The Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, has declared that he will not relent in adding value to humanity in any capacity.
Senator Albert, who is the chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) made the assertion on Sunday at Saint Peter’s Parish of the Uyo Diocese of the Catholic Church when he was honoured with an award of excellence at the investiture ceremony held at the parish in Mbiabong Anyanya Etoi, Uyo Local Government Area.
The senator, who is the leader of the Akwa Ibom State Caucus in the National Assembly thanked the church for the recognition, and acknowledged that the church has been a blessing to the Etoi community and Uyo in general.
He also noted that it would spur him to do more in service to humanity: “With all humility, I will still say that my best is yet to come. I thank God that Etoi is fast developing and now centre of attraction in Akwa Ibom State. I’m residing in Etoi at Shelter Afrique. God is doing a new thing in Etoi and in this parish. So Father, I accept this award with the greatest sense of responsibility and I thank you for it. I will always say that it is good to be good because you might not know who is watching and you don’t also know when God will bring that your goodness to bear when the time is right.”
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He posited that the church has a role to play in the governance of the state and country, and called on Christian faithful to be fervent in their prayers. “If there’s any time our State and Nation need your prayers, it’s now,” he stressed.
Dedicating the award to the people of Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Albert popularly called OBA, thanked them for reposing confidence in him: “let me, on behalf of all of us, because this award is for all of us, thank the church for this honour. I am not sure I would’ve been found worthy if I did not earn your trust and confidence to be so elected as Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District. And so, I do not take it for granted that I am honoured today.”
He hailed the Catholic Church for always exhibiting integrity, and promised to always identify with the organization.
Earlier in the award presentation, the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Charles Ekeng acknowledged OBA’s antecedents in humanitarian and public service and wished the very best in all his endeavours.
Commenting on OBA’s award, Sir Boniface Ebewo, founder, Real Brass, who as chairman of the event, said the senator has made great impact in the legislature.
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His words: “I am not here to eulogize Obong Bassey Albert but permit me to note as a professional, in every community in every society there is a history and the history of any society is not more than the people that govern that society.
“I note this with all amount and sense of professionalism, if anyone wants to chronicle the history of quality representation within this time; it is not more than the story of Obong Bassey Albert. I say this not minding that I am of the other way, All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ebewo, who was also an award recipient, declared that the event has forged togetherness between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I feel delighted for the first time to sit closer with Obong Bassey Albert, whereas we are not very close, Obong Bassey is of the PDP and I am of the APC but I feel delighted because this event has caused a happy marriage between the APC and the PDP.”
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The Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Charles Ekeng led the church to offer prayers for Senator Bassey Albert Akpan and other awardees.
Others who bagged awards include, Commissioner for Housing, Rt. Hon. Otuekong Raphael Bassey; Engr. Uwem Okoko, CEO Hensek Integrated Services; Hon. Uduak Isobara, Sir Henry Akpan, Mr. Emeka Akabueze and Engr. Etim Eyoette.
OBA was accompanied to the event by dignitaries including, Arch Bishop Andrew Unwanta, immediate past chairman, House of Assembly Service Commission, Hon. Ekopimo Polycarp, Executive Chairman, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Council, Hon. Ufot Toby Nkangude, former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Elder Imo Okon, immediate past Chairman Uyo LGC, Hon. Barr. Kennedy Ekong, former House of Assembly member, Otuekong Anietie Ekong, former State Secretary of PDP, Obong Daniel Udoh (North South), Barr. Jerry Akpan, a former Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, and a host of others.
The Saint Peter’s Parish of the Uyo Catholic Diocese comprises of three stations: Saint Peter, Mbiabong; Saint Paul, Itiam and Saint Mary, Ifa Ikot Okpon.
