Simon Utsu|26 December 2017
A few days ago, the member representing my Federal constituency, Legor Idagbo did what is now a tradition in Nigeria legislative politics viz constituency empowerment. He personally invited me to witness it and even though I couldn't attend, those who did said it was a good one.
Representative Legor also took out time to engage me afterwards and personally sent me some pictures of what went down. It was quite impressive. Now, the aftermath of that empowerment is what interested me. I read several commentaries and opinions from people who expressed their disappointments at Legor's empowerment. Whilst some claimed it was poor, others said it wasn't necessary and some others looked for every reason to give him stick -even those from the parts of Cross River with the most dormant, docile and ineffective reps harped in on the discourse and ejaculated vitroil.
Whilst I'm not too particular about empowerment schemes, I've come to realise that it's a part of the Nigerian political culture that can never be done away with. Tis just like an uncle visiting from abroad and bringing bread and some American biscuits along or just like money being sprayed at occassions- the above are examples of socio-cultural norms in Nigeria; constituency emporwement is now a Nigerian politico-cultural norm. I specifically remember reading where someone asked why Legor gave out cars, even insinuating that it was useless empowering a constituent with a car as that constituent would come back few months later to ask for petrol money. If I'm a jobless young man and I get a car empowerment and don't know what to do with it, I deserve to be jailed for my level stupidity. I think representative Legor deserves some applause for this(empowerment scheme and the launch of a skills' acquisition centre) and not condemnation. Even though I still feel he can do much better given that some of us have very high standards. I also opined the other day that he was the worst ever representative to emerge from my Federal constituency since the turn of the 3rd republic(1991). That was an exxageration done in the heat of the moment- he isn't the worst but I want him to be the best and as such, would keep piling the pressure(on him) as at when due.
And as for those Cross Riverians who came together to lambast his empowerment, all I can say is, if your representative isn't Jarigbe or Essien Ayi who are the grandmasters of empowerment, "please face ya front eh". Lol.
Honestly, they're some Federal representatives from cross River that the mere thought of them alone gets me almost depressed. I'm tired of complaining about Bassey Ewa(Yakurr/Abi).
I used to think Donald Duke had a flawless cabinet until Chris Agibe(who was his finance commissioner) became a Federal rep in 2015. Chris currently represents Boki/Ikom federal constituency and he's as dormant as they come. I wonder how Donald Duke coped with him.
Daniel 'DanSuki' Asuquo? I hardly hear much about him. I know he's a member of a couple of influential house committees(Power being one of them) and that he's also nursing a governorship ambition but the young man with a cult-like following in his hometown, who represents Akamkpa/Biase is hardly seen or heard.
Etta Mbora nko? Etta Mbora represents Calabar municipality/Odukpani in the Federal house of reps. Honestly speaking, the only two things I know about him are that he was once the mayor of Calabar(chairman of Calabar muncipality LGA) and that he often always sports a papals' cap.
Last AND THE least is the guy who represents Obubra/Etung. He's so dormant that I've even forgotten his name, I had to make a call in order to be reminded. Oh, ok, it's Mike Etaba. What gets me irritated about this guy's incompetence is the fact that God raised him from absolutely nothing to something! My good friend who grew up around the neighbourhood where he first lived when he came into Calabar from the village as recently as 2002 or so told me a lot about him. His humble beginnings are jaw dropping!
Representative Etaba came from Obubra to work as a store attendant for an Igbo business man based in Calabar. Etaba used to wash his master's cars and greet passerbys with utmost dedication and humility. Then the God who raises anyone he choses to raise from the dirt to dine with kings came into the picture. To cut the long story short, Etaba Mike became a Federal house of reps member barely 13 years after he came into Calabar from his vilage with absolutely NOTHING! Look how he has paid God and his people back? By sitting down idle, doing nothing at the Federal house. Does he move motions? Does he sponsor bills? Has he done any meaningful empowerment? And for those who keep screaming "not to young to run", do you know Rep Etaba is the youngest rep from Cross River and one of the youngest in Nigeria as he's just 35 years? See, if Mike Etaba is too timid or docile, he should throw in the towel so a by-election could be held asap so a representative who isn't an innefectual buffoon would be chosen for the Obubra/Etung people!
That being said, I still insist that effective representation isn't all about empowerment. For instance, if I'm voted into the house of reps tomorrow, I would focus on at least improving education (primary and secondary) and boosting agricultural output. I'll make these two things (and maybe a couple more other stuff) my primary areas of focus.
Simon Utsu
Is a Social Commentator
