Aniefiok Christopher
An Octogenarian Nigerian Statesman, Chief Nduese Essien says he expects to see a better country driven by enduring hope for meaningful national improvement for the people and for the coming generations.
Essien, who clocks 82 years on Monday. February 2, said at his age, he had seen better days in Nigeria and would expect the leaderships at different levels to re-enact its glorious days before and after the country’s independence.
In a telephone interview with Straightnews publisher on Monday, the one-time Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development stated ‘‘At 82, I have seen better days in the country. I pray that our leaders will bring back the glorious days that we had experienced.’’
Nigeria is moving from a stable one to the present state we are seeing. Impunity and disobedience to laws are prevalent in the country. These are some of the things you will not see in a sane society. We have come to a contributory stage in the issues affecting as a country
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‘‘It is sad the way we operate. I do hope there will be improvements in my lifetime so that we regain the older but better days,’’ the Octogenarian politician pointed out..
Chief Essien, born on 2 February 1944, grows a year older today, stronger in legacy, richer in impact, and firmer in relevance.
From 1999 to 2007, he represented Eket Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, distinguishing himself in the National Assembly as a formidable Representative of Akwa Ibom State. His tenure was marked by principled leadership, notably as Leader of the South–South Parliamentary Caucus and Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, National Ethics and Values, roles that demanded courage, clarity, and an uncompromising stance on integrity.
He was appointed into the Technical Committee on the Niger Delta by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and he contributed meaningfully to efforts aimed at addressing the complex challenges of Nigeria’s oil-rich region.
In April 2010, his appointment as Federal Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development under Acting President Goodluck Jonathan further affirmed a career defined by trust, competence, and results.
A respected bridge builder, Rt. Hon. Essien is a member of the seven-person Peace and Reconciliation Committee appointed by the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), which was inaugurated in January 2026 with a mandate to de-escalate the ongoing political standoff in Rivers State and promote dialogue between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister Nyesom Wike.
The committee is chaired by Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, and includes other eminent leaders drawn from across the Niger Delta region. Its formal objective is to bring the feuding parties back to amicable engagement and restore political stability in Rivers State.
