Eugene Upah|14 September 2016
Effective representation is the tool that equip a person’s desire to do more. It is the panacea with which a leader, ruler or head of an organization can boldly confront his constituents or people they represent with. Apart from being the extension of service delivery, it motivates the masses to yearn for more active and result oriented legislation. A well-represented people; are a properly informed and elevated people.
The Nigerian legislative system is a well-planned, well-articulated system of legislation copied from the United States of America. This system, practiced in the USA for over 300 years, gives each zone, constituency or district, a leader who represents them at the upper legislative chamber. So it is also in Nigeria. The representative, is believed to be one who truly understands the plights and challenge(s) of his people. To this end, the person chosen as leader, is expected to implement modalities, programs and source for paramount solutions to the scourge of the people he represents. These programs are designed to be a youth mobilization, empowerment and human capacity development initiative that is anchored in the welfare of the people.
Back in the days, the privilege to represents one’s constituency in the national or state assembly was a rare opportunity that came with an uphill task. During the time of Senators Olusola Saraki, David Dafinone and Joseph Wayas during the second republic national assembly for instance, the motivation to represent the people came with a far more fashionable desire. The system, style, pattern, foresight and quest to stand in for the common masses, and the joy to know that “the people” have you representing them at the federal or state level was a task that could make the representative try everything possible to ensure he leaves a mark to be remembered for.
Fast forwarding to the 8th national assembly and Narrowing down to northern Cross River Legislators as my case study is where I hope to draw the curtain. I started following circular politics during my secondary school days after the return to civil rule in 1999. As a child, I was taught that every Nigerian had someone representing them at the state and national assemblies, even though I felt very little or no impact of them (at my constituency) for over 16 years. I write this article with my conscience fully nurtured by my feelings, and without fear of victimization. The northern Cross River Legislators since 1999 haven’t done enough to showcase true representation. Apart from Senators Ben Ayade and Rose Okoji Oko’s spells as Senator and Member of the House of Representatives, in frank terms, I haven’t seen any effective representation in the State house and national assembly. Worst hit, are the members who have represented the north in the House of Representatives within those 16 years.
I can recall vividly, how the people of Orlu West senatorial district of Imo state queued to appeal to Senator Francis Authur Nzeribe to go for a third term at the national assembly, same was the case with David Mark who has been in the upper legislative chamber since 1999 representing the people of Benue South senatorial zone. All this, are as a result of their very effective, outstanding and result oriented representation to the people they represent. It is said that, a good friend is better than a bad brother, and it is better to say the truth and be kept aside, than to shield a bad person and be rewarded for a better opportunity. I have always craved for a better service delivery for the people of Northern Cross River state and Nigeria in general. It is the reason why I took out time to do this little write up to challenge our reps in the state and national assemblies. I simply hope I don’t offend anyone in the process. Thank you.
Eugene Upah
Writes from Calabar
simplyeugenik@gmail.com
