By Kufre Umoefon
As Akwaibomites, we will forever remain thankful to God who has generously bestowed so much on us as a people. We are unquestionably blessed not only with abundant mineral resources but also copious human resources which hasten the developmental steps of the state towards the promised Promised-Land. Among these blessings, in grade ‘A’ category, is the gift of Sir Monday Ebong Uko (Monty) of Obot Akara Local Government Area. With intrinsic business acumen in his DNA, he is a noiselessly potent successful businessman with exceptional forte in hospitality business.
Taking a fleeting look through his life’s voyage, you will discover a self-made man who saw the bare face of poverty and vowed never to have any relationship with it. With dedication, focus, diligence and hard-work, he courageously soiled his hands even in legitimately grimy and incongruous industry just to follow the compass of his destiny. His efforts evidently paid off as he steadily progressed and eventually got hold of his destined and personally desired affluence and influence required for outstanding leadership. To Monty, It is payback time for poverty.
He has shown money that He (MONTY) is the master while it remains the slave. An introspective study of this highly disciplined philanthropist shows that he hardly touches or counts money with his hands but gives instruction – you hardly see him put hand in his pocket to bring out money but only commands; an indication that poverty is not insurmountable. What an interesting lifestyle!!
Politically, this level headed and self-sacrificing asset to our generation is an influential grassroots politician who progressively grew from the cradle of political ranking – Councilor, Vice Chairman, Caretaker Chairman, head of Obot Akara Area (who had won the good governance star prize as the best local government Chairman in the state), Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Akwa Ibom State chapter – to a two-times commissioner for youths and sports and a key propeller of Divine mandate campaign organization that secured His Excellency, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, a second tenure in office amidst logs of unimaginable impediments. In every capacity he is privileged to serve, he leaves behind, difficult-to-match legacies because in him are buried leadership traits and experience-shaped principles which, in turn, influence his admirable and emulative lifestyle.
Grippingly I critically studied his lifestyle and realized that his superseding mission on earth is that he was created to create wealth and wealth creators so as to abysmally exorcise poverty from as many impecunious lives as he could reach out to. This, he has successfully achieved as he has permanently killed poverty in the lives of many; resurrected dead hopes of the helpless; added flesh to skeletal businesses of so many; raised a generation of future leaders; politically, economically and academically. Indeed, no known memory can accurately give account of his innumerable show of generosity to mankind in general and to Obot Akara indigenes and residents to be precise. As a matter of fact, no one is known with Monty that has no positive change of story because his affluence is infectious and his passion for generosity compassionately deep. The lion share of his benevolence is enjoyed by the youths, women and the elderly in form of at-the-point-of-need empowerment.
Uniquely, in spite of the plethora of achievements, evident in the unprecedented endearment he enjoys from his people, Sir Monty remains one of the few politicians in the state that are exceedingly humble. He blows no trumpet on his accomplishments as he is, by nature, a noiseless high flier. To him, it means nothing when he does the work and another takes the glory. His concern is that the projected result must be achieved, anyway.
In his Unassuming mien, to say the least, he is passionately compassionate to mankind; ardently altruistic to the less privileged and vigilantly sensitive to the needs of the needy. These endearing epithets have literally glued him to the masses that go with him anywhere he goes. It is on this premise that any candidate he endorses wins in an elections effortlessly.
All in all, taking an introspective look at the lifestyle of Sir Monty and his kind gesture to mankind, it would be a prayer request of every patriotic Akwaibomite to have at least a Monty in each local government area of the state. Should this be achieved, the state would be totally disinfected of poverty. With utmost sincerity, given his life’s experiences both in private and public sectors, no state or national appointment is too big for him to handle. It was not unexpected to political analysts that the selfless resolved-to-succeed governor reappointed him as commissioner in his second term because, as his commissioner, he acknowledged his venerable capacity, witnessed his obdurate veracity, heard of his inestimable antecedence and admired his uncompromising forthrightness all driven by uncontaminated integrity, total loyalty and utter commitment to every given tasks.
To the governor, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, Akwaibomites say: thank you for the wisdom of spotting Sir Monday Uko and making him part of the drivers of your creditably first-rate vision. To Monty: we are all proud of you. May the tap of your generosity and wisdom never run dry as we are aware of the crude undigested masses of endowment deposited in you; may the painful sting of betrayal and malevolence of those you have raised from obscurity to celebrity – but chose to work against you – not distort your commissioned benevolence to your generation. Higher capacities you shall explore. We are all proud of you and your laudable strides. Keep it up and God will not let you down.
