Adekunbi Ero
The senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Joseph Igiagbe Ikpea, at a town hall meeting on Tuesday tasked his constituents to come up with tangible areas of intervention that would change their lives so that he would be able to lobby for such projects to be included in the budget.
Senator Ikpea assured them of sustained and effective representation, promising to deepen legislative accountability, attract development and ensure that the voices and aspirations of the people remain central to his mandate.
Speaking at the Edo Central Senatorial District Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting, held at the Uromi Town Hall, Uromi, with the theme, “Deepening Legislative Accountability, Development Dialogue and Inclusive Participation,” Ikpea, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics explained that the event was designed to create a direct platform for constructive engagement between the people and their representative.
The meeting brought together political leaders, traditional stakeholders, community representatives, youths, women and other critical partners to deliberate on the duties and functions of a lawmaker.
He emphasised that legislative representation must go beyond sitting in the chambers of the National Assembly to include regular consultation, accountability and tangible interventions that improve the lives of constituents.
According to him, “Stakeholders’ meetings are very critical for us as legislators, otherwise, the people will not be aware of what we are doing and how the three arms of government operate.
“Senators are not tied to road construction, as we are lawmakers, and money for constituency projects does not come to us as senators.
“It goes to the relevant MDA, and the MDA will spread the money to the local governments according to how you want it. I will continue to engage with the people with a view to knowing their priority projects so I can lobby for them.
“It is only in this kind of meeting that you can ask the people to give you their needs analysis. I have asked them to go to their various local government areas and bring their needs analysis so I can put them into my template, and from that template, I will execute my projects,” he assured.
Senator Ikpea further assured the people of Edo Central that he would continue to deploy his position in the Senate towards attracting meaningful projects, supporting human capital development and pursuing policies capable of improving their socio-economic well-being.
The Chairman of the occasion and APC leader in the senatorial district, Cecil Esekhaigbe, a retired army general, commended the initiative, describing the meeting with the constituents as essential to strengthening democratic governance.
Giving a summary of the various lectures, Esekhaigbe said, “We have been made to know, by the various speakers, the differences between legislative duties, executive duties and the judiciary.
“We came to know that Senator Ikpea came in at a time when constituency funds had already been allocated to the MDAs.”
The meeting was hosted by the Deputy APC Senatorial Chairman for Edo Central, Abuya Iduozee, while speakers included a former member of the House of Representatives for Esan Central, Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituency, Patrick Ikhariale, who spoke on “The Constitutional Duties of a Legislator.”
Also speaking, a former two-term member of the House of Representatives for Esan North-East and Esan South-East Federal Constituency, Mr. Friday Itulah, examined “Budgeting and Implementation versus Constituency Projects.”
Itulah urged stakeholders and constituents to understand the legislative process and distinguish between the responsibilities of lawmakers and those of the executive arm of government.
Dr. Pascal Ebhohimien spoke on “The Political Future of Edo Central,” while the State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) addressed participants on the devastating effects of drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the event, an APC chieftain in the senatorial district, Elder Sam Eboigbe, expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the senator despite his short stay in office.
Eboigbe maintained that the large crowd and the calibre of dignitaries at the meeting reflected what Ikpea stands for.
According to him, “We are happy with what he is doing for the people. In fact, he has tried. His eight months at the red chamber are enough to perform a miracle or magic.”
Eboigbe however, appealed to the federal lawmaker to continue to attract more people-centred projects to the senatorial district so that the constituents could benefit more from his representation.
Other stakeholders at the event also stressed the need for greater investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, employment creation, infrastructure and security across Edo Central.
They expressed optimism that sustained dialogue between the senator, and his constituents would strengthen accountability and ensure that the district’s development priorities received appropriate attention at the national level.
The meeting ended with renewed assurances that the senator’s office would remain open to constructive contributions from the people, while stakeholders urged constituents to support initiatives capable of promoting peace, unity and development across the senatorial district.
Senator Ikpea reaffirmed his commitment to giving Edo Central a strong voice at the National Assembly, assuring the people that their mandate would be treated as a sacred trust and that their interests, welfare and future would remain at the heart of his legislative agenda.
He doled out N10 million to the five local government areas in the district, just as he asked all market women in the area to meet with him with a view to empowering them.
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