Israel Umoh
The three Senators from Akwa Ibom State in the 10th National Assembly may not be lagging behind in being appointed into various Standing Committees in the Red Chamber.
Senator Godswill Akpabio representing Akwa Ibom North West is the Senate President; Dr. Ekong Sampson representing Akwa Ibom South and Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey representing Akwa Ibom North East belong to some strategic Standing Committees.
Though Akpabio is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Sampson and Bassey are members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the hallowed chamber.
In a chat with some journalists in Uyo Saturday night, Sampson stated that he is the Vice Chairman of three Standing Committees recently constituted by the Senate President before the Red Chamber adjourned its plenary and proceeded on annual recess to resume on 26 September.
On August 12, Akpabio rolled out 24 Standing Committees for the chamber headed mostly by APC Senators.
‘‘I am a Vice Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Employment and Oil and Gas Committees.
‘‘I cannot blame Akpabio for not appointing me a Chairman in one of the committees as I am a member of the opposition party. In fact, I thank him for recognizing and appointing me into those committees. The standing committees are headed mainly by APC Senators,’’ Sampson said.
Asked on the committee Bassey who is the immediate Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has been appointed into, he responded ‘‘He is the Vice Chairman of Agriculture, Insurance and other financial institutions committee.’’
The journalist-turned politician observed ‘‘I am part of you. I want you to always draw my attention by suggesting bills or motions on certain challenges in the state to me so that I could table such at the National Assembly for debate. Thank God, I have been appointed into Employment Committee. This will assist me to help many unemployed in the state.’’
‘‘I must commend my constituents for electing me into the Red Chamber. I promise to give them an effective representation. So far, I have rented four Constituency Offices in Oron and Ikot Abasi, among others to enable my constituents to reach me. This is unprecedented in the history of the Senatorial District,’’ the Mkpat Enin-born Senator said.
