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APPRAISING LEGISLATIVE PERFORMANCE IN OBIO-AKPOR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY
BY BOLAJI AFOLABI
Obio-Akpor is in Rivers state, and wears two caps; local government area headquarters and federal constituency. Situated in the metropolis of Port Harcourt, it is one of the biggest settlements in the oil-rich state. In fact, it is one of the major centres of massive economic activities in the country. Host to two of Nigeria’s biggest refineries, and numerous energy and manufacturing companies. Generally regarded as the economic behemoth of the Niger Delta region, it can be aptly classified as the financial pulse of Nigeria. It is one of the top five most developed LGAs in Nigeria; others being Eti Osa, Lagos Island, Bonny Island, and Abuja Municipal. Unarguably, Obio-Akpor is one of the most endowed and richest in terms of revenue generation. It is one of the two federal constituencies in Nigeria that has one LGA not two, three, or four as is common in others in the country. The other is Abeokuta South Federal Constituency. Fact is, it is one of the most strategically placed, and positioned in the “treasure base” of Nigeria; popular moniker for Rivers state. For economy, culture, and politics, it’s relevance cannot be shoved aside. In terms of location and population, it is ahead of many LGAs in the state. More importantly, it’s role in the economic growth, social transformation, and sectoral development of the state is huge, recognisable, and respectful. As a federal constituency, it consists 17 Wards, and made up of about 58 communities.
Densely populated, with pan-Nigerian composition amongst residents, and visitors as well as it’s economic and socio-political importance, every chief executive of the state; civilian and military accords Obio-Akpor huge measures of attention, focus, and direction. In many ways, it is the melting pot of Rivers as citizens from different and diverse ethnic nationalities of the state have taken occupation in Obio-Akpor. A first-time visitor may naturally feel at home as s/he will most likely notice people freely communicating, transacting, and relating in any of the three major languages and others. Given the high number of industries located in Obio-Akpor, human movement and vehicular traffic is enormous. This has also impacted positively on commerce, trade, and economic activities. The chain value of these engagements cannot be easily wished away. Many residents argue that this has affected costs of living. Some believes that residents deserve more attention by respective tiers of government. Few reiterated the need for private organisations to extend their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to the nooks and crannies of the area. However, it has experienced (still experiencing) varied developmental challenges.
Over the years, Obio-Akpor has witnessed variation of stifled, stunted, and measured growth. Since it’s creation in 1989, it has passed through different stages of evolution. With its command-and-obey governance structure, the military despite long-term dictatorial rulership did not make appreciable impact in the LGA. Though it’s revenue base shored up, during this period but it had minimal impact on the general well-being of citizens and residents. Complaints of environmental degradation, infrastructural decrepitude, and residents neglect were the regular rhymes among people.
With Nigeria’s return to civilian governance in 1999, Obio-Akpor has passed through different stages of development. Between 1999 and now, personalities that have had the opportunity to be chairmen of the LGA, at various times contributed their quota towards it’s development. Indeed, it recorded massive infrastructural and institutional development between 1999 and 2007 when Chief Nyesom Wike was chairman. According to empirical records, empowerment and upliftment of the social standards of people was key to every initiative and programme carried out during his tenure. Many people believe that his overwhelming achievements as chairman has been the springboard for Wike’s continued relevance in politics and public service.
As a federal constituency, Obio-Akpor has been represented in the House of Representatives by three individuals at different periods since the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1999. These are Chukwuma Godswill, 1999 to 2003; Chinwe Ike, 2003 to 2011; and Kingsley Chinda, the incumbent since 2011. While Chukwuma and Chinwo served for one-term, and two-terms respectively, Chinda is on his fourth term. That the constituents decided to invest their electoral franchise on him for four consecutive terms; which will be 16 years of unbroken representation in 2027 speaks volume about his acceptability and deliveries.
According to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the roles of the legislature, as the second tier of government is legislation. An elected legislator at the state or national assembly is expected to be involved in lawmaking, oversight, and representation. The first two responsibilities are what lawmakers do internally, within the chamber, and routine checks of MDAs. Representation is what constituents see, and value. In Nigerian parlance it is described as “what he brings home.” Sadly, this has been the compass through which every lawmaker is assessed and verdict delivered on tour of duty by the constituents. Curiously, given the numerous economic challenges, social malaise, and developmental disequilibrium that pervades and ravage the country, majority of Nigerians rates the performance or otherwise of lawmakers on the basis of what the individual can attract to his/her constituents in particular, and the constituency in general.
After a distinguished public service career as Commissioner for Environment in Rivers state in the mid-2000s, Chinda was elected as the Member representing Obio-Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in June 2011. Thus, he rose from being a state-wide public officer to a peoples-servant, and representative at national level. Conscious of the high expectations of his constituents, the glaring micro and macro challenges, and the records of his predecessors, he realized that he is condemned to perform. Chinda, a former student union leader, and legal practitioner has since took up the task of offering responsive and responsible representation to the people. How well has he done in eliciting the commendation, or criticisms of his constituents?
In over a decade, Obio-Akpor federal constituency has been in the news for very positive reasons. It has been promoted to national discourse and federal noticeability in quality measures. From the 7th to the 10th House of Representatives, the federal constituency’s name, and image has shown up as one of the few whose representative performed (still performing) brilliantly in lawmaking; oversight; and representation. At all levels of engagement, the constituency is consistently projected through the brilliance and intelligence of the representative. It has witnessed numerous projects, programmes, and initiatives that has cross-ethnic and broad-based impact on citizens and residents. From education to agriculture, skills development, capacity building, and other sectors there are visible achievements in each of the 17 wards.
This includes, but not limited to: yearly distribution of over 2,000 free JAMB forms; adult education scheme; regular payment of school fees for identified constituents in tertiary institutions and secondary schools; medical support to some constituents with health challenges. Also, constituents have benefitted from various skills acquisition, vocational, and entrepreneurial training programmes such as ICT, solar powered, welding, chalk production, snail farming and many others; medical outreaches and medical interventions. Equally, youths, women, and men have secured employments at the federal and state levels, as well as the private sector; many benefitted monetary incentives such as grants and loans for entrepreneurial ventures by MDAs and more.
In terms of Lawmaking and Oversight, Obio-Akpor federal constituency occupies the top-most level in the country. Ever driven by quest for national development through meaningful and realistic legislation, Chinda has continually written the constituency’s name in gold. Deploying his multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional credentials and expertise he has over 80 Motions to his name and constituency. Each of these motions which are people-centred and development-driven have elevated his status and constituency to national prominence. Fact is, he belongs to the “exclusive list” of lawmakers with the highest number of motions to their names and constituencies. With over ten Bills, at different stages of legislative interrogation, and considering their importance to nation building, Chinda has further played frontal role in deepening the constituency’s commitment to national development. At oversight functions, committee meetings, and other forum his enviable brilliance, profound understanding, and deep knowledge of issues which elicits commendations ushers inspiring and impactful positives to constituents and the constituency.
To every dispassionate and discernible follower of legislative developments since 1999, Chinda can rightly be described as a first-class legislator. Also, given his attributes as a courageous and committed lawmaker with deep knowledge of legislative ethos and rules he represents the perfect example of who and what a parliamentarian should be. For many of his past and present colleagues in the 7th to 10th Assemblies, his emergence as the Minority Leader is worthy testament to his serially-proven and time-tested legislative competencies, akin to icing on the cake for an illustrious parliamentary career. Being the first from Obio-Akpor federal constituency to attain such prominent position in the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly in general, the constituents are happy and appreciative of the impact made by him. As Oliver Twist, while they are asking for more, Chinda whose passion and commitment to community empowerment, and constituency development has been unequivocal is responding to this charge. Barely a year in office, he has facilitated some projects including two-day medical outreach; digital skills & artificial intelligence training for youths; digital skills training and few others. Majority of the constituents, affirms that he has done very well in projecting the enviable virtues of Obio-Akpor federal constituency which hinges on hard work, sincerity, boldness, selflessness, and dynamism. The unanimity of opinion is that he should continue to attract more developmental projects and programmes towards further elevating the status of the constituency, and deepening the well-being of people.
BOLAJI AFOLABI, a development communications specialist, was with the Office of Public Affairs in The Presidency.
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Change Negative Narrative About EFCC Being Used For Settling Political Scores- Reps
………Ask Anti Graft Agency To Fight Financial Crimes Within Established Laws
.
……My Staff Are Poorly Paid, EFCC
…., States Why Fight Against Yahoo Boys Fierce
The House of Representatives has tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to purge itself from the negative impression that its being used to settle political scores and concentrate fighting financial and economic crimes within established laws.
The House handed the advise on Tuesday through the Chairman House Committee on Financial Crimes Honorable Ginger Onwusibe who led members of the committee on the 2024 oversight exercise on the commission.
The oversight covered extensive facility tour of departments and critical operational units of the antigraft agency.
In his terse remarks, Hon. Onwusibe challenged the agency to improve its operational activities in combating economic and financial crimes by complying with its 2004 Establishment Act and other relevant applicable laws like the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: Terrorism ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: The Proceeds of Crime Act. 2022, as well as other statutes, that compels it to carry out these roles transparently with accountability and show that the negative maxim being peddled in some quarters that the agency is often being used for settling political scores is incorrect .
The committee assured that it will collaborate with the commission to actualize its mandate by enacting new laws or amending old ones and as well providing budgetary interventions, if it must strive tirelessly to be on top of its challenges
The House urged the agency to collaborate with sister agencies and desist from keeping suspects as- awaiting ‘trial in correctional centres nationwide
“At this point let me add that a recent visit to the Maximun and Minimun Correctional centres in Kirikiri Lagos State, numerous suspects have been awaiting trial for over one year and yet we are all acquainted with the saying that justice delayed is justice denied”
” It is on this note that we call on the EFCC, Attorney General of the Federation and the Judiciary to improve and ensure the administration of justice works and is efficiently delivered to the victims”
The House warned the agency to purge itself of rotten eggs in order to fight economic and financial crimes frontally, thereby stimulating the Nigerian economy
It also urged EFCC to focus properly on its mandate.
” The issue of appropriate and proper focusing on the mandate of the EFCC must relentlessly be on the front burner:
“Orders from competent courts , arrest and debt recovery must be pursued religiously” the House cautioned
But on its side, the antigraft agency said it has not deviated from its focus but rather working hard and fighting financial and economic crimes as enunciated in its mandate.
Chairman of the agency , Ola Olukeyede told his guest in his remarks during the oversight visit that the commission was doing much to fight financial and economic crimes and stimulate the Nigerian economy
He said so far that the agency has recovered over N250bn cash, tens of million of Dollars and other foreign currencies, with over 3000 convictions: 17000 petitions while also investigating over 20000,with about 4000 fresh cases , all being handled by a misery number of staff strenght
He noted that its priority is to improve the country’s image and stimulate its economy, such that there could be improvement in foregin direct investments and stimulation of the local economy.
Olukeyede however, argued that the agency needed more staff strenght, funding , better renumeration for staff because they were poorly paid. He also emphasised on modern day technology to fight the ever dynamic cyber criminals
According to the EFCC boss, it was important to give more salary to EFCC staff and deploy modern technology to fight emerging cyber crime dynamism . He expalined that the agency has increased efforts to fight Yahoo, yahhoo, boys because of their ability to crumble any economy within a twinkle of an eye
According to him, the agency was expanding its drag net to focus on ministries, departments and agencies infrastructural projects. ” “Go to MDAs and see their budget implementstion. It is not up to 20%”
“We want to ensure 50% infrastructural development” the anti graft boss announced, insisting that it would henceforth encourage monitoring of project implementation which was an aspect of preventing financial crimes
He said the agency has dismissed lots of erring staff, and will continue to dismiss and even prosecute them going forward.
Olukeyede disclosed that it had designed a template on staff integrity, using the Gift- Policy model
.” It is not every thankful gift we should collect” the EFCC boss warned
” I am advocating for more welfare improvement, better welfare, he said.
“We will do more recoveries, more convictions, but we need more resources to do our work, maintaining that, that was his stand on ethics and integrity .
Olokeyede’s demand for more salary wage for staff of the commission, is seen as an incentive to boost welfare and morale to fight financial crimes to standstill.
He stated that there was the utmost need to increase salaries of staff of the commission
The EFCC boss who spoke on his stewardship in the last one year, further added that it increased the war against Yahoo- Yahoo boys because of the consequences of their nefarious acts which could crumble a nation’s economy in a jiffy.
He argued that more technology was required to fight financial crimes.
For instance he explained that it was a common scenario then for thieves and armed robbers to attack and break into banks with guns and Dynamites
” But it is the same common and more easier scenario and task now to have Yahoo-Yahoo boys and bank thieves attack banks with technology in the comfort of their homes or hideouts”
“So we need technology and we also need to increase our fight against these Yahoo boys who can dismantle any economy within a twinkle of an eye
He called on the national Assembly to improve and increase its finances because fighting Financial crimes was a herculean task that requires adequate funding
Olokeyede who apparently was responding to criticisms of the commission’s over concentration on Cyber crimes/ thieves, perpetrated by Yahoo boys, said he has made tremendous impact in enforcement, investigation and conviction with an outstanding record convictions between October 2023 when he was appointed till date
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Trouble looming for Obaseki as Gov Okpebholo orders probe of his admin
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has ordered the setting up of a committee to probe the immediate-past administration of Godwin Obaseki for its failure to inaugurate 14 Edo Assembly lawmakers-elect into the 7th Assembly.
Okpebholo disclosed this while giving his inaugural speech as the new governor of the state.
Governor Okpebholo also ordered the State Chief Judge to immediately investigate the initial delay of former Governor Obaseki to inaugurate duly-cleared judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) last year
News
Naira may depreciate to N1,993 against dollar – Report
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Nigeria’s naira has been projected to depreciate further to N1,993 per dollar in the coming days.
This is according to BMI, a Fitch Solutions subsidiary report title, ‘Weak Naira and Structural Challenges to Constrain Nigeria’s Medical Devices Market Growth’.
The report said the forecasted depreciation will be predicated on the 95 percent dependence on imports for pharmaceuticals in Nigeria.
According to the report, the development would erode both the health system and patient purchasing power.
“We expect that the naira will end 2028 at N1,993/$ from N306/$ in 2018.
“As the naira weakens, the cost of importing medical devices will continually increase, eroding both the health system and patient purchasing power, especially to invest in essential medical technologies given the underfunding of the public health sector,” the report stated.
This comes as Naira fell to N1681.42 and N1735 at the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Monday.
This comes as FMDQ FX transaction turnover dropped significantly from $1.4 billion on Friday to $471.5 million on Monday.
Last Thursday, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, said the country’s external reserves rose to $40 billion.
Despite Central Bank of Nigeria’s interventions and external reserves rise in the last months, the naira has continued to experience fluctuations in the FX market.
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