Scorecard of Anthony Luke’s Administration in Essien Udim
The administration of Dr. Anthony Luke (ALUKO) as the Executive Chairman of Essien Udim LGA has witnessed an extraordinary transformation in grassroots development with particular reference to investments in security, infrastructure, education, health and human capacity development. This piece is set to x-ray some of the milestone achievements of ALUKO’S Administration in the area.
Security/Peace:
As a responsible government, the administration Anthony Luke paid premium attention to the security, peace and welfare of his people. The administration is also aware that Essien Udim is one of the boundary communities faced with various security challenges, hence, to ensure the safety of the people in the state the administration invested so much in the security of lives and property of the people as well as peace-building. To achieve this, the chairman prioritized the welfare of the different security men and officers operating in the area to boost their morale for effective service.
The administration procured a generating set for the soldiers manning the boundary between Akwa Ibom and Abia State and a portable water for Essien Udim Police Division. To ensure that the rural areas are well secured, the administration also provided motorbikes for rural police surveillance. The traditional institution played a significant role in intelligence gathering to help in the war against insecurity in Essien Udim. This proactive and strategic approach unarguably has yielded tremendous results. Essien Udim people will not forget in a hurry how Aluko like the Biblical David fought and conquered the hydra-headed monsters that invaded some communities in the area and unleashed mayhem on the people especially the people of Uwa, Atan Ikot Akpan, Ikot Afanga, Ikot Otu and Nto Nsek villages who were maimed, displaced and also loss their property. Aluko demonstrated doggedness and courage and with the support of the State Government defeated the criminals and restored peace and tranquility Essien Udim is known for.
Also, Essien Udim was on the verge of losing two secondary schools in Okon and Ukana East due to the activities of miscreants. Still, the Chairman’s intervention saved the schools and restored serenity and a calm atmosphere for learning.
Education:
Apart from being the first Chairman with a PhD in Essien Udim, Dr Luke’s administration has made a huge investment in education. Aluko believes that education is the panacea for grassroots development and therefore his administration never played politics with this sector. No wonder Essien Udim students described him as “the most education-friendly Chairman and a jinx breaker””. Aluko brought back the students’ support programme in Essien Udim by paying bursaries to over 500 indigenes of Essien Udim (#10,000) to each studying in various higher institutions across the country. Our children in primary and secondary schools were not left out in the administration’s education empowerment as the Chairman’s wife, Mrs Umoh Gabriel TonyUdoh (PhD) donated desks and other academic materials to Okon Secondary Commercial School and recently introduced “Back to School” Programme to empower school children with various academic materials. During the programme, the First Lady not only presented school sandals, bags, writing materials, books, calculators, math sets but also empowered the children with finances, hair clippers raincoats among others. She also introduced enlightenment programme to create awareness on contemporary issues affecting school children. This too can be verified.
Infrastructure: Anthony Luke’s led administration started and completed the construction of an Ultra-modern Multi-Purpose Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat in recognition of the role of the traditional institution in local government and grassroots developments. The project which is set for commissioning by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno and handing over to the royal fathers is a state of the art. Also, the administration has reconstructed and remodeled the Essien Udim Police Station which was set ablaze by hoodlums. The well-furnished facility is also awaiting commissioning and handing over to the Nigeria Police Force. These too can be verified.
Procurement:
To ensure administrative efficiency by council officials, the administration of Dr Anthony Luke has procured 8 vehicles for official use in the council. It could be recalled that there was no vehicle (serviceable and unserviceable) left in the council for official use upon assumption of Anthony Luke’s administration on December 7, 2020.
Empowering the Widows (Wife of Nigerians Fallen Heros -Nigerian Legion)
Human Empowerment: The administration through the office of the wife of the Chairman has empowered and supported small and medium-scale entrepreneurs with business grants. Also, some women and widows in the area have been empowered through the office of the first lady.
Health:
The health sector was not left out in Anthony Luke’s focused and people-oriented administration. Again, the chairman’s wife, Dr Umoh Gabriel TonyUdoh as part of her periodic visit to the hospital to encourage and support patients, the First Lady also showed empathy by offsetting the medical bills of over 100 indigent patients at General Hospital Ikpe Annang and St Mary’s Hospital Urua-Akpan!
CONCLUSION
The administration of Dr. Anthony Luk has made a positive impact in Essien Udim and is poised to do more and leave a lasting legacy in the area for posterity. Aluko is determined to succeed despite distractions and an avalanche of challenges. He is poised to deliver on his mandate by ensuring the implementation of more people-oriented and life-touching programmes for the benefit of the people. It is therefore pertinent for the people to give Anthony Luke’s administration their unalloyed support to be able to deliver more dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
As the saying goes in vernacular “kiet anem ntom, ibah”?
Edidiong Idemokon
Writing from Okon Clan in Essien Udim
