What You Probably Didn't Know About Senator Aniekan Bassey (Part 1)

By Henshaw Nyong 

I recently found myself in a conversation about a gentleman I only knew from a distance. The people in that discussion spoke highly of him; how much he is loved, how deeply respected he is, and how he has done so much without making noise about it. Normally, I don’t get easily swayed by such praises. Not because I am skeptical, but because I believe true greatness should stand the test of independent scrutiny.

However, I have a friend, Atuekong Paul Bassey, who always tells me that I am positively stubborn. His reason? I don’t just go with the flow. I don’t jump on bandwagons. I don’t let sentiments dictate my judgment. Instead, I take my time, do my research, and form my own conclusions. And that is exactly what I decided to do - dig deeper and find out for myself what many people probably don’t know about Senator Aniekan Etim Bassey, who was sworn into the 10th Senate in June 2023 to represent Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

In that conversation I stumbled upon, one question kept coming up: What has he really done since he went to the National Assembly? Before putting this piece together, I had to understand the reality of the legislature. I realized that some lawmakers have been in the Senate for five, four, three, or two terms. These are the ranking Senators; the first-choice names for major positions and committee chairmanships. Meanwhile, first-time Senators are often viewed like the youngest child in a typical Nigerian home. When something is being shared, the firstborn takes first, the second follows, and the youngest either waits or gets forgotten. 

For a first-time Senator, breaking through that system is not a walk in the park. You have to fight for relevance, work twice as hard, and push through the barriers of seniority. But has that stopped Senator Aniekan Bassey?

I had to do my own findings, talk to people who would rather not be quoted, visit places, and ensure that whatever I put out was factual. And what I discovered? Quite revealing.

I found out that even before becoming a Senator, Aniekan Bassey was already changing lives through his RHAB-YESS Foundation - the Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey Youth Entrepreneurship Support Scheme. Through this initiative, he lifted young people out of poverty, offering grants ranging from ₦200,000 to ₦1 million to support their businesses. Some politicians in our state thrive on past glory, but he isn’t one of them. As a strong disciple of the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D., his projects and programmes are in line with the ARISE Agenda.

I found out that within his first three months in office, he had furnished at least one school per Local Government in the nine LGAs (Uyo, Nsit Ubium, Uruan, Ibiono Ibom, Itu, Etinan, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Ibom and Nsit Atai) of his district with modern classroom tables, chairs, books, school bags, and at least five computer sets per school. I discovered that roads had been tarred and fitted with streetlights in several communities across the senatorial district. I spoke with some people who confirmed that sound and clean cars had been donated to constituents to aid their movement. I verified that at least one health centre per Local Government was set to receive essential drugs and supplements, because to him, the health of the people is non-negotiable.

I traced details of an ₦800 million RHAB-YESS Mega Empowerment between August and December 2024, which has provided quarterly training for beneficiaries in all nine LGAs. Each beneficiary received between ₦200,000 and ₦500,000 to support their businesses. I confirmed that over 32 people have already gained Federal employment through his facilitation. I visited some locations and saw firsthand the solar-powered streetlights installed in Akpan Etuk Street, Udosen Uko Street, Itiam Etuk Ekpat by Nesman Filling Station, a greater part of Shelter Afrique, Uyo Club, Osongama, and several other locations across the Senatorial District.

I found out that 500 youths have been trained and empowered with digital skills. Free medical outreaches have been carried out across the district. Over 10,000 educational kits have been donated to schools in all nine LGAs. More than 100 desktop and laptop computers have been distributed to schools. 100 rural women have been empowered with agro-inputs. 100 businesses have received development grants. Community roads have been constructed. Boreholes have been provided in rural areas and communities. 2,000 JAMB forms have been given already to students. Overseas scholarships have been awarded to brilliant but indigent students.

However, unlike some politicians who thrive on media noise, Senator Bassey allows his work to speak for him. He doesn’t crave attention or make a fuss about his achievements. Perhaps that’s why many don’t even realize the weight of what he has done within a short time in office. But as someone who, according to my friend Atuekong, doesn’t follow bandwagons, I had to dig deep to uncover these facts. And the more I searched, the clearer it became - Senator Aniekan Bassey, Ph.D, isn’t just another name in the Senate; he is a force and is shaping the reality of representation.

But this is just the beginning.

In the next part, we’ll look beyond his direct interventions and focus on his core legislative responsibilities - bills, motions, and advocacy shaping national policies. Because if you think you already know everything about Senator Aniekan Bassey, then you probably don’t know enough...!