It is getting to two years since the National Assembly Members elected on the platform of the APC into both the Senate and House of Representatives of Nigeria’s National Assembly,2023 took their respective oaths of offices to provide trustworthy and credible representations of their various federal constituencies and senatorial districts in Benue State.
These members include: Senator Emmanuel Memga Undende,Hon. Senator Titus Tartenger Zam,Hon. Solomon Tor Wombo,Hon. Terseer Ugbor,Hon. Sesoo Gboko Ikpagher,Hon. Rt. Hon. Sekav Dzuah Iyortyom,Hon. Chief Mrs. Regina Mbavekumtor Akume,Rt. Hon. Dickson Tarkighir,Hon. Philip Agbese,Rt. Hon. Blessing Omah Mark-Onuh.
A cursory study of the stewardship of these elected National Assembly Members reflects and leaves much to be desired. Regrettably, they seem to bother less about the aggravating implications of their sad political attitudes on the political aspirations of their constituents.
Regardless of party sentiments and solidarity, I take exception to the prevailing character of the National Assembly members who fail to understand that the objective priorities of a National Assembly office holder transcends fighting Fr. Alia in Benue State. I stand to condemn what I am seeing from the political behaviour of some of the National Assembly members from APC in both chambers.
So far, if not for a few, majority of the National Assembly members have not initiated ANY capital dividends as a reflection of their representation of the good people of Benue State in the National Assembly, in as much as they have occupied prominent positions in the existing standing committees in both Senate and the National Assembly.
While I totally frown at the sluggish and sneaky lobby for palliatives, riddled manipulations of diversion of such palliatives at the detriment of the Benue people back home by some members of the National Assembly, I decline to consider the provision of palliatives as the primary responsibility of our National Assembly members!!
The Benue people are confronted with a myriad of existing socioeconomic crises and challenges that bother on seclusion, deprivation and poor access to national advantages. These necessarily demand that the focus of our National Assembly members should be on addressing these challenges and beyond.
It is agonizing to observe that most of the National Assembly members whose elections were predicated and reinforced by the charismatic influence of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s coming into politics in Benue State are now more obsessed in amassing primitive resources, preparatory to come back home in 2027 to fight Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. I feel so sad for our state that the primary concern of some members who never in their wildest imaginations never thought of winning elections in Benue State, referring to Governor Hyacinth Alia as “Ambode”. This is not only wicked and callous but a self-defeating anthem for such members, and not Governor Alia of Benue State!!
Governor Alia’s alertness about the tenets of his mandate as well as his promise and commitment to actualizing all that is embedded in his oath of allegiance and oath of office have left him with no option than to impeccably stand for the good people of Benue State through thick and thin. The evidences of his convincing, transparent ,reliable, dependable and credible leadership abound in Benue State.
It is instructive to note that the good people of State stand with their Governor 100% and there is no going back.
It is high time members of the National Assembly, elected on the platform of the APC came out to convince the Benue people why they are in the National Assembly????? A National Assembly caucus of Benue members should not be about reckless press conferences without a deliberate corresponding positive effect on the Benue people, drawing from the inactiveness of such members in the real business of the National Assembly. This act is unpatriotic and against the yearnings of the Benue people, and will be rejected any day anytime!!
We want to see National Assembly members from Benue State, coming home to commission roads, bridges, electricity projects, schools, hospitals, farm / farming centres and equipment, attracting foreign investors to their constituencies, provision of robust employments, amongst others in Benue State.
Dr. Mkor Aondona Donatus writes as the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Benue State on Research, Documentation and Strategy
