Wanted : Longevity of Representation in Ideato Federal Constituency
The Ideato nation, more than ever before, needs a representative who will bring the much desired socio-economic and infrastructural development to it.
The cap perfectly fits Hon. Dr. Pascal Chigozie Obi. He is already in the saddle in the House of Representatives in Abuja doing that. He is not a learner on the job.
If there should be any worthy discourse on Ideato nation right now, it should be on how to mobilise support for Hon. Obi and re-elect him next year so that he will continue to reinvent the federal constituency.
The divisive issue of rotation of the position between Ideato North and South is not what should occupy the thought and attention of our people at this juncture.
The Ideato ancient kingdom is one, united in one common goal which is: Better and new lease of life for its people which Hon. Pascal Obi is doggedly making possible through his quality representation in Abuja as member representing Ideato North / Ideato South in the House of Representatives.
Does it make political sense to willyfully truncate and sacrifice this on the altar of zoning or rotation? No, of course!
Evidently, the high turnover of House of Reps members for the Ideato Federal Constituency is doing the ancient kingdom more harm than good.
It is indeed a sad and lurid commentary that between 1999 and now, Ideato nation has produced six House of Reps members- that is, six Honourable sons and a DAUGHTERS of Ideato have represented our ancient kingdom in 23 years!
In other climes, lawmakers spend a longtime in the legislature, maturing and adding values to democracy and to their constituents. And most times, they transit from the legislature to the executive, offering all round experience.
For example, in the US, some sitting Senators and Congressmen have spent over 30 years as lawmakers and some have transited from there to the White House to become presidents.
Ready examples are Presidents Barak Obama and Joe Biden.
In Nigeria, Emeka Ihedioha was in the House Reps, rising to become Chief Whip, Deputy Speaker and briefly Speaker. He would later got elected as Imo state governor.
David Mark spent over 12 years in the Senate and rose to become President of the Senate.
Senator Ekweremadu would have spent 20 years in the senate by next year; he rose to become Deputy Senate President.
The current Senate President, Ahmed Lawan got into the National Assembly in 1999 as a member of the House of Reps. Similarly, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has been in the House of Reps since 1999, so also is the House of Reps Majority Leader, Ado Doguwa.
From the foregoing, it is quite instructive that longevity in the legislature oils the wheels of democratic and political growth which brings with it dividends of democracy. This explains why proponents of rotation in the Ideato federal constituency are missing the point.
Ideato certainly has a lot to gain by Hon. Obi’s return to, and retention in the House of Reps. His re-election is, therefore, hyper- imperative.
Here is a man who has, since getting into the House in 2019, put the Ideato nation above other considerations. This could be gleaned from projects he has attracted.
Dr Obi’s three and half years sojourn at the House of Reps as the representative of the Ideato Nation has indeed left indelible smiles on the faces of His constituents.
For example, all communities in the federal constituency bear witness to his socio-economic and infrastructural blitz.
This can be gleaned from the total number of boreholes he has drilled at designated points within the following communities:
URUALLA
OBODOUKWU
DIKENAFAI
UGBELLE
ORIE UMUOBOM
UMUMAISIAKU
AMANATO
NDIANICHE UNO
OSINA
OBIOHIA
He has also either established or upgraded comprehensive Health Facilities situated
AKPULU, OSINA, OZU – URUALLA, UMUOKWARA, AKOKWA, DIKENAFAI, OBIOHIA, NTUEKE, UMUMAISIAKU, UMUOBOM and OGBOKO.
Phase similar project is also ongoing at UMUALAOMA, UMUAGHOBE, UMUCHIMA, UGBELLE, UMUESHI, FMC ANNEX UMUEZEALLA – OGBOKO
Ideato is prone to erosion hence Dr Pascal Obi is paying special attention to roads and erosion control in the constituency.
So far, to his credit are a 1.5 Km Road at Akpulu, a 1.5 Km Road at Nneato-Ogwugwu Dikenafai, erosion control at Obiohia,
Solar-powered street lights at Umukegwu- Akokwa, Ozuakoli – Urualla and Obiohia – Umuago road.
A firm believer in human capital development, Dr Obi has established a plethora of various skill acquisition and empowerment programmes and centres across the constituency.
Hon.Obi’s “Ideato-centrism” also resonates in the number of federal appointments he has attracted to Ideato indigenes in the past three and half years.
In the run up to next years elections, rather than dwell on inanities such as rotation, what should occupy the energy of the good people of Ideato is how to consolidate on the gains of the past three and half years of Dr. Obi’s superlative representation.
This consolidation can only come about by voting Dr Obi back into the House of Reps, this time around through the platform of Labour Party, LP.
AC Onwukwe is the Special Adviser (Media) to Hon. Dr Obi
25/07/2022
