By Jonathan Ugbal
The accessibility of legislators by their constituents has been described as a panacea for effective representation which will translate into true development and continuous meaningful empowerment.
The member representing Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra federal constituency in the National Assembly Legor Idagbo made this known on Saturday August 29, 2015 when he opened his constituency office in Obudu local government area with Cross River’s governor Ben Ayade commissioning the facility.
Commissioning the facility located along Ogoja road in a building which also houses the chapter office of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ayade assured legislators of a good relationship and commended Legor for the initiative.
“This is the first time in this administration that I am going to commission the activity of one of my own, a member of the National Assembly which makes him a pacesetter, creating an opportunity for others to follow. (Turning to Legor) you have started very well, I can see your profile rising and will continue rising”.
A two time Chairman of Bekwarra local government who later became Works Commissioner early into his second term, Legor said he is challenged to replicate Ayade’s feat as a Senator in the 7th Senate.
He spoke highly of the signature projects as well as the need to replace the current empowerment paradigm. “There is political empowerment where you give largesse and cars to your supporters which is not a bad idea. There is sustainable empowerment where you try to set people up in a manner that three, four years down the line, they will become independent.
“The poverty level in the constituency is very high in a way that a politician visiting home is always under immense pressure and must have tried if he stays for two to three days. We need to work towards changing that lifestyle”.
The Speaker of the Cross River House of Assembly, John Lebo in his remarks described Legor as a good man and spoke highly about the relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of the state in the current administration.
On Legor he said “we are contemporaries, I am happy that you are taking your political career seriously”.
On legislative matters, he added that “Today we have over fourteen bills in the House of Assembly by next week Thursday, we must have passed ten which basically are domestication of the bills Ayade sponsored in the National Assembly”.
Commending Legor’s style of empowerment he averred that “The world is heading towards sustainable development with the United Nations launching their sustainable development agenda very soon which will chart and determine course of actions and activities for the next 63 years”.
Five people from each political ward of the constituency totalling 150 were presented with one airtel sim, phone, table, umbrella, chair and airtime worth 5,000 Naira to begin trading in selling airtime and other communications related businesses.
The three local government areas will have one Liason officer representing each according to Legor with one coordinator who was presented with a car.
Presenting the packages to the beneficiaries, governor Ayade charged them to remain committed and faithful to the PDP which they are already benefiting as a result of their hard work saying “The benefit for hard work is more work”.
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