In the case of Lokoja 1 State Assembly member, now that we approach 2015 general elections, it seems an appropriate question time to clear the air on the following nagging issues on the minds of the electorate. First, how many bills were so far sponsored or motions moved pursuant to the interest and aspirations of Lokoja 1 and its people in the last three years? Second, if the power to approve state budgetary appropriation lies within the legislature, to what extent could we express satisfaction with how Lokoja 1 Assembly member fruitfully utilized his oversight power in view of the perennial state of disrepair of the Lokoja Township roads, and where lies the oversight function of our dear member, when Lokoja was recently rated the dirtiest capital city on the chart of a nationwide survey carried out on Environmental Sanitation, in spite of the huge budgetary allocation to that sector? Third, he should provide the graphic details of constituency projects to his credit, showing locations, and explain why the road adjourning UgwanKura-Kabawa School and Sardauna Junction is still in an embarrassing state of disrepair three years after his election?
Permit me to equally ask about the current status of the flood disaster victims, who in spite of their huge loses and pains, were cruelly ripped off by the handlers of disaster relief materials running into billions of naira. It is apparent our Assembly representative stood aloof in spite of the enormous oversight power at his disposal. Honorable member sir, if challenges of youth unemployment and issues of job creation are of major concerns to you, please share with us statistical details of what you met when you assumed office, what you have done so far to address the issue, and what your critical thinking of how best to sufficiently tackle it is.
Thus, apart from the zoning controversy, there is growing concerns about decaying city infrastructure with appalling economic condition amongst the citizens for the past three year. So, assuming the reason behind abolishing the zoning principle in 2011 was to improve on quality of constituent representation, the period under focus has not witnessed significant changes in both physical development of the township or better living condition of the people. The obvious fact is that the 2011 concession to Ward D was an aberration which must never be allowed to repeat in the interest of fairness, equity and justice.
Although, it may be convenient to argue that the issues raised above lie within executive’s purvey, the summary of this submission suggests that a legislator with a sound capacity should know how to navigate the executive through lobbying to achieve solutions to most of the issues on ground, or engage the executive by appropriate deployment of parliamentary instruments at his disposal. For example, the Lokoja-Abuja dual carriage way as well as Greater Lokoja Water Scheme, which we are all enjoying today, were the evidence of parliamentary dexterity of Tunde Ogbeha as a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic.
Specifically, therefore, the slot of Lokoja 1 Assembly come 2015 is the turn of Ward C, and all key players in this regards must be aware that report about the current zoning disorder is already receiving appropriate attention at the national headquarters of our party. So, let no one be in doubt about the readiness to carry this battle to all possible height until we reverse to status quo ante.
This struggle is not only a moral burden on all of us; it is a necessary duty of all stakeholders if we must avert antiparty syndrome in the face of hostile opposition.
Interestingly, the recently concluded National Confab endorsed zoning by overwhelming majority as a major consideration for political contest in Nigeria. This action forecloses all issues related to zoning. In effect, zoning will share same status in the constitution as the Federal Character and the Quota System hence, zoning or no zoning shall no longer be a matter of choice but a practice compelled by the supreme law as already affirmed by the constitution of the party.
In conclusion, as we work together to ensure that right pegs are fixed in the right holes, it is highly expedient to find a common ground of turning our current challenges into greater opportunities.
– Zubair (FCAI), wrote from Lokoja, Kogi State via nataraihil@gmail.com
