By Agustine Aboh
For weeks now the cyberspace, especially the social media space have been crowded with news of constituencies empowerments by of Representatives at the national assembly; Legor and Jari (being a norm).
It must be noted that since the inception of our contemporary democracy over two decades ago, nothing or very little has changed in content and context of constituency projects and empowerments.
Ranging from Car and Bike gifts to uncritical loyal foot soldiers and ass-kissers, to wrappers, blocks of six class rooms, toilets, solar streets lights that do not last beyond the day of commissioning, borehole, the regular Magi and salt and conditional cash gifts.
These have been unchanged, and in the present age of liberal democracy and Fourth industrial revolution, Representatives in CRN still gifts us these benign items.
Now, back home! Last week I saw Legor gifting Cars to his loyalists in Bekwarra and a Funny looking Obudu-ogoja taxi like Passat to Obudu. Obanliku was not included as usual. Instead, bikes were given to PDP Ward chairmen in Obanliku glorified by a self vilified HOA member in Obanliku.
To cut the long story short, I think it’s time we begin to rethink what constituency projects and empowerments should be and hold our Representatives answerable.
That’s right, but some greedy never do well loyalists will say we are wailing and seeking for cheap publicity – at least Google my name and see how far am know and reference across the globe.
For Obanliku, I think we should begin the process of requesting what constituency projects and empowerments should get to us and our people that will make meaning to our desired quest for prosperity as a people well-neglected and self-injured.
It won’t be a bad idea we ask Legor and who ever becomes the next senator to include in their 2021 constituency budgets such items like;
1. A befitting Palace for our Paramount Ruler in Sankwala, Obanliku.
2. Construction equipments like bulldozer, a payloader, tractor, and other such equipments that will help the local government to open access roads, control erosions and give succour to our people who can not afford to bring their produce to local markets. Since we all know the present state of slavering malnourishment of our Local government resources taken hostage by a family dynasty and Czar.
3. Enhance Human capital development by giving responsible and reasonable scholarships.
4. Work as committee members or chairman to help our unemployed graduates littering our villages as it’s done elsewhere.
5. Provide our farmers with improved seeds and seedlings. And any other projects the communities through reliable needs assessment have presented.
Let it be known that am not against settling of party loyalists but these shouldn’t be done at the expense of community development. It’s time we all know that politics and governance is all our collective business.
In our constituency, Legor is not doing us any favors, let it be known that these are our monies.
Thank God ICPC have started tracking constituency projects starting in CRS with those of Sen John Owan Eno. They’re coming and we’ll be here to furnish them any information they might need. And Legor should not be doing this car gifts alongside his unsaleable Senatorial Candidate, it speaks volumes of the context of his supposed constituency empowerments.
I come in Peace! Shalom!!
Long Live Cross River State
Long Live Cross River North
Long Live Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwarra Fed Constituency.
Long Live Obanliku LGA.
Augustine Aboh
Geopolitics and Security Expert
Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna.
NB: The views expressed above are strictly that of the author and does not represent TheLumineNews.