While growing up with Barrister Effiong Bob (as he was then) in Eket, I knew him as a man of modest means who, through hard work, service to God, humility and respect for authority, rose from a humble background to become who he is today by God’s grace. I do not know Senator Effiong Bob as a fraudster (“utoto”) either politically, professionally or socially!
I know him as a man so full of grace who has lifted others; built a network of true and faithful friends across Nigeria.
I know him as a dogged defender of the interest of Akwa Ibom people who, as Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Akwa Ibom State, and later as a two term Senator, was at the forefront of those who fought relentlessly to ensure that the onshore/offshore dichotomy in the sharing of oil revenues to littoral states was abolished in favour of states such as Akwa Ibom State. The billions of petro dollars that flowed into the treasury of Akwa Ibom State from the administration of Godswill Akpabio till now can be attributed to him and his colleagues in the 5th Senate led by the iconic Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.
Recall that he was the State Attorney General under the administration of Obong Victor Attah. He put together a formidable legal team, led by the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ekong Bassey of blessed memory, to defend the state against the Federal Government at the celebrated Onshore/offshore suit at the Supreme Court.
I also know Senator Bob as an essential family man who has trained his children properly to be achievers in their own right. That he encouraged one of them to offer himself for public service is no crime. By doing so, I do not think he has done something abominable as it should be the dream of every responsible father to give his children the best in life. He is not the first to encourage one of his children to go into public service, and will not be the last. It is a practice that is being encouraged even in civilized climes.
As a leader of Akwa Ibom State Caucus in the National Assembly, he led a powerful lobby that ensured that the ownership of 76 oil wells, disputed by his Cross River State counterparts in the National Assembly, remained with Akwa Ibom State.
Having worked closely with this man of grace while in the Senate, his legacy constituency projects, legendary political and legislative achievements in the areas of securing placements for Akwa Ibom youths in the Federal Public Service and enactment of critical laws such as the reforms of Nigeria’s moribund tax laws, are in public space. These are well documented in a book titled, EFFIONG BOB: FOOTPRINTS IN THE SENATE.
As a cultured personality who plays by the rules, he is an apostle of politics without bitterness and an advocate of issue based politics. His style of politics is predicated on the principles of mutual respect, fair and constructive scrutiny of government policies by the opposition, rather than wholesale attack on personalities and their reputations.
I implore Akwa Ibom youths to use their youthful and creative energies to pursue causes that will move their destinies forward, rather than engage in a campaign of innuendos against those who should be immortalised.
This is the Senator Effiong Bob I know.
By Victor Effik