RE: TWO YEARS OF ROBUST AND MAGNIFICENT REPRESENTATION

DECONSTRUCTING THE HALF -BAKED TRUTH FROM THE REAL TRUTH

Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo, 
House of Representatives member,Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency.

I read with raptured attention, keen interest and excitement,  although with mixed reactions,  the heart-warming achievements’ list and scorecard of the Honourable Member representing Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ozurigbo Ugonna, in his official press release tagged:  ”Two Years Of Robust And Magnificent Representation”, which was personally signed by him.

Let me start by commending his avowed commitment in working very assiduously to change the  legislative narrative and leave the Federal Constituency better than he met it. To be fair to him, Hon. Ugonna Ozuruigbo has done relatively well in some aspects of representation within his two years in office under review.

In a country where our 109 Senators in the Red Chamber and 306 House of Representatives Members in the Green Chamber do not give a hoot about their image and about the welfare of the people they represent,  but want to be addressed as ‘Honourable Members’ and ‘Distinguished Senators’; anyone who appears humble and accessible in disguise among them is always seen as a ‘Saint’.  In a country where our elected  Federal Legislators do not know the weight of their responsibility to the 206 million people they represent,  but care little or nothing about probity,  accountability and transparency  through effective representation, anyone who does that is usually celebrated. 
Permit me to say,  it is from the above prism that Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo’s achievements galore or scorecard of two years in office received some applause among his supporters, members of his Constituency, political associates, friends and the onlookers. 

In Nigeria for instance, giving account of one’s stewardship in office as the Representative of the people may look so strange to the uninformed members of one’s  Federal Constituency, who perceived and ironically called legislators – ‘legislooters.’  This is where Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo  scored a high point among his   supporters, many of whom, did not know they have the right to know how much he earns as allowance, the peg for millions of Naira appropriated to his hallowed office as Constituency Project funds as always captured in his annual proposed budget. And of course, equal distribution of these projects across the 43 INEC wards in Nkwerre (10), Isu (11), Nwangele (11) Njaba (11) Federal Constituency; in addition to the alleged secret deals at budget defense sessions. This is a topic for yet another day!

FAST FORWARD TO THE 94 ACHIEVEMENTS’ LIST |SCORECARD  OF OZB:

As I religiously and critically dissect the 94 items in the scorecard or achievements’ list of Hon. Ozurigbo Ugonna, I discovered a number of discrepancies between project speculation and real implementation. Methinks, that in  an attempt to either prove that he is really working for the people or, to rather impress the masses and  ignorant followers, Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo flooded the cyberspace with an over bloated  achievements’ list and forwarded same to a select local tabloids in the state for public assessment and possible applause.

Again, while I sincerely commend him for impressive legislative outing within his two years in office, ironically, about 65% of the items in his achievements’ list are still pending and awaiting; a normal project speculation, which have not been truly implemented. Do not forget that a budget or proposal is subject to approval or otherwise. 

Funny enough, the National Assembly Budget Research Office does not have an overriding  power on budget implementation; perhaps for a number of reasons below:

✓ Lack of clear rules regulating the budget process. 
✓ Delays in producing the Medium -Term Expenditure Framework |Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF|FSP).
✓ Poor level of executive -legislative engagement at budget formulation stage.
✓ Lack of robust engagement between the executive and legislature during the budget approval stage. 
✓ Delays in approving the Appropriation Bill 
✓ Delays in producing budget implementation reports and the lack of oversight therefore, among others

I do not want to accuse anyone of budget padding! 

From the above, is it not rather mendacious and even mischievous for a Federal Legislator to include as part of his achievements proposed projects that are in the 2021 Budget which have not received approvals?

Do not shout, MacDonald! This  insightful and timely response is not for Hallelujah boys, but for discerning minds as an average black man does not do research. Kindly go through the list and see for yourself that most of these projects are still hanging and awaiting pending President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval.

Also note that a number of the projects in his long list of achievements galore were done during his days as a State Legislator.

Take a dispassionate look at the following items in that over bloated list; Nos:
👉🏾 Click below to make your comparison:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ozbfor2015/permalink/2918720471679950/
 40,  44,  46,  47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56,57, 58, 59, 63,65,67,68, 69,70,71,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,8889,90,92,93,94:

The No. 92 in the list of  items  which is a  minor renovation and  purchase of some medical  equipment at the Abba Primary Health Centre located at Ogwuaga Abba was done during his tenure as the Deputy Speaker of the 8th Imo State House of Assembly. Why brought it forward as part of your achievements as a Federal Lawmaker, if not to hoodwink the gullible and  uninformed?

Sadly enough, OZB also included in his achievements list |scorecard the almost completed Nkwo-Ebu Market project being executed by his successor, Amara Iwuanyanwu (KSC), which I attracted with the support of the trio of Eze Ndubueze Maduabuchukwu (Uburu ll of Abba), Engr. Kene Iwuogo, President General of Abba Autonomous Community and Engr. Obinna Azonobi. On this note, I leave him to his conscience as his media handlers may tag it a typographical error.

To this end and for emphasis sake, let me quickly reiterate that the first job of a Representative or Legislator is to make laws and visibility. The last job is to bring dividends of democracy home to his Constituency. Has Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo done well as a lawmaker? Yes, but it is relative, and within the time frame under review.
Does he need to do more ? Yes, he does!

His presence should be felt in the House; outspoken and a strong voice just like during the days of his immediate predecessor, Rt. Hon. Jones Onyereri.

Since to whom much is given, much is also expected, therefore, I will candidly advice him to take a departure from this quasi – traditional method of  empowering the youths with motorcycles and Keke NAPEP to a more proactive and productive empowerment programmes through agriculture and capacity building.

Look around you, there are many graduates roaming the streets in the village. Pick up a few of them and award them scholarships for their post-graduates programmes, instead of giving them Okada.

High Chief Johnbosco Ozigbu in the last two years had sent not less than 15 young men from Nwangele LGA overseas for legitimate greener pastures. On one occasion, I assisted them in completing their undertaking forms.

Sir, with your hallowed position you can empower as many hardworking and honest young men around you as possible! “Nobody climbs the orji tree twice”. 

Permit me also to say that I was highly impressed when I read a story about six members of Isu State Constituency, who were sent overseas for their Masters Degree programmes courtesy of their  House of Assembly Member – Rt. Hon. Ngozi S M Obiefule. I was also impressed when I read a story online how Dr. Solomon Chinonso Ucheka Pasolo awarded a scholarship to one Kennedy Ogenna to study Journalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Owerri Satellite Campus. Is that not more rewarding than giving the young man Keke NAPEP?

We should tell our leaders the truth that the people need development and capacity building. Unfortunately, in our milieu, where we still grapple with basic needs; food and shelter, we have continued to celebrate mediocrity and frivolities nurtured by ignorance and poverty.

Enough of these motorcycles and Keke NAPEP empowerment as we honestly keep praying for our leaders for sense of direction.

– Njoku Macdonald Obinna,   writes from Abuja and is officially holding media brief for the largest Federal Constituency nay Senatorial District in Nigeria.