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Senator Albert: Redefining Legislative Representation & Public Service

Published

4 years ago

March 2, 2021

Anny Michaels

In measuring performance of a political office holder, one of the yardsticks, according to pundits is the ability of the occupant of such an office to match words with actions in delivering tangible dividends of democracy to the people.

One political office holder of note, who has been quite exemplary in this regard is Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA), representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream).

This is objectively so because an x-ray of his scorecard as a ranking Senator is simply superlative. He has 11 bills passed, five motions and 13 petitions.

Among his bills are: An Act to prohibit flaring of natural gas in Nigeria and for matters connected therewith 2020 (SB 174), an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the inclusion of sovereign wealth funds established under the Nigeria Sovereign investment Authority (Establishment, etc.) Act cap N166 LFN 2004.

The third of the people’s Senator bill is an Act to amend Nigerian Oil and Gas industry, content development Act cap and for other matters thereto 2020 and for other matters connected thereto 2020 (SB 417) among several other bills.

He has received widespread accolades for moving powerful motions at plenary. One of which brought about the reinstatement of a police officer from Akwa Ibom State after 21 years of being wrongly sacked. He had all his salaries and benefits after being reinstatement as well as being promoted to the commensurate rank.

It is on record that Senator Albert is one public office holder who has a tastefully furnished constituency office strategically located at E7 Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo with standby 3 nos18 seater buses for constituency engagements. He also has in his employ at least four Aides drawn from the nine LGAs that make up Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) Senatorial District.

Worthy of note is the fact that Senator Albert in his unique way of giving back to his constituents has overtime been donating cars, mini buses, tricycles, motorcycles, sewing machines, fish drying equipment, blocks moulding equipment etc were thousands of constituents have so far benefited from.

During the last yuletide, Senator Albert empowered no fewer than 520 physically challenged persons with wheel chairs , guide Cains, , cash and a bag of rice each. 5000 women and youths have so far benefited from the Senator’s signature trainings in entrepreneurial skills with the accompanying cash benefits to the beneficiaries drawn from the nine LGAs that make up the Senatorial District.

So far, there are 350 constituency projects spread evenly across the Senatorial District to the credit of the vibrant Senator.

At festive seasons over the years, he has been very consistent in giving back to his people with trailer loads of rice and cash to enjoy the merry making seasons.

OBA as he is fondly called, has awarded all school expenses scholarships to 381 indigenes of Akwa Ibom State currently studying in Federal and State universities across Nigeria.

For his meritorious services to Nigeria, especially in resolving the over a decade rift in the Escravous /Chevron Gas to liquid project as Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), which has translated to several millions of US Dollars now accruing to Nigeria, NNPC on the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari approved the conferrment of Special honour on Senator Bassey Albert (OBA) at an elaborate event in Abuja on January 9, 2020.

Thereafter came Democracy Heroes Award Award 2020, where he was honoured as the Most Outstanding Senator in Nigeria.

It may interest many to know that the Distinguished Senator regularly intervenes in the medical bills and other welfare concerns of constituents and beyond, done away from media attention, not to talk of school fees payments for as many that come his way. This act of magnanimity is in addition from his ongoing all school expenses scholarship programme, as he strongly believes in value addition public service.

Some Akwa Ibom sons are currently doing their post graduate studies abroad courtesy the people’s centric Senator and the beneficiaries are very loud in their appreciation for his incomparable kindness and statesmanship.

Senator Bassey Albert (OBA) had his forays into politics from an excellent banking background, having worked at several banks before becoming Vice President at First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in charge of South South operations.

His diligence saw him being appointed Commissioner for Finance in Akwa Ibom State and he served for over seven years, marked by torrents of accolades as he contributed immensely to human capacity development, community services which spanned infrastructural projects and others.

Today, he has given a big voice to Akwa Ibom people in the Senate. As a ranking Senator of reckon and Leader of Akwa Ibom Caucus in the National Assembly, Senator Bassey Albert is undoubtedly one public servant and politician that is tenaciously disposed to public good.

At all times, l admire his poised disposition, emotions ever under control as well as his humility and simplicity.

Senator Albert deliberately accepts the utilitarian theory of pursuing the greatest happiness of the greater number of the people as a governing political philosophy.

Of great admiration too, is his going about public engagements moderately, without egoistic display as is common in our political space.

Senator Albert has really shaped the narratives in public representation as witnessed in his legislative duties and engagements. Today, Senator Albert is seen by many beyond political boundaries, as a model for up and coming politicians.

Anny Michaels is SA on Media/Publicity to Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert (OBA)

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Featured

Dikko And The New Vision Accountability and Development in Sports

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Felly Mammah N.

Since the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko assumed office on the 30th of October, 2024, he has systematically and deliberately been putting in place structures that would result to proper development of sports in Nigeria. Shortly after he was first appointed by President Bola Tinubu as a leading strength of sports, the Director General (DG), Hon. Bukola Olapade was appointed to compliment his efforts.

Many sports analysts believe that the duo of Dikko and Olapade who have been very visible in sports administration will be one of the best combination to take the sports sector to the next level. The DG no doubt, is the head of administration in the Commission, but it should be noted that the financial enablement to manage the affairs of staff and the political might that shops for the finance needed in the running of the sector rest on the Chairman who has the task of liaising with the President directly.

It is also, worthy to note that there is a huge difference between the administration of in the Civil Service as it is controlled by a Permanent Secretary and Directors while the administration of a Commission involves Board Members and experts whose voices and actions are also, game-changing; more so as Commissioners are likely going to take charge of the different zones to proffer solutions for a way forward. The defunct Ministry of Youths and Sports Development which later in 2023 metamorphosed into the Ministry of Sports Development on the assumption of President Bola Tinubu, produced a minister who was not versed in sports administration and as a result, faced mass criticism especially from men of the media.

These men of the pen profession are the torchlight of global sporting activity; they equally keep the history of both sports participation globally as well as the records of athletes’ performances. Their torchlight on past Minister’s and particularly the recent past, have revealed that most of the people who presided over sports administration do not really have any knowledge of the sector before their appointment.

The exit of the immediate past Minister, Sen. John Owan Enoh, refreshingly paved the way for change and this has brought in sports personnels that are expected to place sporting activities in the digital world. Suffice it to also, say that the new management of Sports Commission in parts of her changes is expected to sanitize athletes’ attitude and character for better reflection of children who have seen and communicated with their peers in the Western world.

However, the clarion call for President Tinubu to remove politics in sports may have changed the leadership of sports going by what many sports fans saw in the last outing of both Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, where a country like Nigeria did not measure up to her potentials.

Despite the poor performance of atheletes during the World Olympics Games, the past immediate past Minister deserves to be commended that during his tenure, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Games was reawakened as the participation of our Super Eagles brought back hope and jubilation to sports fans including the President and higher authorities. Yes whopping sum of N12 Billion was released two weeks to the Olympics Games and at a time the country was not financially stable. Despite the presidential financial support, the medals presented to the country were crisis and ignorant of both the atheletes, Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Atheletic Federaton to do the needful.

Therefore, it is heart-warming that the President harkened to the appeal of his fellow sports lovers to handpick a known figure in the sports arena to share his wealth of experience that gave him both a name in Sports and positions as the former Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Chairman League Management Company (LMC), FIFA match Commissioner of significance, 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and presently, CAF Committee Member, in addition to his new portfolio as Chairman NSC.

My reference point here is that Alh. Dikko has been given the authority to effect positive change in sports sector, co-ordinate over 40 Sports Federations in the sector, welcome ideas of both sports stakeholders, individuals and veterans of sports that will enable him x-ray the reasons for poor performances in the sector and to chat a way forward for success story. There can never be a new testament without an old testament, thus the reason Alh. Dikko’s doors have remained opened to receive courtesy calls that included the visits by past administrators and foreigners who want to facilitate with whom the cap fits.

Still, in the mood of celebration to formally welcome Alh. Dikko to office was the peculiar power of sports which gathered momentum and the crowd for happy moments as seen in the recent novelty match organized by his friends, associates and sports veterans at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja recently. That gathering clearly announced not just a man who has made a name for himself at a height in global political decision making in sports circle, but a man who has also, given voice to our country’s leagues and international activities.

Sports is a significant sector that comprises emotion, tension, happiness, sadness even death and hope irrespective of the fact that it has the potential to feed many mouths. The sector cannot be compared to other Ministries with delayed bureaucracies and frustration of abilities. While in the civil service the head will rather submerge a growing talent for fear of power thrown, a coach who discovers a talent takes the credit for showcasing a star athelete discovered. Sports has been proven to generate revenue as well as attract public partnership which are all aimed at enhancing podium performance by the athletes.

Shehu Dikko’s business vision and wide participation in football contributed in making him the right candidate to place the sector in its expected level, increase the GDP of the country’s economy and equally be accountable with administrative roadmap for success.

The novelty match organised for him by his sports fans and League managers had the likes of Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Mutiu Adepoju, Dominic Iorfa, Ahmed Musa in attendance to share their joy with him as they displayed their talent with their foot.
Others that graced the occasion were Super Sports General Manager, Felix Nwogu, former and present Chairmen of House Committee on Sports, NFF President, NOC members and persons from across the globe. That singular act indicated a clear fact that Dikko can actually gather momentum with persons that can support his ideology to deliver as charged by the presidency.

However, the Chairman’s meekness to open his doors to all does not mean weakness neither does it mean that he has not commenced work officially. His work is more of brain tasking because ideas actually rule the world. I will boldly say that he has resumed work with like minds that will not only be on the same page with him but will as well be on success Guinness Book with him.

Felly Mammah N.
Press Officer (NSC).

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