28 LAZY MEN: WHILE OTHER LAWMAKER SQUANDER MONEY FOR CONSTITUENCY BRIEFING, IZEZE BRIEFED HIS CONSTITUENTS THE SECOND TERM

The member representing Ughelli South Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Comrade Reuben Izeze has presented his second year scorecard to his constituents.

The 2nd edition of the annual constituency briefing which held on Thursday (22/06/2017) at the Unity Hall, Ughelli South Council Secretariat, Otu-Jeremi was Chaired by Olorogun Moses Taiga represented by Olorogun Sam Omokeni.

While presenting his scorecard to the people Comrade Izeze said the constituency briefing was a fulfillment of his campaign promises to the people during his electioneering campaign.

“Two years down the line, in line with our commitment made during our electioneering campaigns, we are here once again to render to you, our bosses, an account of our stewardship over the last legislative year,” the law maker said.

He commended Governor Okowa for his pragmatic leadership style in the prudent management of funds which is evidenced in the numerous projects he has been commissioning and inspecting across the state as part of the activities to celebrate his two years in office, adding that the massive infrastructural developments and job creation as encapsulated in the Governor’s SMART Agenda was fully on course.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank our SMART and amiable Governor; His Excellency, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for listening to the developmental yearnings of our people. Our prosperity Governor has made giant strides in tackling the infrastructural/developmental challenges of Ughelli-South Local Government Area.

“He has also been magnanimous in appointing many of our people into his Administration. Indeed PROSPERITY is berthing in Ughelli South as we all are witnessing. May God bless and continue to guide and guard him.

“The 2017 Appropriation Bill as presented by him captures some of the major developmental challenges that we all have lived with since the creation of the Local Government Council, Vis; The Otu-Jeremi Modem Market; The Okwagbe Modem Market; The Okpare/Umolo/Kiagbodo road (Recently Commissioned); The OtuJeremi/Oginibo/Okwagbe/Otor-Owhaha/Oghior/Otu-Jeremi road (Awarded and ready for reconstruction); The Oteri-Ovwor road (Commissioned); Ekakpamre/Ekrokpe/Usiefrun/Oruwhonrun road (ongoing); Effurun-Otor/Ovwor Link road with Bridge (ongoing); Okwagbe/Ophorigballa road (Approved for award); Oviri Olomu/Okparabe road (awaiting Exco approval) and the Ewu-Orere road (ongoing).Indeed the people of Ughelli South has never had it so good.

He observed that the primary function of a lawmaker is to make laws for the good governance of the state which he has performed creditably well by sponsoring 4 Bills in the last one year.

“We, as lead sponsors, with other colleagues as co-sponsors presented our FIRST BILL on the floor of the House; “A Bill for a Law to amend the Delta state Internal Revenue Consolidated (Amendment) Bill 2016”. The essence of this Bill is to prefer amendments that would legally strengthen our Local Government Area and Authorities in their quest to shore up their Internally Generated Revenue Profile. This Bill is presently at the committee stage.

“As lead sponsors, in collaboration with other colleagues presented our SECOND BILL before the House. This Bill; “Tenancy Bill of Delta State to Repeal the Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Law Cap. R5 1997 And Other Matters connected Thereto”, seeks to cure the mischief unanticipated by the existing Law with particular emphasis on COMMERCIAL PREMISES. This Bill is presently at the Committee Stage.

Furthermore, we also, as lead sponsors, in conjunction with our colleagues presented our THIRD BILL before the House. This Bill; “A Bill for a Law to provide for the Control of Nomadic Cattle rearing in Delta State and to Establish the Delta State Advisory Council on grazing, to repeal the control of Movement of Animals Law 2009 and for Other Matters Connected Thereto”, seeks to permanently use the instrumentality of the Law to cure the menace of rapist, terrorist, armed robbers and kidnappers who hide under the guise of Herdsmen.

“The Bill went through a Public hearing in February 2017. The Bill on the “Administration of Criminal justice” in Delta State was read a third time and passed by the House after the presentation of our report in our capacity as not only a co-sponsor but also as the chairman of the House Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters. This Bill is presently before the committee of the whole.

“We again, as lead sponsors, with the support of some our colleagues, presented our FOURTH BILL before the House. The Bill; “A Bill for a Law to Prohibit Forceful Entry and Illegal Occupation of Landed Properties, Violent and Fraudulent conduct in Relation to Landed Property in Delta State and for other matters connected therewith”.

“The kernel of this Bill when passed into Law is to criminalize fraudulent and violent conducts in relation to Land transactions, which hitherto was a purely civil matter (thus enabling speculators and fraudsters to have a field day), he added.

He thanked Governor Okowa for apppointing Barr. John Okoriko from Okpe-Olomu who was screened and confirmed by the House for appointment as a Member of the Delta State Advisory Council on the prerogative of Mercy. He has since resumed duty. We thank His Excellency and our own Barr. MRAKPOR Peter; The Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for making this appointment a reality.

Izeze also appreciated immediate past Speaker of the Delta State House Assembly Rt. Hon. Chief Monday Igbuya and other colleagues for finding Barr. Otto Aghoghowvia, a worthy son of Ughelli South from Okwagbe for appointment as Deputy Clerk of the Delta State House of Assembly.

The lawmaker added that sequel to the leadership change that took place in the House which led to the emergence of Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori, he was also replaced as the Majority whip of the House after a 23-month stint.

On Community/Conflict Interventions, Izeze noted that he succesfully held Meetings with the Leadership of Otokutu Community over their developmental challenges; the Leadership of Gbaregolor Community over their development challenges; Meeting with the Leadership of Ekameta Community over their developmental challenges; Meeting with the Leadership of Urhobo Security Network (USN) over the menace of Herdsmen; Sponsoring and bank rolling the Bail applications of indigent constituents on “awaiting trial” in prisons as well as Continuous mediation with the Nigerian Police on behalf of our constituents.

“We are all aware of the prevailing economic realities confronting us as a people. This has resulted in minimal formal sector jobs over the past two years. It is our hope that the Nation emerges from the current economic recession in no distant time so as to enable our teeming employable youths/people secure gainful employment.

“Notwithstanding the above realities, we have within the year under review with our personal funds, been able to assist our people in the under-listed areas; Complete renovation and equipping of the labour room at Otu-Jeremi General Hospital; Grants/support to indigent students in territory and Basic Institutions (Across the Local Government Area); Training of constituent in POP/Plumbing Okpare; Training of constituent in Aluminum doors/windows installation Okpare; Support to acquire Electricity generating plant for dry cleaning shop at Okwagbe; Provision of Electricity Generator to support Barbing Salon Ekakpamre; Provision of Electricity Generator to support Ministration of the Gospel at Ofrukama; Provision of business/trading grants ranging from N50,000.00 – N400,000.00 to women Constituents across the Local Government Area; Provision of furniture spraying machine to a Constituent at Owhawha and the Training of 12 of our constituents in Poultry/Fisheries at the LAWAL IYANDA FARMS, Orerokpe.

“Permit me to use this medium to express our profound gratitude to the MD/CEO of Lawal Iyanda farms; ASIWAJU SOLA ADEBAYO for his support and undertaking to train our Constituents in batches for FREE. Not only is he training them FREE OF CHARGE he has also been supporting them with the same stipend of N10,000.00 monthly that we have been supporting them with bringing their monthly stipend to N20,000.00 per person.

“All these does not include our regular interventions/support in the daily financial challenges of our people. We wish and indeed hope to do more as the economic situation improves.

On Constituency Projects, Izeze said: “Our Constituency Project for 2016 situate at the OGBAVWENI GRAMMAR SCHOOL USIEFRUN, is presently 75% Completed and we hope it will be Completed within the shortest possible time.

“As for our 2017 Constituency Project, we have proposed the complete rehabilitation of the GBAREGOLOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, GBAREGOLOR. This is in line with our electioneering promise of spreading our Constituency Projects within the three major political blocks of UGHIEVWEN, OLOMU/EFFURUN OTOR and EWU.” He said.

The lawmaker assured that going forward, the forum seeks to achieve the dual aim of a Town Hall meeting and a Constituency briefing. It is our expectation that having heard from us, you, as our bosses shall be able to tell us your developmental expectations and challenges as we go back to resume the duty you have assigned to us.

He thanked all leaders and the people of Ughelli South for their patience, understanding and support in past two years of effective and robust representation.

Continuing, Hon. Izeze reiterated, “my Leaders, let me use this opportunity to thank you all for your support and constructive criticism, we shall continue to strive to offer you the robust legislation and effective representation we promised you and be rest assured, our commitment before you and God is to hold to hold the position in trust for you. Your mandate shall never be an instrument of suppression, oppression or corruption because, we strongly believe that public office is a service centre and not a business centre.

“We are humbled. We promised you EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION AND ROBUST LEGISLATION, these are our commitments to you before GOD. So help us GOD, Amen!!!”

Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Olorogun Moses Taiga represented by Olorogun Sam Omokeni thanked Hon. Izeze for organizing the constituency briefing, noting that it was his first time to witness this kind of occasion by a representative.

At the occasion, which was well attended by leaders, traditional rulers, party faithful, stakeholders across the Local Government Area, the people of Ughelli South overwhelmingly, passed a vote of confidence on Comrade Reuben Izeze and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa stating, that the duo performed beyond expectations within their two years in office.