There is a lift in the spirits of residents of Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta State whose homes and farmlands were washed out by floods last year.
The lawmaker representing them at the state House of Assembly, Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi has rallied to their needs, presenting them with various jobs tools, among other things.
Before his election in 2011, Comrade Osanebi had declared, “I am ready to serve my people”. After his election, he has also proved he is ready to complement Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s vision of developing Delta State beyond oil and gas, by delivering constituency projects and empowering more women, youths and the needy in his constituency.
Hon. Osanebi believes that education is the bedrock for the future growth and development of the country, and therefore decided to undertake the construction of new primary and secondary school buildings across Ndokwa East Local Government Area. This aimed at providing environment conducive to teaching and learning for the teachers and pupils.
At Oloa-Ossissa, the lawmaker has completed an ultra-modern five classroom block with offices and store at the permanent site of Oloa Secondary School.
Also provided for the comfort of the students and teachers are toilet facilities and hand-pump boreholes which also serve the mainly farming community.
The residents of Oloa-Ossissa community were full of praises for Hon. Osanebi.
In Beneku, one of the communities adversely affected by the flood, Hon. Osanebi also constructed another five classroom block with six offices for Ndam Secondary School. The Beneku ultra-modern classroom block now completed, was submerged by the flood which delayed its early completion as finishing touches like terrazzo floor had to wait until the flood receded, while the hand pump provided to supply water to the school, had to be rehabilitated in order to provide water for students and staff of the school.
A teacher, Mrs. Faith Odigwe lamented the loss of books and records to the flood and expressed appreciation even as the students look forward to the inauguration of the new block of classrooms.
Dr. Ebo Otuya, an indigene of Beneku, in appreciating Hon. Osanebi’s gesture, however lamented that oil companies operating in the area need to do something more tangible by way of developing their host communities to complement government’s efforts.
At Akarai Etiti, Mr. George Eseagu, a teacher at Etiti Primary School, likened the new block of three classrooms being constructed as constituency project by Hon. Osanebi to a governor’s lodge because of the quality. He said the structures were so solid even as the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Christopher Ukpabi could not believe that government would remember the sleepy community.
Mr. Ukpabi said Etiti Primary School, built in 1941, had suffered neglect until Hon. Osanebi stepped in during his election campaign and provided school desks which were destroyed by the flood. On their part, the pupils who spoke through Ifeakam Odili were full of praises for Hon. Osanebi’s efforts.
Similarly, construction work is currently ongoing at Onuaboh Primary School being rehabilitated by the lawmaker. The Onuaboh project was part of Osanebi’s campaign promises.
For a man who has done so much and ready to do more for his constituents, the larger Ndokwa East community regards Hon. Osanebi as the hope of the masses and this is demonstrated by the stakeholders who visit the lawmaker regularly to brief him.
Playing host to a delegation of Oloa-Ossissa Community, the PDP executive members in Ndokwa East Local Government Area and the ten wards chairmen of the party, Hon. Osanebi had pledged to fulfill all his promises.
Also speaking, chairman of the party in Ndokwa East Local Government Area Hon. Kingsley Ashibogwu, praised the lawmaker for executing the constituency projects in Oloa, Beneku and Akarai and for initiating new projects in Asaba-Ase, Ibedeni and Ashaka.
Hon. Osanebi said he has great love for Ndokwa East to uplift the area from poverty and underdevelopment.
His pain however, lies in the unfortunate upsurge of violent crime like kidnapping and assassination, the reason, he believe that all hands must be on deck to tackle the issue of security.
Hon. Osanebi calls on all communities not to shield criminals but expose them by giving adequate and reliable information to security agencies and support to the state commissioner of police.
Calling on all Ndokwa East indigenes to give maximum support to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Hon. Osanebi enjoins the people to be patient as he delivers the dividends of democracy while renewing his determination to do his best as the representative of the people in the Delta State House of Assembly.
In line with the human capital initiative of the Uduaghan administration the member representing Ndokwa East constituency in the State House of Assembly Honourable Friday Osanebi has therefore called on leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the area to remain committed to the party and carry members along in the scheme of things in order to enhance the fortunes of the party in any election.
Honourable Osanebi made the call recently at Ashaka, Ndokwa East Local Government Area while presenting cars and motorcycles to some party leaders and members for their commitment to the PDP in the area.
Presenting the empowerment items made up of one Nissan Pathfinder Jeep, one Toyota Siena Space Bus and two Toyota Camry Cars, as well as 10 Skygo ladies motorcycles, Hon. Osanebi said the empowerment was for party leaders in the local government area.
The lawmaker also presented two cheques of N500,000 and N1m to two party leaders in the area.
Honourable Osanebi said those who did not benefit from the gesture should be patient as there were more empowerment programmes from him to the people.
The chairman, Ndokwa East Transition Committee, Hon. Alex Aniche commended Hon. Osanebi for the empowerment programme to party leaders adding that it would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
•Nwabueze, a journalist, sent this piece from Asaba
