AKWA IBOM 2023: NEED TO TOE SEN. BOB’S INTEGRITY PATH

AKWA IBOM 2023: NEED TO TOE SEN. BOB’S INTEGRITY PATH

By: Inemesit  N. Ebu

When analyzing the context of integrity in Nigerian political viewpoints, many, especially politicians see it as merely being loyal. It is far from this. The fact remains that most politicians lack integrity in democratic setting.

What then is integrity? Integrity is the practice of being honest and showing uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. Integrity has become a concept with more prominence in research on government and governance as well as in actual policy making at all levels. Integrity can also be viewed as a crucial concept for an understanding of governance.

Integrity is choosing courage over comfort that is, choosing what’s right over what’s fun while practicing ones values not just professing them.

The complaint that politicians lack integrity is common in Nigeria. However, it is unclear what such judgment amounts to. According to Stephen Cavey, “a life of integrity is the most fundamental source of personal worth’

Considering various codes of ethics, it is pertinent to examine the extent to which we can understand political integrity.

Taking a closer look at the Akwa Ibom 2023 elections, it is pertinent to re-examine the positions of politicians with regards to integrity. We should not only elect a man or woman into an elective position becsuse we know or love him/her, but we should elect one who is tested in all ramifications with integrity apart from scaling through other attributes in which experience and capacity should be paramount.

For every politician, toeing the path of Distinguished Senator Effiong Bob’s integrity level during the Akwa Ibom 2023 elections is apt. Senator Bob possesses the following attributes of integrity in politics which include probity, honesty, contentment, truthfulness, fair play, non compromise of principles and soundness.
He has several years of elections experience; he is a two-term Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a one-time Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Akwa Ibom State, and a one-time Deputy Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. He knows the rudiments of politics in the country.

Setting up this clear analysis of integrity which translates to effective leadership, is to definitely remind our politicians of their roles as our leaders in the federal, State or Local Government administrations and to also remind the electorates on the need for hard work and loyalty.

Bearing in mind that 2023 is fast approaching, we should be analytical with deep insights in the choice of our leaders during the forth-coming elections.

Effiong Bob, a former Senator, rumoured to be interested in governance race in Akwa Ibom State in 2023 is a good case of a politician with high level integrity. If indeed it is true, he deserves support from Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration because of his anti-cultism stance, his integrity level, being a team player, and having also supported His Excellency, despite all odds.

A man of the people, Senator Bob decided to stay close to r his people even though he was every count proficient in commercial law, having won the Chief Chris Ogunbanjo prize for the subject, he did not choose legal practice in the metropolis but he chose to settle near his people. He practiced law in Eket in Akwa Ibom State as far back as 1985 and has maintained his integrity in politics and his entire life’s endeavor right from the grassroots level of politics.

He is a political leader with the courage to stand up and say what needs to be said – rather than just tell the general public what it wants to hear and a great personality who is willing to make difficult and possibly unpopular decisions for the greater good of the people.

Senator Bob is a politician known to have capacity, intelligence, experience, character and contents, who also takes responsibility in whatever happens which is one of the key leadership qualities many political leaders lack. A lot of political leaders are very adept at pointing the finger at everyone else and few seem able to accept responsibility for their mistakes, admit their political failures and acknowledge their own contributions to a problem because leadership at its core is about service, not taking credit.

Sen. Bob is accountable in whatever he does. This is crucial to effective political leadership, as without this, there will be no respect from the followers.

The truth is that good leaders are empathetic and Sen. Bob is that typical example. He is one who seeks to understand challenges and ways to collaborate to proffer solutions and investigate to understand the root causes of disruption or conflict.

As 2023 election draws near, it is important for the Akwa Ibom State politicians,from any political party to toe the integrity path of Distinguished Senator Effiong Bob for a successful outing.