Hon Emeka Ihedioha: On Constituency Projects – By Nwaorgu Faustinus

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ByNwaorgu Faustinus, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria – October 27, 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 t 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.
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