This famous inspirational poem Ode to Onofiok Luke is an inspiring poem to celebrate an amazing man who is inspired to lead and do more for humanity.
In 1978, March 16 to be precise, the sound of joy reverberates like a light out of the tunnel and her songs of joy could be heard afar off. To the family of the late Mr. and Deaconess Mrs Akpan Luke, a son was born. To Ikot Etobo, in present Nsit Ubium Local Government Council of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and to the world, a son was given. Among his peers, his star could not be hidden; he was simply born to lead. To prove his worth, St. Theresa Primary School Use Abat, Ibiono Ibom and Lutheran High School, Obot Idim Nsit, Ibesikpo, where he obtained his Primary and Secondary School education.
The field of Law was his calling and the University of Uyo was his training ground, where he justified his readiness for the task ahead. All through his stay, like a golden fish, he had no hiding place and like his love for humanity, it could not be hidden, so the mantle fell on him when he was elected to lead as the President of the Students Union Government of University of Uyo, in 2002. His days were like the journey of a true activist, always standing for the rights of his people and detesting the oppressing tendencies of the authorities. This almost mars his career when he was suspended for leading a peaceful protest against an increment in school fees. Though he was recalled to complete his studies which marked a turning point in his life and the outcome today, we are a living witness that the voice of oppression can never outsmart the voice of the people.
The field of Law was his calling and the University of Uyo was his training ground, where he justified his readiness for the task ahead. All through his stay, like a golden fish, he had no hiding place and like his love for humanity, it could not be hidden, so the mantle fell on him when he was elected to lead as the President of the Students Union Government of University of Uyo, in 2002. His days were like the journey of a true activist, always standing for the rights of his people and detesting the oppressing tendencies of the authorities. This almost mars his career when he was suspended for leading a peaceful protest against an increment in school fees. Though he was recalled to complete his studies which marked a turning point in his life and the outcome today, we are a living witness that the voice of oppression can never outsmart the voice of the people.
A man of style is a man of class,
A man, who had paid his dues, should be duly respected;
A man, who stands by the side of the people,
Is a man with the majority and honour to him;
Shall be like a tree planted by the bank of the river,
It will forever flourish no matter the test of time.
We have seen it flourish as the Personal Assistant to our former Digital Governor on Protocol Matters, the one the youth called “Mr Swaggar”, the very one who turned the Land of Promise into the Land of Fulfillment. No other but His Excellency, Dr Godswill Obot Akpabio. Right from there, we all witnessed his call to the Nigerian Bar after his post-graduate studies at the Nigerian Law School, where again his love for humanity was demonstrated among his co-students of Akwa Ibom State origin and others beyond.
Yet again, the youth felt him and are still feeling his style when he represented our dear State at the inaugural Nigerian Youth Parliament and got elected as its first Speaker. This gave to him the minds of the youth to speak on their behalf on matters affecting them. He had done the youths of our nation proud and if there is one youth on whom the heart of Akwa Ibom youth beats, we have rightly found it in our amiable, charismatic, complete family man with an adorable wife and kids, a philanthropic whose love for the downtrodden is equal to none, yet a humble man of equal forthrightness.
The same forthrightness we have seen when his people unanimously elected him as their duly elected representative in the State House of Assembly. Lawmaking for him is a passion and engaging the mind of the youth for product development is a call that gives him the joy to undertake. These and many more we have seen from his contribution to the day-to-day legislative affair of the house. Apart from legislating, his benevolent heart could be attested to by his philanthropic approach cut across all ages both in the rural and urban areas across the state and beyond. Men, women, single parents, talented youth and the needy are beneficiaries of his thoughtful gestures.
The man who deserves our honour is no one but Barrister Onofiok Luke, former SUG President, University of Uyo, former President, Nigerian Youth Parliament, former Personal Assistant to Governor Godswll Akpabio on Protocol Matters, former member representing the people of Nsit Ubium State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the House Committee Chairman on Finance and Appropriation as well as the Deputy Chairman, Committee on Information. The Rt. Honourable member, the former Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and now the Honorable Member Representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency in the Nigerian House of Representatives. Barrister Onofiok Akpan Luke, please take a bow! Historical, Tourism and Heritage Poems about Akwa Ibom State
This well-known inspirational poem, Ode to Onofiok Luke, honours a remarkable individual who is motivated to take charge and do more for humanity. Christian Poems that Will Strengthen and Uplift Your Faith
Ode to Onofiok Luke
In aluta continua was his calling made,
With a voice that portrayed his mind;
He seeks to beckon on his fellow Tusker Republicans,
To always stand up to their right where it calls for;
No matter the forces that come around them.
Gifted in the art of oratory and built with charisma,
The same that could draw anyone around him;
I imagine a man in the making of Martin Luther King,
The same man whose speech, “I Have a Dream”;
Has today metamorphosed into “Yes We Can”?
Years ago he was elected by his fellow comrades to lead,
And like Luther, he chose the path of the upright;
Choosing to dine with the majority, who elected him,
Rather than defile himself with the kings' portion;
When the true test of his uprightness was put on trial.
Though the men in black came with their dark buds and grey smoke,
Turning the tower of learning into their battlefield of war front;
Yet the minds who were determined to stand stood their ground,
In togetherness they withstood their reign and had their victory;
But the irony is, it caused their leader a temporary dismissal.
How I wish the authorities knew,
That their undoing was to prepare a man;
For greater glory in service of humanity,
The throne which is now bigger;
Bigger than that of his then-oppressors.
A true man of his elected people, he is,
A man whose heart detests victimization;
He could give all he has to fight oppression,
This we have seen during his tenor as the SUG President;
The same cause he still fights, fighting to make things right.
Born to service, elected to reign,
His star can never be hidden in darkness;
Like men of vision, like men of impact,
Like men with forthrightness, like men with charisma;
He is a true man born with a purpose to fulfil his destiny.
Like men whose shoulder bears the weight that carries all along,
Like men who lit the candlelight and shows others the path to follow;
Like men who leave their adorable footprint on the sand of time,
Like men whose unborn generation would always strive to emulate;
The world knows that they are only born but ones and not twice.
Nsikak Andrew
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