Posted by By Udede Jim on
A prominent opinion leader in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA), has joined other influential voices like Chief (Hon) Nnamdi Wokekoro and Chief Emeh Glory Emeh, present Rivers State Commissioner for Transport to condemn the utterances of Mr. Timothy Amadi and Prince Emma Ogba for showing disrespect and casting aspersions on the person of Rt. Hon. Austin Adiele Opara, Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Rerpesentatives.
A prominent opinion leader in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA), has joined other influential voices like Chief (Hon) Nnamdi Wokekoro and Chief Emeh Glory Emeh, present Rivers State Commissioner for Transport to condemn the utterances of Mr. Timothy Amadi and Prince Emma Ogba for showing disrespect and casting aspersions on the person of Rt. Hon. Austin Adiele Opara, Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Rerpesentatives.
Hon. Kingsley K. Gbeke, President of Rebisi Consultative Forum and former Supervisory Councillor for Education in PHALGA stated matter-of-factly that only the ill-informed or political malingers would close their eyes and ears to the dignified representation that Chief (Hon.) Austin Opara has been giving his immediate constituency, Rivers State and the entire South-South geo-political zone since he became the nation's No. 6 citizen.
The deputy speaker, Gbeke explained, has a retinue of aides, the bulk of whom are Ikwerres, in addition to the staff that man his constituency office, which is located at Rezi Plaa, along Stadium (now Harold Dappa-Biriye) Road in Port Harcourt. That office, administered by Mr. Achineke Wonodi, the Special Assistant to Rt. Hon. Opara, co-ordinates activities of the deputy speaker in his immediate constituency and so Gbeke opined that for anyone to accuse the respected lawmaker of not having a constituency office sounds wayward.
Reeling out a number of achievements and empowerment of youths of the area, Gbeke disclosed how Hon. Opara has created employment for the whole constituency he represents, including PHALGA Constituency II, at local, state and federal levels. Only recently, the deputy speaker sponsored a free eye test for the poor in the constituency and issued out correctional glasses free of charge.
One of the beneficiaries is himself who has just been appointed into the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Bida (see Guardian of May 26, 2005 - page 55), a clear testimony to the fact that Rt. Hon. Austin Opara wants his constituents to see the benefits of democracy.
The President of Rebisi Consultative Forum (RCF) recalled that it was in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the Ikwerres that the Ikwerre Council of Traditional Rulers, ably led by the Eze Epara Rebisi, Eze Sunday N. Woluchem, JP, conferred on him the title of Dike-Ha-Ji-Agamba I of Ikwerre land at a lavish ceremony on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 in Port Harcourt.
In addition to all these, Gbeke noted how Chief (Hon.) Opara has brought his influence to bear on political problems in the area such as the PHALGA Legislative Assembly crisis last year and in rationing political appointments in the area. Furthermore, the Hon. Deputy Speaker has also contributed largely to the growth and stability of Christendom by ensuring that all potential flashpoints in the Anglican Communion, his denomination, are settled amicably. Most cases, according to the Bida Poly board member, Opara had to suspend some official duties just to be present at both church and state function, showing that he bears true responsibilities of the people he represents.
On the allegation that Hon. Opara took an NDDC contract for the construction of National Street and did not do it, Hon. Gbeke revealed that the information was completely misleading because, "that job was done by Laso Engineering, a company owned by Hon. (Engr.) Lasbury Amadi and not Rt. Hon. Opara".
He equally described as laughable the impeachment or recall threat by the purported leaders who claimed to have gathered 20,000 signatures for the purpose, querying, "who is Hon. Timothy Amadi? He does not represent anyone but himself. Otherwise, let him show us the compilation of names he claims to have and we will prove that he does not have a case. Besides, the process for recall or impeachment is clear. As I am talking with you, I can attest to the fact that the party (PDP), the chiefs, youths, women, and the leader of the party in the state, Sir (Dr.) Peter Odili, are all pleased with the representation and leadership that Rt. Hon. Opara has been showing and so nobody that counts is talking about impeachment", he assured.