by By Elijah Ugani
As I reminisced on the existence of Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor in this physio temporal terrain, I am yet to come to terms with the specialty associated with the uniqueness of his creation.
I really don’t know where to start writing this piece from, because I will end up writing a book in his honor, considering the import of his magnanimity and service to humanity.
Sen. Onor is currently a Professor at the Department of History & International Studies in the University of Calabar, Nigeria. Where he has taught a thousand generation of scholars who are currently braking grounds and setting records in all spheres of life. He has mentored so many young persons including his peers and colleagues both in the academia and politics. No wonder the President of the Nigerian senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, could not control his emotions when he declared Sen. Sandy Onor as the orator of the 9th senate.
He has authored several books, including The Ejagham Nation in the Cross River Region of Nigeria (1994 & 2015), and Local Governance in Nigeria (2005). No wonder he is vested with the needed prowess to navigate and circumvent the huddles associated with leadership within the Nigerian context.
Prof. Sandy has been highly recognized and decorated for his scholarship and other achievements, within and outside the country.
At various times, he had served as the Executive Chairman of Etung Local Government Council (1999-2002), Chairman, Cross River State Local Government Service Commission, Commissioner for Agriculture (2010-2011) and Commissioner for Environment (2011-2013) among other public offices.
As a first timer in the senate, I recall my rebuttal to the attack on his person by his traducers on June 20th, 2020. I requested them to give the senator and all first timers up to December, 2020 to ask for their score cards.
Sometimes around September, 2020 Sen. Onor rolled out a litany of constituency projects across the six local governments that made up the central senatorial district. My joy know no bounds because he didn’t disappoint me. The most important aspect of it being that majority of his constituents are very proud of his enigmatic representation and have no regret in his holding their mandate.
The tact with which he lobbied and got the highest number of constituency projects spread across the central senatorial district in the history of the state remains a mystery.
Sen. Onor needs to be understudied.
His is currently distributing computer systems and accessories to five secondary schools in five local governments in the central senatorial district.
Of recent, he seemed to be the only senator who is in touch with his constituents at regular intervals, spinning through the south, central and northern senatorial districts of the state.
Just recently, the Ndok Clan in Ogoja local government area of northern senatorial district, honored hi with a chieftaincy title having facilitated the grading of the Ndok – Kakwagom road.
To have been born on the day when the entire globe celebrates the virtues of St. Valentine anchored on love, goes beyond mere coincidence. There seemed to be a divine ontology associated with his birth that is yet to be unraveled.
His love for his mentees, students, constituents, cross river state and in deed humanity at large can only be best explained by divine providence.
Prof. Onor’s stint at the senate visa viz his past records shows that he is an embodiment of selfless service to humanity.
His recent bill for a special fund for our health sector lay credence to the fact that he understands our basic needs and his disposition to combat them headlong is not in doubt.
I can best describe him as an epitome of knowledge, a quintessential trailblazer, a community mobilizer and builder, an astute politician, a seasoned administrator per excellent, a contemporary scholar of very high repute, a silent archiver.
I admire his auditory prowess, his rendition of vocabularies effortlessly to the admiration of his listeners.
On this auspicious day of his birth anniversary, like most cross riverians out there, we are very proud of him and will continue to support every of his initiative that is geared towards service to humanity.
The best is yet to come as the future is even brighter. We expect more from him as he begins another cycle of life today.
Senator Onor would continue to make cross river state proud as I pray for global platform to enable him showcase and market the state in particular and Nigeria at large to the world.
Once again, congratulations to the distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
