Last
weekend, members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly took time to
celebrate one of their own and indeed, the member representing Mbo in the Akwa
Ibom State House of Assembly, Samuel Asuquo Ufuo as he turned 44 years.
Ufuo
called "Aristotle" by his colleagues in the House of Assembly, is
said to be one of the most accomplished lawmakers in the sixth Assembly.
His
meticulous articulation of ideas and views during plenary, it would be safe to
say, has made Ufuo the best lawmaker Mbo has ever elected to the state
assembly. This is more so that his activities and actions in the legislature
are to the effect of a man with a passionate believe in the progress of his
constituency and unity of the state.
Leading
the pack of tributes at the Osongama estate residence of the lawmaker, Speaker
of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, who humorously
described Mr Ufuo as his "chief strategist", said, among other
things, that Ufuo is a team player and has shown tremendous love for the advancement
of education, in his capacity as chairman of the House Committee on Education.
Luke
said, "when I say he (Ufuo) is a team player, I mean the House of Assembly
is made up of 26 members both spiritually and physically and he understands
that we come from the same stock, and that same stock is God Almighty; that
same stock is Akwa Ibom State.
"One
of the reasons I like him is that if he doesn't like something, he will tell
you he doesn't like it. If he likes it, he will go with you".
The
Speaker further said: "Let me congratulate my friend and brother, and wish
him a very happy birthday and ask God Almighty to continue to make you to grow
in love, wisdom, unity and in the fear of God".
Members
representing Nsit Atai, Mark Esset; Esit Eket/Ibeno, Usoro Akpanusoh, and
Oron/Udung Uko, Effiong Bassey, also lauded Ufuo in the way he has run his
office leading to stability in the polity of Mbo constituency.
On
his part, a former Commissioner for Information in the State, Chris Abasi-Eyo,
said Ufuo has proved beyond every doubt that he is a true Oro son interested in
promoting the unity of the legislature and the state.
He
said, "He is the best we have had since 1999. In terms of material
representation, in terms of legislative filibustering and acting as though he
had previous legislative cognate experience but he did not, yet he has made us
proud".
Earlier
in a birthday message, staff working in the office of Mr. Samuel Ufuo in the
House of Assembly said their boss has demonstrated sincere concern to
"help and uplift the lives of others".
A
message by Mr. Martin Effiong on behalf of staff of the lawmaker read,
"you derive joy in making others happy and spread warmth with everything
you do. God had touched many lives through you".
Responding,
Ufuo said his birthday wish was to see an immediate end to the suffering of the
people of Mbo mangrove island whose communities are constantly attacked by
Cameroonian Gendarmes.
Ufuo
said, "I dedicate my birthday to the people living in Mbo mangrove island.
That I have achieved any success as a lawmaker, it is because you have given me
the maximum support and cooperation".
The
Mbo lawmaker, who expressed gratitude to all that gathered to honour him,
particularly the Speaker, Barr. Onofiok Luke whom he said is "generous to
the core and has many times deprived himself so many things to please people
"Ever
since he he became Speaker of the Sixth Assembly, I can't recall onetime either
in the executive session or anywhere that he talked about himself, he will
always talk about the general welfare of the people", he stated.
Mr
Ufuo's beautiful and sociable wife, Kate Edeke-Ufuo was all over him while the
occasion lasted in addition to playing the role of chief host.
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