Aluko’s 2nd Anniversary: Spotlight on Essien Udim Local Government Helmsman
The inauguration of Mr. Anthony Luke (nicknamed Aluko by friends and admirers) as the Executive Chairman of Essien Udim Local Government Area was heralded with rekindled hope and optimism of better days for the people at the grassroots. The election came as a result of the yearnings of the people for a young, vibrant and core grassroots leader who would redeem Essien Udim from its quagmire and deliver dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
Understanding the plights of his people, Mr. Anthony Luke structured his administration, which came with the mantra of “Essien Udim Redemption”, with determination to leave a legacy as the people’s chairman.
December 2022 marks the second anniversary of the redemption mission. So two years on the saddle how has the people-chairman fared? Consequently, we spotlight the Essien Udim Local Government Council helmsman beaming our searchlight on his landmark achievements in various sectors.
When servant-leader takes the lead
In line with the purpose of establishing the local government administration as the third tier of government, which was to encourage the participation of the people at the grassroots in administering their affairs, Mr. Anthony Luke Udoh offers himself as a servant leader in service to Essien Udim people. He also sees the mandate as a privilege to serve and not to be served; to minister and not to be ministered to. By this, he ensures that he is always on seat in his office at the local government secretariat to render service to his people.
Aluko is not only a leader; he takes the lead, leading by example. He is not the type of leader who stays on the sideline to issue directives. He leads by example by getting involved in the arrangement. His active involvement in the war against hoodlums in the wake of security breaches in the area is exemplary. So when the servant-leader takes the lead the people are saved.
Security
One of Mr. Anthony Luke’s achievements as a local government chairman is the security of the once-volatile area. Aluko’s administration came in at a time Essien Udim, being a border community, was invaded and taken over by hoodlums, miscreants and bad elements from neighbouring states who perpetrated all manners of crimes and criminal activities and injected fear, agony and apprehension on the innocent rural people who at that time could not freely carry socio-economic activities for fear of attack, molestation and robbery by those criminal elements.
Worried by the plights of his people, the chairman went ahead and did what many had thought was impossible and a no-go-area by sounding a stern warning to the hoodlums and giving them quit notice without mincing words to leave the area. He also matched his words with action by daring and de-devil individuals by taking on the invaders. Aluko took the war to their camp, their stronghold in Ikot Akpan village.
Though, these criminal elements fought back and destroyed security formations, killed and maimed a lot of lives, particularly security officials and also displaced a lot of members of the community yet Aluko stood his ground, demonstrated courage like David in the Bible and fought the battle to the end with the great support of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel and succeeded in flushing out the hoodlums out of the Essien Udim and also restored peace and sanity to the area.
His active involvement in the fight baffled even security personnel who acknowledged that never in their life had they seen a local government administrator of his disposition. Observers admitted that the victory of that war was also down to Aluko’s proactive leadership and doggedness.
By understanding that the security of lives and property of the people is the primary and basic responsibility of any government, the administration of Mr. Anthony Luke Udoh ensures that security is prioritized by equipping the police force in the area with motorbikes for surveillance in the rural areas where vehicles couldn’t penetrate. He also ensures the improved welfare of the police officers working in the area by providing portable water for them and also serviced them well to boost their morale for the task ahead.
Mr. Anthony Luke Udoh did not stop at that. The Essien Udim Chairman also provided a generating set for soldiers manning the Akwa Ibom boundary with Abia State at Ikot Umo Essien. The gesture was to enhance their welfare as they protect the entire Akwa Ibom citizens.
He did not stop there, the administration also embarked on immediate rehabilitation and rebuilding of the affected communities and police station burnt down by the criminals. Today, Essien Udim Divisional Police Station is wearing a new look and ready for handing over to the police for normal operations. The people are now living in peace and freely going about their normal daily activities. The Chairman had demonstrated leadership, doggedness and courage to ensure adequate security of lives and property of his people even to the admiration of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatoye Dorosinmi who poured encomiums on the Council Chairman on his recent familiarization visit to the area.
CP Dorosinmi testifies to Hon Luke’s efforts in restoring and maintaining peace and order in the area by running a “proactive, responsible and responsive government”.
“I want to say that you have really taken the bull by the horns by bringing development back to this place for rebuilding this station. I know the condition and the level of destruction the last time I came; everywhere was bushy and overgrown with grasses and I never thought we could use this place again in a short time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”
“The primary duty of government is to ensure the welfare and security of the people and anybody who cannot do that is not worthy to be in government but for you, Mr. Chairman, you have done what the Constitution asks you to do, securing your people. We will continue to support you within the means available,” he remarked
Transformation and Restoration Agenda
Since his assumption of office, Mr. Anthony Luke is determined to transform the Local Government Council and left it better than he met it. To walk the talk, the Chairman, in his first 100 days in office, purchased six vehicles for official use by the council staff. He also restored electricity to the council and renovated some dilapidated office blocks in the secretariat.
Homage to the Royal Fathers
In recognition of the role of traditional institutions in good governance, the administration of Mr. Anthony Luke has commenced the building of a world-class edifice for the Essien Udim Traditional Rulers’ Council. The construction work has reached an advanced level as the chairman is determined to complete the project and commission it before the end of his administration. The building, when completed, will give traditional rulers in the area a sense of pride and dignity as the custodians of the people’s culture and traditions.
Youth inclusiveness
As a chairman who emerged as the choice of the youth, Aluko has galvanized the youth of Essien Udim in good governance. The Chairman, from the inception of office, has been operating youth’s inclusiveness in good governance. So far, the administration of Mr. Anthony Luke has empowered youths of Essien Udim in different aspects of human endeavours so as to be useful to themselves and society in general. The youths of Essien Udim are proud to have one of them at the helm of affairs in the local government.
Education
In a quest to transform Essien Udim academically, Aluko has recognized that Education is the bedrock of grassroots development. At his assumption of office, two secondary schools in the area were blacklisted and about to be closed down by the State Secondary Education Board (SSEB) due to insecurity but the administration of Mr. Anthony Luke immediately swore into action, flushed out the bad elements and also restored sanity to the affected schools. No wonder, the Chairman, SSEB, Dr Ekaette Ebong Okon, during the board’s fact-finding visit to the affected schools, described him as “a chairman with a great passion for education”.
Before now, Essien Udim was one of the Local Government Areas with less number of secondary schools but through the Chairman’s connections, another secondary school was approved for Essien Udim by His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Having served as a student leader and also benefitted in students’ Bursary, the administration of Mr Anthony Luke has approved the payment of Bursary to all students of Essien Udim. He has also given educational grants to some students of Essien Udim.
Women Development:
Women’s role in grassroots development cannot be over-emphasized. Hence, Mr. Anthony Luke and his wife, Umoh, had vowed from the onset of his administration to ensure that women form an integral part of the development process in Essien Udim.
The chairman, through his wife, has ensured that Essien Udim women are carried along and that they also enjoy the dividends of democracy. The wife of the chairman and first lady of Essien Udim, Mrs. Umoh Tonyudoh, is regarded as one of the most hardworking chairmen’s wives in the state. She is not only supportive of her husband’s administration but demonstrated leadership and capacity in leading the women.
She has touched women’s lives in different ways. From time to time, the chairman’s wife donates wrappers and goes to rural markets to give financial support to petty traders to aid their businesses as well as paid the surgical bill to many indigent patients (men and women) undergoing surgeries.
Conclusion:
Just as he stated in one of his statements at the beginning of his administration that “he is in hurry to develop Essien Udim”, Mr. Anthony Luke is sincere and passionate about the development of Essien Udim. He wants to live a legacy that will complement the achievements of his predecessors. And having served in different administrations in different capacities in the council, Mr Luke understood the nuances of grassroots development and is acquainted with the challenges faced by the people in the rural communities. That explains why the people gave him the mandate to serve them.
As the administration is winding down, the chairman is determined to complete and commission the ongoing construction of the traditional rulers’ council in the secretariat, pay student bursary as well as embark on other life-touching projects before the end of his administration. All he needs is the cooperation and support of the people of Essien Udim, especially the youth and elders.
