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Hon Emeka Ihedioha: Constituency Fund Initiated Project and Matters Arising

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Author: Nwaorgu Faustinus
Posted to the web: 10/15/2011 10:53:18 AM
 

Hon Emeka Ihedioha: Constituency fund Initiated Project andMatters Arising

 

Written By Nwaorgu Faustinus

 

The name, “Emeka Ihedioha” is not unfamiliar to many ahousehold in Ngor-Okpala, and Aboh- Mbaise from where he hails from.   He isthe Hon. Member of the House of Representative who represents Ngor-Okpala/AbohMbaise Federal Constituency.  Apart frombeing Deputy Speaker, he is also House Committee Chair on Marine Transport.  He was elected House of Representative Memberfor the first time in 2003 and ever since then, and even now has maintained afirm grip on his position not minding dissenting views or opinions.

 

 The contrary voicesarose as result of his so to say sit-tight disposition which according to silentmajority of Ngor/Okpala people robbed them the opportunity to have a shot atthe position in 2007. During this period, unconfirmed report has it that Hon.Emeka Ihedioha paid money to some king-making politicians of Ngor/Okpalaextraction to allow him contest for the Federal House of Representative whichwas believed to have been zoned to Ngor/Okpala in 2003. The lobby, allegedlyallowed Hon. Ihedioha to hijack the position which an Ngor/Okpala man or woman oughtto have occupied.  Hon. Ihedioha for therecords became a member of the Federal House of Reps for the first time in 2003and for the second time in 2007 and for third time in 2011.

 

However, that is history for now. The question is has Hon.Emeka Ihedioha in all fairness/justice bestowed on Ngor/Okpala LGA constituency projects that have direct bearing on thelives of people?  Can he in all honestysay that what he has given to the people of Ngor/Okpala in terms ofconstituency fund-initiated projects is commiserate to the constituency fund hecollects on behalf of his constituents? These are not mere rhetorical questionsthat should be swept under the carpet, but ethical, imperative and insightfulquestions that beg for answers. This is because of the consensus view held by manyto the effect that Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has not impacted much on the lives ofpeople from the LGA.

 

The last time I visited the council area, I had theopporunity to see Solar Energy Project initiated and executed with theconstituency fund by Hon. Ihedioha which was located at Okpala, Nkwala (apopular weekly market) and Umuneke Ngor.  The solar Energy project got me thinking onits value to the inhabitants of the council area. Apart from illuminating thestrategic places where they were located especially in the night, I cannot comeup with any other importance the solar energy powered lights could serve asmost of the places where the solar lights were erected are not known fornefarious/criminal activities. In my thinking it is a project of little value.There are no doubt that majority of Ngor/Okpala indigenes long for projectsthat will put food on their tables, make life better, tackle bad roads anderosion, create job opportunity for the youths, provide portable water and dealwith health related problems in rural areas among others.

Recently too, I was able to visit Umuneke Ngor where thecouncil area is to have firsthand information from the inhabitants who liveclose to a newly built “alleged” computer laboratory (with MDGs  inscription on its wall) being a constituencyproject allegedly initiated by Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. While one must commend himfor this initiative if he is the brain behind it, it is not out of place to saythat the laboratory if finally equipped and becomes functional will encouragemost rural dwellers to visit the place to repair their computer system, havetheir hand written scripts typed, scanned, photocopied etc. In addition, it willprovide job for a few unemployed persons apart from serving as an avenue fortraining would-be computer literates who live at the grassroots. It isimportant to note that itâ's one thing to build a laboratory and another toadequately equip it as well as employ people who will manage it.

 

While I commend him for providing fund for the renovation ofOkpala Secondary School, electrification of a few village(s) in Eziamma in thetime past, it is important to draw his attention to the Augean Stable whichstare his constituents from Ngor/Okpala in the face to wit; lack of good roads,unemployment, inadequate rural electrification, non - renovation of dilapidatedpublic schools across the communities that make up the council area,reactivation of some comatose reservoirs, to mention a few.  It is therefore high time he started tacklingthe above problems with the constituency fund he gets.

 

He should also use his network of connections to attractinvestors to the area, who will invest in the education, agro, communication,health or the banking sector as there is no bank t in the council area as wellas the provision of scholarship to indigent students.  If the above challenges or some could beachieved in no short time, you would not have only endeared yourself to yourconstituents but left your footprint in the sand of time. The time to writeyour name in gold is now. God bless Ngor/Okpala Council Area.       

 

Nwao(r)gu,Faustinus wrote from Port Harcourt, Rivers State and can be reached on08035601312. Email:ngorokpalaresearcher@gmail.com/ngorokpalaresearcher@yahoomail.com.     
 

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