ALUKO: 100 days of redemption and impactful local government administration
7th December, 2020, will remain a remarkable day in the history of Essien Udim Local Government Area. That day marked the beginning of the redemption of Essien Udim people as Mr Anthony Luke, nicknamed ALUKO by friends and admirers, assumed office as the Executive Chairman of Essien Udim with a pledge to make Essien Udim work for all.
About 100 days down the line, how has ALUKO fared? We present to sectorial review of Anthony Luke’s administration, indicating that the chairman was in a hurry to deliver dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
Security:
Top in ALUKO’s campaign promises and blueprint was security of lives and properties of the people of Essien Udim. On assumption of office the Chairman did not mince words in serving quit notice to hoodlums and criminal elements, asking them to leave the area as Essien Udim will no longer be safe for the criminal activities. The Chairman is conscious of the fact that security is the panacea for sustainable development in the area.
As the Chief Security officer of the area, Mr Anthony Luke did not leave anything to chance but immediately convened the meeting with security heads in the area where he charged them to ensure that hoodlums do not have a safe haven in Essien Udim.
To work the talk, the Chairman did not just give the charge but also provided all the necessary supports and logistics to motivate and boost the morale of the security personnel for the fight against insecurity in the area.
For surveillance in the rural areas, the Chairman procured and donated two brand new motorcycles to the police force and also provided water and modern toilet facilities to the Essien Udim Divisional Police Station to enhance their welfare. The borehole water project has been completed and put to use by the men of the police force while construction of the modern toilet system is ongoing.
Since the commencement of the war against insecurity, no fewer than 20 hoodlums have been arrested by the security agents with the assistance of the locals who are also encouraged by the Chairman to assist in intelligent gathering.
The fight against insecurity has yielded tremendous fruits as peace and tranquility has since returned to the area.
Before now two schools in the area were at the verge of been closed down by the authorities due to activities of hoodlums who used to terrorise the schools, assaulting teachers and molesting students of the affected schools, causing fear and uncertainty in the institutions of learning. But with the intervention of ALUKO’s redemption administration, normalcy and sanity have been restored and uninterrupted academic activities is ongoing there.
Mr Anthony Luke receiving SSEB chairman
This can be confirmed by the testimony of the Chairman, State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), Dr (Mrs) Ekaette Ebong Okon during her fact-finding mission to the two schools, Okon Secondary Commercial School, Okon and Community Secondary School, Ukana East that witnessed some disturbances by miscreants.
In her words, “Mr Chairman, I thanked you so much for working hard to restore peace and sanity in the two schools in Essien Udim where we had reports of disturbances by some miscreants. We visited there on a fact-finding mission and we are grateful that the story has changed. There’s sanity now in the two schools. We’ve been told of your efforts and that of the host communities in achieving this feat,” SSEB Chairman remarked.
It is worthy of note also that the three major markets in the area – Obo Annang Market, Offiong Etor Ikpe Annang Market and Urua Akpan – were also under siege by hoodlums and touts who used to rob the poor rural traders of their wares and created atmosphere of chaos and insecurity every market day. In fact, the markets where about to be deserted but for the intervention of the Anthony Luke’s administration. Essien Udim is now safe for all.
Also acknowledging the Chairman’s efforts in combating insecurity was the political leader of Afaha Ward, Hon Sunyiekekere Inokon, who is also former State officer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former member of the House of Representatives. Inokon scored ALUKO high in his commitments toward peace and security in the area.
“The Chairman’s achievement in the security sector is unprecedented as we can now sleep with two eyes closed in the village. All of us must support him to secure the area for us as he cannot do it alone,” Hon Inokon observed.
In his good will message, the political leader of Adiasim Ward, Engr Oliver Ebong commended the Chairman’s strategic and proactive approach to the fight against insecurity. He said, “We are happy with the Chairman for his proactive measures to tackle the security challenges in the area… If he could do this in less than a month in office, I know the Chairman will make Essien Udim great again in his administration.”
The Chairman was not just involved in internal security. In his proactive measures, he visited the boundary between Abia and Akwa Ibom States at Ikot Umo Essien where he donated generating plants to the soldiers at the boundary as a motivation for them to secure the border for all of us.
Though there are pockets of attack on police facilities in the area, a mystery the police are still investigating to unravel so as to bring the perpetrators to book. The Chairman is not relenting in his administration’s determination to secure lives and property of Essien Udim people as he continues to work hard to complement the efforts of the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel in fighting crimes in the local government area.
Staff Welfare
On assumption of office, there was no single vehicle in the council for official use, not even unserviceable vehicles, but the Chairman who is determined and committed to efficient and effective service delivery, presented three official cars to principal officers in the council. ALUKO is very committed to staff welfare in the council and is ready to ensure that all council staff have a conducive atmosphere to work.
Community Development:
As part of his administration’s resolve to deliver dividends of democracy to the grassroot people, the Chairman donated a borehole water facility to Adiasim Community.
Education/Youth Empowerment:
Apart from appointment of a Student as SA on Students Affairs to serve as a liaison person between the Chairman and the students, ALUKO will soon set up a committee to oversee activities of Students in the area after due consultations with stakeholders in the sector.
The Committee will be expected to workout modalities to ensure students in the area are paid bursaries by the council as soon as possible. It is worthy of note that Anthony Luke was the choice of the students and youths during the last local government elections the very reason the welfare of students and youths from the area is paramount to his administration. The administration has provided adequate security in all the schools in the area and will soon set up education task force to ensure that this sector receives deserving attention from the council while a high-powered committee for youth empowerment and skill acquisition has already been set up to make recommendations toward the success of the programme.
The Chairman has recommended many youths for empowerment in various sectors in the state such as Youths in Agriculture, 3000 Youths Empowerment Project and numerous others.
Women Empowerment:
This is another very critical sector in the redemption administration of Anthony Luke. The women of Essien Udim just as the youths stood by the redemption team to ensure victory for ALUKO and the redemption team at the poll. That is why, the Chairman through the office of the wife of the Chairman, Mrs Umoh Gabriel Tony Luke and the Vice Chairman of Council, Hon (Mrs) Emem Ekarika has ensured that women have a place in the administration. This is evidence in the emergence of the first female legislator in the council in the person of Mrs Mary R. Charles and many other benefits accrued to the women in the first one hundred days in office.
The Chairman who is seen by analysts as a defender of women rights has ensured that women of Essien Udim are well protected against rape and other gender-based violence and also recommended many women for empowerment and higher positions in the state
Infrastructure:
On assumption of office, the chairman had ordered for immediate renovation, repairs and maintenance of some offices in the council. He has also in consultation with various stakeholders in the various ward to ensure all deplorable rural roads in the area are graded as soon as possible.
Reward for loyalty:
Mr Anthony Luke presented a car gift to his loyalist and Ward Chairman of his ward, Okon, Mr Paul Clement in just 6 days in office.
There is no gain saying that ALUKO is determined to redeem Essien Udim and make her work for all. As he had assured and indicated, paucity of fund will not stop him from delivering on his mandate.
