Ukpong Chuwang Daniel: Treading A Familiar Path To The Red Chamber

Oluikpe Precious

Having personally been addressing the underlying result of a dysfunctional society that has bred hardship and poverty among the masses through his philanthropic gestures, Ukpong Chuwang Daniel suddenly found the best way to look for his true self, by fully devoting his life to the service of others at the political arena.

As it is widely said and believed, there could be no definition for a successful life that does not include service to others. Ukpong Chuwang Daniel has indeed come a long way in the journey of reaching out and touching lives. A lot of activities attest to this. He has sponsored various indigents to schools. This goes beyond Cross River State, his home state.

And now, as the Senatorial candidate for Cross River Southern district on the party platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), a contest that he is largely projected to win, he has truly confirmed the saying that you give but little when you give of your possessions, but it is when you give of yourself that you truly give. He has now offered to give of himself to serve the people he has always identified with.

Though he confessed to it being a new experience, because before now, he has only been engaging in philanthropy without trying his hands on politics, but with his track record of reaching out to people and touching their lives in various forms, he can be assured that it will seem like treading a familiar path. And obviously, the people of Cross River Southern constituency have long waited for this opportunity of having him as their mouthpiece in the Red Chamber, as it is long overdue.

Though there are four other contestants to the exalted seat, Ukpong maintained that he is not perturbed about his chances, as according to him, “I have spoken to a couple of people but trust me, none of those other contestants is as popular in Cross River as myself. This is not a political statement or to politicise my way through, but in reality, I am yet to see one living soul in Cross River, who after speaking to him or her and trying to get his views on my chances, that will not say, where have you been, you are honest, intelligent, kindhearted and easily accessible to the people, you are the one we’ve been looking for. So if we want to go by that, anybody that is wishing Cross River well and honestly praying for or campaigning for the prosperity and development of Cross River will cast his vote for me, even those other contestants will automatically concede to me unopposed, that is of the want good for this State, why, because I am the only Senatorial Candidate with the Blue print for a New Cross River that will be Productive and very engaging to our Youths to keep them on the track of accountable and prosperous lifestyle. All the people I have been meeting keep telling me in confidence that I already have their votes.”

Despite the assumption that Cross River is an All Progressive Congress (APC) party State, Ukpong is not in any way deterred because according to him, the fact that the governor of the state belongs to APC does not make the state an APC state. In fact, to borrow his language, APC is struggling in Cross River State. All three seating Senators of the State are from an opposition Party. The State, he emphasized, is not any particular party state. Hear him out:

“To say that without me, there is no APGA in Cross River, is right, it is like saying that without Obi, the Labour Party will not be known. Over 16,000 people have switched to APGA, don’t forget I was a Presidential Aspirant in PDP in the year 2022  though I don’t want to speak against other political parties, even people in other Political Parties do call to tell me that they know me and what I stand for, so I should be rest assured they will cast their votes for me just that being leaders, they can’t openly campaign for me as it’s against their Party policy. Under normal circumstances, people will think they are coming for money; but these people are not coming for money but doing things for me with their resources ecause they want me in power. They have been connecting me with people just to make sure I meet the right people and win.”

While responding to questions on what other things he has for the people of Cross River State, considering that prior to his incursion into politics, he has always towed the path of philanthropy, he has this to say:

“We must separate personality and functionality. As a person, I don’t like seeing people suffer, so it is in-born for me to help and do good to humans. I have people who are in the universities and I am paying their school fees and this has nothing to do with tribe. In fact most of them were before I joined politics, even in Yoruba land including the Igbos in Ibadan and Lagos State. So it has nothing to do with politics. It is in my nature to give to my Society because I always want to make an impact on lives.

“However, when I get into power, I will do my philanthropic act when necessary with me personal resources. I have been to the colleges and missions and they ask what will I do for them? I always like to make them understand that I am not going into politics to use the money on projects that could be handled by the Governor or Smaller elected officers. I love engaging myself with projects I know no one will take up. Projects that should there be anyone in Cross River that thinks in my same direction as I do, such Projects would had been completed or almost completed, but no one looks at them because it’s not in their comprehension, thought processes nor possible to their contemplating world. I am here to do big things such as to open Cross River up with multiple Federal High Ways that will lead into the City and out through Calabar South, Akamkpa and Akpabuyo to Creek Town with exit high Bridges through Oron in Akwa Ibom State, Ohafia in Abia State and Gboko in Benue State.”

Added to the above, he disclosed that when he wins the election, with their existing family’s businesses still running, they will be having more hands for philanthropic activities. He’s going to use every Power from Calabar his Paternal, North Central his Maternal and Delta his In-laws Homes and Community Support to drive for support and win the heart of the Nation and National strength at his disposal to cause rapid and productive developments in Calabar, highly Functional Ports, Private Investmens and establishmens, Industrial explosions and more to ensure businesses can be at their prime in the State.

While not underrating the capacity and efficiency of the Nigerian professionals, Ukpong has resolved to incorporate the Chinese expatriates into the Nigerian system. Below, according to him, is how he intends to do it:

“There is something about the Chinese system that we are used to. In China, they look at your ability and look for ways to bring out the best in you. They don’t go for superior parties. Bringing it down into our construction industry, I was in South Africa some time ago and a flyover was under construction. The ongoing construction did not cause a single traffic as has always been the case here. The system would not allow for such project to become a problem to commuters and I got to know that it was a Nigerian living in South Africa that finally constructed that bridge. He got his training and has his workers from China. There are several Build, Own and transfer projects that will be executed excellently because the contractors and financiers will not dare to work in messy ways as it will mean losing their investment. Here, someone will do wrong and when it’s time for accounting for stewardship, phones starts ringing from different quarters asking that such a person be let go, such is why this nation remains far underdeveloped.”

The shrewd businessman cum politician assured that besides opening up Cross River State for developments that he has already spoken to some foreign companies who have offered to come and work as engineers and lecturers in Nigeria for agreed period to enable the country start manufacturing it’s ships, passenger boats and more so that our waterways will serve as an excellent means of transportation within the coastal States.

According to him, he wants Cross River to be the commercial hub of Africa. They’ve got the land and have more than enough mineral resources, they also got agriculture and rocks, so it will only be ideal to have people come from different parts of the world to Cross River State to work. That, he has assured to facilitate.

Despite then having limited knowledge at the age of 22, the CEO of Expansions Group was able to build his first house by himself, having lost his mother at a tender age and with a father that was nowhere close.He said that building works revealed to him how lawless and unaccountable lots of Nigerians could be an that is because they have not been well taught and guided by best practices and rules of engagement. They destroyed the property by wrong approach and no one could take up responsibility for that but claims and blame game filled the Air. He said funds from agricultural produce he do supply markets in Lagos got him such funds to both go to school and also build a fish farm and own a home at that youthful age.

Not given to shying away from the reality on ground or telling bogus lies about himself, the successful businessman admitted that whatever pay packet was due him as stipulated by the law that he was going to accept it but utilize it for the benefit of humanity.

And on the much controversial constituency fund, Ukpong remarked that though he will be new in the Red Chamber, but that he would be utilizing the funds for the very purpose for which it was meant. It is the peoples’ money and not for personal use, he insisted.

“When you say constituency, it’s meant to be used for the development of the constituency. I will prefer to use the money to make people’s lives comfortable. I want to be able to buy corn without being afraid that somebody will attack me, or that my children won’t be able to live freely on the streets of Nigeria and Cross River to be precise, so I will work my best  and make the lives of the people okay in this State.”