Not a few godfathers in Nigerian politics end up ruing the day they gave their prodigal godsons the keys to their political kingdoms. But Senator Godswill Akpabio, the strongman of Akwa Ibom politics, has finally unearthed a protégé in whom he is well pleased. This person is none other than Rt Hon Onofiok Luke, speaker of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly.
Few days ago, it was double celebrations for Hon Onofiok who marked his 40th birthday and the 10th anniversary of his marriage to beautiful and intelligent Uduak. The high octane occasion was one Akpabio couldn’t miss. Expectedly, he stormed the Full Life Christian Centre, Uyo venue of the event with some powerful friends in tow.
Since fate serendipitously brought them together in 2002, Hon Onofiok has been a paragon of loyalty, standing by the senate minority leader’s side through thick and thin. Akpabio in turn has lavished promotion after promotion on the popular speaker who has risen to become the number three citizen in Akwa Ibom.
There is speculation in some quarters that the speaker who represents Nsit Ubium constituency in the house is being groomed for governor in the nearest future. There aren’t many politicians more popular in the state than the maverick young man who is adoringly addressed as The Peoples Speaker on account of his dedication to the issues of the common man. People living with HIV, the physically challenged, and those in need of primary healthcare and housing are just some of the beneficiaries of the bills he has sponsored.
Even at the height of his fame, the young man has remained grounded, people-oriented and mindful of his humble beginnings. He never misses an opportunity to tell whoever cared to listen how Senator Akpabio plucked him out of nowhere and gave him a platform to launch himself into public consciousness. No wonder the former governor is rumoured to have handpicked him as the next occupant of the government house.