Not too young to run: Why young Ekemini Ukim deserves to represent Uyo Federal Constituency
On May 31, 2018, a historic event took place in Nigeria. The event was the signing of the ‘Not Too Young To Run bill’ into law by President Muhammadu Buhari. The legislation brought down the age qualification for the President from 40 to 30; from 30 to 25 for the House of Representatives and the States’ House of Assembly. It, however, did not change the age qualification for governorship and Senate; both were retained at 35 years.
Before the signing of the bill into law, elections in Nigeria have been defined by the exclusion of the majority (youths) who have remained vulnerable to the “take who you see” or the “highest bidder” syndrome. Thus, when Mr. President assented to the bill, there was jubilation from all corners by the youths, who felt the time has come (Ekemini) for them to take over the reins of political power and build the nation – maintaining the elders.
While the legislation was a welcome development, the youths have failed to ask themselves an important question, particularly as 2023 gets closer and the political atmosphere in Nigeria is being heated up as the race for Nigeria’s presidential election, Federal House of Representatives, and States’ House Assembly has started in earnest.
Given the continued rape of democracy by the mighty old ruling class and the incumbent who wants to remain in public office forever whose interests in politics are to acquire power, wealth, and notorious fame at the expense of the very ordinary poor masses. The question is, do young people in Uyo Federal Constituency get to run and get elected?
Though it might sound pessimistic, the fact is, that given the opportunity to participate does not guarantee success or real participation if the youths refused to stand up for their own.
In Uyo Federal Constituency the youths should ask themselves a question about when last the youths within the age of 41 down to the age limit of 25 were given a chance to represent the federal constituency? If the answer is no, then truly come 2023 Ekemini Ukim should have the sympathy support of the youths, elders, and women in Uyo Federal Constituency owing to his competency and good track records in public office as he is passionate about service to humanity, effective representation, and human capital development. He will maintain a harmonious working relationship with the youth, elders, and women, he is passionate and ready to serve his people.
John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, said “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”
Kennedy’s inaugural address has inspired generations to see the importance of public service for the development of their community, state, and nation.
Records of young men and women who have distinguished themselves in public office, especially in Nigeria, abound but one young man that has distinguished himself in public service and service to humanity is Engr. Ekemini Bassey Ukim.
Born forty years ago, Ekemini Bassey Ukim has contributed immensely to party politics and governance, not only in his federal constituency alone but in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, and the world at large.
He has been an active participant in local and state politics for almost a decade now serving in different positions recently, he resigned as the Special Assistant to the Governor on Project Monitoring to contest for the National Assembly seat of his federal constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP
The Young Ekemini -Abasi displayed leadership traits at an early age serving meritoriously as Prefect in his secondary school, Lutheran High School, Obot Idim, and Ibesikpo Local Government Area.
After graduating from the Prestigious University of Uyo in an enviable fashion with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering he proceeded for further professional courses that today have equipped him for the service ahead.
He is a Fellow, Institute of Management Consultant; he obtained a certificate in Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster from Harvard University in May 2019; also on the Sustainable Development Goals – A global transdisciplinary vision for the future from the University of COPENHAGEN in 2019.
To further prepare him, he obtained training on Principles and Guidelines for UN Peacekeeping Operations; Peace and International Conflicts Resolution; Human Rights, and Peace Keeping from United Nations Peace Operation Training Institute.
According to the Honorable Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Linus Nkan, “Ekemini Ukim is a man of high intellectual content, courageous man who dares the odds and come to think of it Ekemini is highly qualified to speak for the people of Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai Federal Constituency. Ekemini represents the youth and vibrancy in politics because it is time we advocate that power comes to the youth.
“We can not do the same thing over the years and expect the same result, it calls for a paradigm shift to also give a chance for the youth to take their turns, I called on the youth to support Ekemini Ukim and salute his courage for coming out to represent us in Uyo Federal Constituency”, he affirmed.
Hon. Ukim has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is someone to be trusted with public office. He has shown accountability and transparency in service at local and state levels. He is an amiable and experienced grassroots politician whose consistency, commitment, and passion for the development of his constituency remained unrivaled.
He is known to be an activist and a selfless leader whose peculiar talents will come in handy in the hallowed chambers of the House of Representatives. This is one of the reasons why Ekemini Ukim has been receiving support and clarion calls from different quarters to contest for the Uyo Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives based on popular demand for qualitative services to his people in past offices held including that of the Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Project Monitoring.
And as a man who is passionate about public interest above personal interest, Ekemini Ukim has decided to yield to the clarion call of his people to serve them coupled with his years of experience serving across various strata in the public service.
His main promise to the people of Uyo Federal Constituency if given the opportunity to represent them in the Green Chamber is to provide robustly, and guarantee qualitative, discerning, visible, and result-oriented representation for his constituency.
Ukim will also leverage the experience of the best hands in Uyo Federal Constituency to provide the desired representation in all ramifications to his constituents.
His selling point remains several years of consistency in advocacy against corruption for good governance, better society, philanthropism and public service with reliability to efficiently and passionately deliver on assignments and principled stand on the side of the common man at all times.
As a democrat and firm believer in the rule of law, Ekemini Ukim if given the opportunity to represent the people of the Uyo federal constituency at the National Assembly will collaborate with other colleagues in the House of Representatives to review some laws that have remained a clog in Nigeria’s spirit of true federalism to engender progress, unity, and fair-play.
He is also expected to legislate laws in conjunction with the constituents that will make life more meaningful for the citizenry.
Having proved his worth in the past as a committed public officer, he is going to be a visible, listening, and active legislator in the Green Chamber.
He will do this and many other great things to fulfill his part of the social contract with the people and collaborate with other arms of government to bring unquantifiable benefits to his constituency through the oversight, legislative and representative functions of a Lawmaker.
During the consultation, one of the political stakeholders in the Uyo Local Government Area, Hon. Nse Ndoh affirmed on the aspiration of Ukim calling on him to go ahead with his aspiration as zoning of political offices in the federal constituency favors him to a greater extent.
“Those who have been in different political offices over years should give chance to the younger generation to also aspire to grow politically, one person cannot be everything in the federal constituency. We have to emulate the northerners in what they are doing, I was very surprise to see them bringing out a very young man of about twenty years to present to the party for the office of the National Youth leader of the party, it is time for Ibesikpo to produce a National Assembly member for the Federal Constituency, we are going to produce the young Ekemini Ukim”, he affirmed.
