the legislator irrespective of their names or place of operation provides a link between the government and the people – a feat Mark Esset has graciously championed for his constituency in the areas of facilitation of road construction, completion and award of contracts, including water, educational and social infrastructures.
As an experienced and fearless lawmaker and lobbyist, Mark Esset will be transiting into the national assembly to open a new page of representation for Uyo Federal Constituency and to give a good account of himself in lawmaking, representation, oversights and empowerment.
BabaNtan has been a good representative to Uyo Federal Constituency but Mark Esset will make a Mark of Effective Represention for Atai Uyo people.
By Aniekan Peters
