Ladies and gentlemen of kogi state, I salute you all. We are in a season where we must not sleep with our two eyes closed. "the moment we the citizen fold our arms and zip our mouth, the abuse of government begins"
As we know good governance is not just the responsibility of the elected even the electorates have enormous role to play to make this a reality.
In today politics, the greatest factor that choke good governance is the electorate factor. We have in various forms contributed to the abuse of power in our dear state. Many of us who are wailing and complaining of hardship in the state today have forgotten so soon how they sold their votes during election for a morsel of porridge. This might not mean anything to you but I tell you the truth, that is where abuse of power began.
But my assignment today is not to speak to KOGITES in general but to contribute my quota to the development and progress of my constituency, Okehi/Adavi, Federal Constituency under the representation of Hon. Kabir Ajannah.
Honorable sir, I want to use this medium to appreciate your effort for influencing projects to your constituency, Okehi/Adavi. It is really commendable because it's one of it's kind in the history of Adavi/Okehi constituency. There was none before you but I pray there will be more after you.
Below are the projects Hon. Kabir have successfully sponsored and completed:
1. Settling of medical bills for people with different health problems.
2 He is one of the few patriotic citizens whose financial contribution brought to live TAO FM Radio station in Adavi LGA.
3 Erection of Electricity Poles to the following Affected Areas: Ozege Road, Utobobo-Oboroke, Ihima, Okehi LGA and Omavi Community in Uboro/Omavi/Ohuepe Ward in Okehi LGA.
4 Motorization and Construction Work at Osisi Community Natural Spring water in Adavi LGA.
5 Borehole at Uhuodo Community in Obangede/Uhuodo Ward in Okehi LGA.
6 An ongoing Borehole Project at Oziokutu Community in Ogaminana Central ward in Adavi LGA.
7 Reconnecting the moribund Water Scheme in Obangede to National Grid.
8 The Facilitation of ICT Centre at Obangede Community Secondary School,Obangede in Okehi LGA.
9 Wheel Chairs were also Donated to some physically Challenged Persons in Ogaminana Central ward in Adavi LGA and Uboro/Omavi/Ohuepe ward in Okehi LGA).
10 Sponsorship of Student’s Fees in various Tertiary Institutions across the Country.
11. Distributions of Computers to some Schools.
12. The on going construction of Utobobo Canal that almost divided Obeiba and Oboroke by Lower Niger River Basin Commission...to mention but few.
I consider this young and vibrant man as the best that has ever happened to Okehi/Adavi constituency.
He deserve our support and encouragement. May your effort for a better life for your people be remembered after in the future.
Ladies and gentlemen, honorable member, house of representative Okehi/Adavi constituency, the above elucidating record is worth commendation but without any iota of bias and hatred I will say, hard work does not and will not guarantee success or good governance as smart work does.
If we must move forward as a people we must be willing to let go of certain things. We must know political position is not given for the benefit of a few neither is it given for the advantage of family friends but for the benefit of all.
It is also given not only to tackle the immediate needs of the people only but to also to solve their long term needs ahead and create an environment where individual businesses can strive.
I am giving this detailed article because I want you to succeed in this course and the only way you can is to stop lavishing our hard earned resources on projects that benefit only a selected few and look deep to the important needs of the community.
It is good to give a selected few "bread" to eat but it is more honorable to teach them how to bake the bread so that they can help you pass the knowledge to the next generation.
Representatives should know their constituency well - know what keep the constituents awake at night, what services are needed and how to help residents thrive. You are the voice of our constituency; you are the eyes and ears, always looking for ways to help the constituency succeed.
An undesirable representative is one who is absent and out of touch, meets only the needs of a small fraction of the populace and he is generally unknown to the public.
The responsibility of serving through representation should not be taken lightly; our state representatives should be industrious, visible, engaged and accessible. After all, our representatives are our resource persons for getting our voice heard in the National Assemblies.
Dear Hon, Okehi/Adavi constituency demand more than the above listed sponsored project. We need projects that will benefit the masses. We need projects that will add value to the life of our teeming youths.
Democracy is said to be the vehicle that ushers in good governance, but it has always been the other way round in our state and in Nigeria as a whole. Democracy is used to describe a system of governance in which ultimate power (or sovereignty) rests with the people. To quote Nkom directly, "the concept of governance refers to the use of political power to manage a nation's public affairs and to shape it's economic interest and social progress" (Nkom, 2000:75).
This alone suggest that power belong to the people of Okehi/Adavi constituency and we must not settle for less while ensuring better ways of utilizing and redistributing our collective resources are put in place.
We are struggling with political and economic problems that the cruel, self centered and sick political class have given the state and the nation at large.
We should not only lampoon our president, and governors for bad governance, and over look our representatives at the National Assembly, Local Government Chairmen or CTC and Counsellors as if they are saints. Let's collectively engage them with creative thinking and invite them to a theater of ideas.
A whole lot of money was spent is purchasing motorcycles (okada) for selected youths which to some extent is excellent and it has earned Hon Ajannah a level of respect. Well, I think that money should have been used or channelled towards establishing a company in Okehi/Adavi constituency which will not only meet our short term needs as a community but our long term needs too.
If after you've left office there is no production company or factory that will engage our unemployed youths, you will have not only failed as a leader but have also become part of the problems we are confronting.
Hon. Ajannah, Trust me, OGO'OGU wants you to succeed, but not in flattering you with words even when the reality can be seen with a naked eyes. You have succeeded in meeting individual needs let now focus on community projects that will leave your legacies legible in the sands of time.
It is not late to start now, we can begin to look at what our allocation as a constituency can provide for us couple with your influence in the government.
HERE ARE MY SUGGESTIONS
1. Establishment of a polythene factory named Okehi/Adavi Polythene Factory OAPF
2. Okehi/Adavi Pure Water Factory.
3. Fashion training centre can also be established and named Okehi/Adavi Fashion training center.
Okehi/Adavi constituents are still suffering from water scarcity and nobody is talking of how to proffer a lasting solution to this. I trust God to give the Kogi State Commissioner for water resources Hon, Barr Abudulsalami Ozigi Deedat, wisdom and skills by whatever means to ensure he make us proud of his office.
4. A Mechanic village can also be introduced through which jobs can be created for our teeming youths who are gifted in this area.
5. A plastic manufacturing company can also be introduced.
These people oriented Projects are more beneficial than expending constituency project money on purchasing Okada, organizing soccer competition, and other frivolities.
Just to mention few, you must leave a landmark that will speak of you even after your tenure as member, house of representatives.
In conclusion, good governance depend on the extent which a government is perceived and accepted as legitimately committed to improving the public welfare and responsive to the needs of its citizens, competent to assure law and order and deliver public services, able to create an enabling environment for productive activities and equitable in it conducts. Landell and Serageldin (1992:310).
Ladies and gentlemen, Hon. Ajannah Kabir, member, House of Representatives, Okehi/Adavi Constituency, you are one who listens to differing opinions, you believe in team work and I have come with my quota of ideas. As you read and Change your leadership style to one that will benefit the community at large and generations yet unborn, may heaven back you up.
You can't do it alone, because you don't have monopoly of ideas or knowledge, so I pitch my tent with you as you work smart this time to change the history of Okehi/Adavi constituency.
God Bless you
God bless Okehi/Adavi Constituency
God bless Kogi State.
Our Constituency Will Work In My Life Time
Amen.
OGO'OGU Mark Dauda.
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