Onofiok Luke: Celebrating That Lawmaker @37

By Ubong Sampson
History in verbal and written records today tells us stories of noble young men and women who at various points in their lives, faced a dilemma of fighting a course at the risk of losing their lives or bowing to pressures and still having to face their conscience, perhaps, for a lifetime. But the aim of today’s piece was not to unveil the labours of past heroes, as history had already guaranteed them lasting places. The foregoing however has stories that will be unveiling the efforts of a present day hero who was able to discover his destiny so early in life and, despite the crippling challenges, fought his way through the hurdles to a future that took him earlier than expected.

Barr Onofiok Luke, Member, Akwa
Ibom State House of Assembly
for Nsit Ubium State Constituency

To a lot of kids of his then age, the challenge that struck him at such tender age would have had lots of negative meanings and influences, but with the awareness of an important mission to accomplish, such challenges, despite coming rather too early and always hitting him harder than anticipated, were to him, merely known features, nay, signs of victory which he knew was awaiting him at the end of the tunnel.

To some, especially those less closer, he may have been born with a box of favour; but to others much closer to him, the said box only has an “amazing grace” as its content.

Perhaps, as a pupil of St Theresa’s primary school back then in the early 1980s, only a very scanty few amongst those he encountered, had the grace to read through the ordinariness of his human nature to see the powerful rays in the light that was yet to shine on him and affect others through him.

Thirty seven (37) years after, that seeming blurred destiny of yester-years has culminated into full blown reality, with constituents of Nsit Ubium legislative jurisdiction being the first beneficiary of its fully matured stage… Not envying them though, since the saying goes that charity begins at home.

Hon (barr) Onofiok Luke is that man, that man of this moment, that man of this season and that man whose sever-shining light beckons inspiration for the younger generation and hope for the future.

Barr Luke’s unrestricted benevolence has overtime caused him a memory loss of the boundaries of his jurisdiction, as, even four years after being elected to serve a particular area, he has refused letting go his long held belief that humanity remains a primary and compulsory constituency to every man.

Aside this gifted benevolence, Barr Luke wears a humble disposition that allows him dwell freely among the downtrodden and less privileged ones which gives them confidence and hope of a better life even in disability.

His legislative prowess has constantly been ringing bells of excellence and superlative performances since being inaugurated into the 5th assembly to represent Nsit Ubium people. Only between June, 2011 and now, Barr Luke has touched lives, empowered people (within and outside his constituency), given lifelines and hope to people all numbering above what records could keep.

His first term representation, unarguably, has raised the stakes in governance at that level, while his people have had enough, such that they are always waiting and ever ready to attest to his transparency and focused representation- apparently a convert reason his re-election, like an infiltrated community stream, became a thing of concern to all right from when he first broke the news.

His intelligence and wisdom puts him always outstanding, yet very committed to his courses. A reason he is loved and admired by all. Indeed, a pride to his fatherland, one would agree.

Just as nature demands, the memorable 16th day of March keeps making a needful repetition each year to add more years of wisdom and life’s experiences to this super lawmaker, and whilst awakening to the dawn of its 37th anniversary since 1978, the atmosphere would cause no shock should it be filled with an euphoria for the life of a worthy son and servant, whose years on earth has been so affecting.

Concluding, I join family, friends and his ever increasing fans in the world all over to celebrate that legislator whose qualities and accomplishments have been more than exceptional, while wishing many more years of sustainability in this chosen path that leads to destinations beyond the skies.
(Ubong Sampson (08021419939) is a Public/Political/Social/Current/Academic Affairs Analyst).