Sen. Eteng Williams representing Cross River Central Senatorial District has been described as an Emerging Pan-Nigerian Statesman by Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) awarding him the "Performing Senator" Award in Abuja.
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups reaffirming his statesmanship defined the true meaning of statesman according to the Merriam-Webster, as a someone who is versed in the principles
or art of government, especially one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government or in shaping its policies.
The Leader of the CSOs groups, Myke Ngbe said the definition is a perfect match of what Senator Eteng Jonah Williams is fast becoming, in the political landscape of Cross River State in particular and Nigeria in general.
He added that the senator’s rising political trajectory, which follows his consistent contributions towards the process of our evolving government, alongside his sustained service to humanity, is fast earning him the admiration of objective stakeholders, who are now looking to him as an opinion leader and respected power broker, in the ongoing political equation of Cross River State and Nigeria at large.
Ngbe went down the political history of the newly awarded performing senator: "Here’s why,
Eteng Jonah Williams who hails from Mkpani in Yakurr local government area of Cross River State, was a 3-term member who represented the good people of Yakurr II State Constituency at the 7th and 8th assemblies of the Cross River State House of Assembly, from 2011 to 2023.
While at it, he was chairman - house committee on finance and appropriation, vice
chairman house committee on business and rules, member house committee on
public account, member house committee on health service, women affairs, social welfare and gender development - all at the 7th and 8th Assemblies of the CRSHOA.
Validating his wealth of legislative experience and leadership qualities, Eteng Jonah
Williams was elected by his colleagues as Speaker of the 9th Assembly of the Cross
River State House of Assembly and sworn in on June 11, 2019.
He also said that as speaker of the 9th Assembly of the CRSHOA, Eteng Jonah Williams shone like
a million stars. On his watch, the House passed the Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission Bill 2020, the Judiciary Funds Management Bill 2021 and the Legislature Funds Management Bill 2021 into law.
"It is universally acknowledged that, ‘the reward for hard work is more hard work!’ This truism was demonstrated in February 2023, when Eteng Jonah Williams was rewarded by the electorates of Cross River State Central Senatorial District, with a resounding victory at the polls which saw him emerge winner of the Senatorial election, to represent the good people of Cross River Central Senatorial District at the Nigerian Senate and he was sworn in to serve the people on June 13, 2023.
"True to type, the distinguished senator indeed hit-the-ground-running at the Nigerian
senate, quickly taking giant strides by way of lofty legislative contributions.
"In his first year as senator, distinguished Senator Eteng sponsored three bills including the Nuclear Security and Safety bill and also moved five far-reaching motions.
"Ultimately, his towering legislative experience, political dexterity and public service
pedigrees are so compelling and speaks to so much competence, that he currently serves as the Chairman - Committee on petroleum resources (Upstream) at the current 10th senate.
"This is a very rare accomplishment for a first term senator in the Nigerian Senate and it speaks volumes of his proactive leadership and statesmanship.
Moreover, distinguished senator Eteng is also a firm believer in service to humanity, obviously because he has personally suffered deprivations and neediness from his humble background.
Accordingly, Senator Eteng is blazing a trail in humanitarian initiatives, by empowering the less privileged and creating opportunities for indigent
people." Ngbe stated.
He further stated that upon assumption of office as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in June 2023, the senator immediately embarked on social intervention programmes for his constituents, which includes doling out #200,000 scholarship grant to each of twenty (21) indigent Law School students, from across the six local government areas of Cross River Central Senatorial District.
"The senator’s benevolence and magnanimity also includes sponsoring free medical outreaches for his constituents, with beneficiaries running into thousands and counting.
Additionally, Senator Eteng’s service to humanity goes beyond education and healthcare, as he has also championed agricultural interventions as well as human capital development initiatives, among other humanitarian causes.
However, it appears that the senator is rather unassuming about his noble contributions, shunning fanfare and opting to remain modest about what many others flaunt.
"That explains why his accomplishments are never accompanied by much pomp and pageantry as do others of his ilk. But the records speak for themselves and that is why objective stakeholders are looking towards Senator Eteng for leadership.
"Suffice it to say that, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams is indeed a rising star in the political equation of Cross River State, a light that is set on a hill that can never be hidden.
"No matter the calculation, permutation and combination, the political configuration of cross River State is irreversibly changing with the advent of the performing senator on the scene because people now have an alternative choice." Ngbe said.
The leader of the groups concluded by saying his parting gift to the emerging statesman Senator Eteng Jonah Williams is these words of the sages, 'let your light so shine that all may see your good works and glorify your maker in heaven, who graciously gives abilities and opportunities to all who desire to serve with integrity, Do not rest on your oars senator, keep on doing the Lord’s work you shall reap in
due season if you faint not.
