Over the past few days, I have been inundated with media reports on the gesture of love, goodwill and generosity extended to constituents by their able representatives of the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly, especially in the spirit of the yuletide season.
In fact, further findings reveal that such gestures have become routine rituals in many constituencies with their representatives always reciprocating the love, support and commitment displayed by the constituents during and after elections.
In the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, for instance, Rt. Hon. (Chief) Daniel Asuquo who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Power, is reported to have donated cash, food items and other support materials to widows, the less privileged and other party faithful.
The story is the same in the Northern Senatorial District of the State where Senator Rose Oko is reported to have extended a similar gesture to her constituents. In these constituencies, widows and other less privileged class are given a sense of belonging and can be seen expressing their feeling of exhilarating joy and satisfaction.
In this euphoria, I coasted home to my own constituency, the Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency. Is the atmosphere the same here? Yes, the people appear to be happy though not necessarily because of any democratic dividend or gesture of love from their representative.
There is a feeling of neglect and dejection by their Federal Representative. There is no effort whatsoever on the part of Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa to deliver democratic dividends, quality and effective representation to his people.
The fact that the said Honourable Member (with the greatest respect to his person) is inept and ineffective cannot be exaggerated. I shudder in disbelief and disappointment!
In thinking aloud, I dare to ask the following questions: Where is Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa? Is he dead or alive? If not, how come his presence is not felt? When last did he visit home to interface with and know the problems of his constituents?
Since his over eight years inglorious sojourn in the Federal House, how many of his constituents has he empowered? Which constituency project(s) has he executed? Where and how does he spend his constituency allowances?
Are there no widows and less privileged people in the Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency who could be shown love and care by Hon. Ewa? Or is it out of place for the long time serving Rt. Hon. Bassey Ewa to put smiles on the faces of his people especially in this season of yuletide festivities? Is Hon. Bassey Ewa a blessing or a curse to the people of Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency?
In asking these questions, I am aware of the political gimmicks on the part of Hon. Bassey Ewa when in 2014 in the wake of his campaign for re-election, he purportedly splashed 50 million naira on his constituents.
The truth however remains that the purported “empowerment” was in fact a deliberate and calculated attempt to pool the wool over the eyes of the gullible members of the public. My findings here at home revealed that Hon. Bassey Ewa indeed bought a few cars for his house boys and not the purported naira splash of 50 million naira.
The Honourable Member is further perceived here at home as the politician who introduced the politics of machetes and guns into the Yakurr/Abi political field. It would be recalled that Hon. Ewa was arrested by the Zone 6 police command along with others, to answer questions on the violent disturbances that greeted his first election to the Federal House in 2007.
One would further recall that Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa was elected to the Federal House of Representatives in 2007 to represent the good people of Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency and was re-elected in 2011 for a second term. On 11th April, 2015 he was yet again re-elected for another term.
The elections were controversial as well as characterised by mindless violence, thuggery, brigandage and loss of lives. However, the Honourable Member (despite his sound legal and parliamentary background as one time Speaker of the Cross River Assembly) has remained a square peg in a round hole, even as his presence in the Federal House could only be likened to that of a mere spectator.
While one awaits answers to the above questions, there is no doubt that the time is long overdue for the good people of Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency to urgently arise and hold their representative accountable. Leadership remains a trust and indeed the people deserve quality and effective representation.
The Honourable Member representing the Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency must rightly be called to order and also reminded that his constituents ultimately reserve the right to recall an incompetent, inept and ineffective representative. That it has never been done doesn’t mean it cannot be done. A stitch in time saves nine!
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all.
Eno Iyamba, Esq. Private Legal Practitioner based in Calabar. (eno.iyamba@gmail.com)
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