The achievement represents one of the wonders of Senator Bassey Albert. Already, some people see it as the ‘magic’ of the decade. In whatever angle one views its, the accomplishment is astonishing.
It’s all about the story of the Police Constable, who was erroneously dismissed from service 21 years ago but by incredible legislative prowess, was reinstated and promoted. I am referring to Mr. Celestine Williams – now an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), whose life and career have experienced massive turnaround through the instrumentality of the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial District, Obong Bassey Albert popularly called OBA.
Well, it will not be out of place if I say here that OBA is not only the senator representing the people of Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial District but by extension the senator representing the people of Akwa Ibom State. This is because OBA has by sheer love, passion and patriotism; spread his benevolence of effective representation to other Senatorial Districts of the State. For instance, Celestine Williams is from Ini Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District.
Related: Senator Bassey Albert Facilitates Recall Of Police Officer After 21 Years Of Wrongful Dismissal
He joined the NPF in 1993 as a Police Constable in Lagos State Command. He was later deployed to serve in the Cross River State Command. In the course of his duty, Celestine and a team of State CID were detailed to carry out an investigation into the death of a Commissioner in Cross River State. The team had successfully carried out the assignment, when one of the suspects used his strong connections to unjustly have Celestine and his team members detained for eleven months without trial and later dismissed.
Being a common fact that “failure is a bastard”, Celestine was abandoned by his wife and relations; he was abandoned to face his life and carry his cross all alone. Some of his team mates who suffered the same fate with him had passed on, as a result of frustration, depression or starvation orchestrated by the dismissal from the Force. But in his relentless determination to get justice for himself, Celestine approached Senator Bassey Albert in 2016 with a petition requesting intervention of the Senate. After due investigations by the Senate, recommendation for the reinstatement of Mr. Celestine Williams who was dismissed for an undisclosed offence without trial, was passed; and that he should be promoted to the rank at par with his mates. Indeed, “What God cannot do, does not exist.” Hence, after another around of investigation, the reinstatement of Celestine was approved in May 2017, but without having to be promoted to the same rank with his mates.
Again, luck smiled on Celestine, as he was promoted to the rank he was due, as was recommended by the Senate; and Senator Bassey Albert who took it upon himself to follow up Celestine’s matter to a logical conclusion, was on standby to witness the most important day in Celestine’s life and to decorate him with all the paraphernalia as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
Related: Senator Bassey Albert: Doyen Of Hope Amidst Despair
Mr. Celestine Williams’ case is that of grace, determination and hope in the face of despair. Because of his ruffled encounter in the Police Force, a day when he would be decorated with the rank of an ASP was a day Mr. Celestine Williams never thought would ever come in his lifetime. But with a man like Obong Bassey Albert (OBA) who gave himself to be used by God to beam hope to such a seemingly hopeless situation, it is indeed a proof that God still rules in the affairs of men, through the instrumentality of men.
OBA truly became a beam of hope to ASP Celestine Williams, when all else failed.
