 Published
October 19th, 2011
The name, “Emeka Ihedioha” is not unfamiliar to many a
household in Ngor-Okpala, and Aboh- Mbaise from where he
hails from. He is the Hon. Member of the House of
Representative who represents Ngor-Okpala/Aboh Mbaise
Federal Constituency. Apart from being Deputy Speaker, he is
also House Committee Chair on Marine Transport. He was
elected House of Representative Member for the first time in
2003 and ever since then, and even now has maintained a firm
grip on his position not minding dissenting views or
opinions.
The contrary voices arose as result of his so to say
sit-tight disposition which according to silent majority of
Ngor/Okpala people robbed them the opportunity to have a
shot at the position in 2007. During this period,
unconfirmed report has it that Hon. Emeka Ihedioha paid
money to some king-making politicians of Ngor/Okpala
extraction to allow him contest for the Federal House of
Representative which was believed to have been zoned to Ngor/Okpala
in 2003. The lobby, allegedly allowed Hon. Ihedioha to
hijack the position which an Ngor/Okpala man or woman ought
to have occupied. Hon. Ihedioha for the records became a
member of the Federal House of Reps for the first time in
2003 and 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 the
lives of people? Can he in all honesty say that what he has
given to the people of Ngor/Okpala in terms of constituency
fund-initiated projects is commiserate to the constituency
fund he collects on behalf of his constituents? These are
not mere rhetorical questions that should be swept under the
carpet, but ethical, imperative and insightful questions
that beg for answers. This is because of the consensus view
held by many to the effect that Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has not
impacted much on the lives of people from the LGA.
The last time I visited the council area, I had the
opporunity to see Solar Energy Project initiated and
executed with the constituency fund by Hon. Ihedioha which
was located at Okpala, Nkwala (a popular weekly market) and
Umuneke Ngor. The solar Energy project got me thinking on
its value to the inhabitants of the council area. Apart from
illuminating the strategic places where they were located
especially in the night, I cannot come up with any other
importance the solar energy powered lights could serve as
most of the places where the solar lights were erected are
not known for nefarious/criminal activities. In my thinking
it is a project of little value. There are no doubt that
majority of Ngor/Okpala indigenes long for projects that
will put food on their tables, make life better, tackle bad
roads and erosion, create job opportunity for the youths,
provide portable water and deal with health related problems
in rural areas among others.
Recently too, I was able to visit Umuneke Ngor where the
council area is to have firsthand information from the
inhabitants who live close to a newly built “alleged”
computer laboratory (with MDGs inscription on its wall)
being a constituency project allegedly initiated by Hon.
Emeka Ihedioha. While one must commend him for this
initiative if he is the brain behind it, it is not out of
place to say that the laboratory if finally equipped and
becomes functional will encourage most rural dwellers to
visit the place to repair their computer system, have their
hand written scripts typed, scanned, photocopied etc. In
addition, it will provide job for a few unemployed persons
apart from serving as an avenue for training would-be
computer literates who live at the grassroots. It is
important to note that it’s one thing to build a laboratory
and another to adequately equip it as well as employ people
who will manage it.
While I commend him for providing fund for the renovation of
Okpala Secondary School, electrification of a few village(s)
in Eziamma in the time past, it is important to draw his
attention to the Augean Stable which stare his constituents
from Ngor/Okpala in the face to wit; lack of good roads,
unemployment, inadequate rural electrification, non -
renovation of dilapidated public 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 tackling the above problems with the
constituency fund he gets.
He should also use his network of connections to attract
investors to the area, who will invest in the education,
agro, communication, health or the banking sector as there
is no bank in the council area as well as the provision of
scholarship to indigent students. If the above challenges or
some could be achieved in no short time, you would not have
only endeared yourself to your constituents but left your
footprint in the sand of time. The time to write your 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 on 08035601312.
Email: ngorokpalaresearcher@gmail.com /
ngorokpalaresearcher@yahoomail.com .
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