Highlights of Rep Francis Ottah Agbo’s 2021 1st Quarter Activities in Enone
By Andrew Agbese
Political discourse in Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency also known as Enone, has mutated in the last two years.
In the past, when Enone youths have any reason to discuss issues affecting the Constituency, they end up comparing the make and model of the cars their political leaders ride for want of anything serious to talk about.
The more serious circles that insist on germane issues however, end up only lamenting the possibility of having certain projects sited in their communities due to lack of infrastructure and basic amenities.
But since 2019, political discourse in Enone has moved from the preposterousness of elite ostentation and mere wishes for projects, to discussing the quality of projects and how they can be evenly distributed among the three Local governments that make up the Constituency.
This is a positive development as Enone has moved to the stage where people can debate projects on ground.
The people have been given something positive to talk about moving their minds from irrelevant issues to issues of development.
Enone have now come to realise that being in the House of Representatives comes with enormous responsibilities unlike in the past where it is almost a given that once a Member is elected and gets to Abuja, it implies that the Member has grown bigger than the people and is not obliged to them in any way.
Currently, people’s consciousness and sense of political participation, have been raised through a systematic and consistent application of quality representation by Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo, also known as the Ozigizaga and Moving Train of Enone.
Since June 2019 when Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo assumed office as the Honourable Member representing Enone, other aspects of parliamentary representation which has to do with attracting and constructing projects to the Constituency have been practicalised that some now assume that Lawmakers have executive powers.
The background to this lies in the number of projects initiated by the Honourable Member as part of his Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP) the many he has used his influence to lobby and those he has done with his personal resources.
Within the first quarter of this year alone, so much have been done by the Lawmaker who heads the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs that bears highlighting.
In January, while people were still relishing the break offered by the festive season, the Honourable Member got to work and delivered on his promise to revamp the abandoned solar-powered borehole at Court Oko, Orokam, in Ogbadibo Local Government of Benue State.
The borehole had packed up in 2018 and was left to rot with no hope of fixing it due to the cost.The people were as a result, compelled to look for water from unhygienic sources.
Dr. Ottah Agbo, had in one of his visits to the district during the 2019 elections, observed the hardship the people were going through to source for drinking water and promised to do something about it and moved to action.
Work commenced almost immediately he assumed office and the project was completed in December. By January 15, the Honourable Member was at the Court Oko, Orokam, Ogbadibo LG site of the facility where he commisioned the project and presented it to the people after drinking from it.
Shortly after that, the Honourable Member lived up to his name and moved like the train that he is, to Rijo in Utonkon District of Ado LG.
What did he go to do there?
Communities around Rijo, like Ekile in Ado LGA and Mbalakwu, Idele and other communities in Oju LGA of Benue State, interact with one another for agricultural and commercial purposes for many years.
But during the rainy seasons, the interaction is hampered due to lack of access road and a bridge to make it possible for vehicles and pedestrians to cross over with their farm produce as well as other goods and services.
This usually leads to losses of farm produce, other goods and services worth millions of naira.
Pained by these experiences, the Honourable Member also decided to do something about it. Not one to be bogged down by bureaucracies, the Lawmaker, also known as the Cicero of Enone, decided to use his personal resources to come to the aid of the people and constructed a bridge named the Legacy Bridge!
The bridge turned out to be a source of joy to the people who rolled out drums to welcome the Lawmaker when the Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom went to commission it.
Dr. Ottah Agbo said he was moved to embark on the project when he saw the hardship the people were going through to cross to other communities during rainy seasons and had to use his personal resources to build the bridge because at the time he came in 2019, the budget for the year had been passed and this left him with nothing to work with.
He said, “So I had to start the bridge outside the budget and using my personal resources in order that work could commence and for it to be completed in good time.”
The Lawmaker who is the spokesman of the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, also committed to rehabilitating the Igumale- Ulayi- Ekile Road which will see communities in Igumale, Ulayi, Ijigban, Izzi, Ezza and Effium which are usually cut off from one another and find it hard to get to other places getting access to other parts of the state throughout the year and would also serve as a major gateway from Benue to Ebonyi State.
It was with that in view that the FeedBack Lawmaker in March later went back to monitor the progress made on the road.
He said this is because anything that affects members of his Constituency affects him personally.
“I can only be happy when I see that my people are happy, I can only smile when I see my people smiling, that is why I am here to see the progress made on this road which completion I know would bring succour, relief and joy to my people.
Even with the commitment to infrastructural development, the Honourable did not relent in helping the people.
He, for instance, gave out 100 motorcycles to his constituents to assist in their transportation within the communities.
As one who usually laments the economic deprivation of his people, the Talk Na Do Lawmaker decided to assist parents and guardians in his constituency in another way by offering to pay registration fees for those intending to write the UTME exams but have no resources to do so.
He set up a committee to invite and screen interested candidates and 332 number candidates were enrolled for the exam.
A breakdown of the list of successful candidates per the three Local Government Councils in Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency indicated that 107 candidates were enrolled from Ado LG, while Okpokwu has the highest number with 114, followed by Ogbadibo with 111 candidates.
Still keen on broadening the knowledge of his constituents, the Feedback Lawmaker also gave scholarship to 33 persons irrespective of political affiliations in his Constituency to benefit from one the best ICT training firms in West Africa, Hiit PlC. Classes for the various cyber digital courses have commenced and many of the beneficiaries have been giving wonderful testimonies about the content of the courses and relevance to the digital age while thanking the Honourable Member for his vision and magnanimity.
Not done with that on March 31, the last day in the quarter, the Liberation Train went to inspect the ongoing construction of the ultra-modern Primary Health Care Centre, PHCC, as well as the renovation of Nurses quarters and Maternity home in Ijigban District in Ado LGA!
The Centre, when completed, will cater for the health needs of Ijigban, Ulayi and Ekile people and neighbouring communities who have never had a functional health facility.
It has been all work and no play for the Legislator who is also a key player in parliament with two of his bills sailing through to second reading within the period under review .
Dr. Ottah Agbo has definitely raised the bar in popular representation, little wonder he is being celebrated both within and outside his Constituency.
Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom once described him as one of the assets of the PDP in Benue State because of his works.
The Governor congratulated him for initiating and completing the legacy bridge and promised the willingness of the state government to partner with the journalist turned lawmaker in his development drive!
The Honourable Member representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, Hon. Samuel Godday who represented the House of Representatives Speaker at the Legacy Bridge commissioning, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila was impressed by what his colleague had done, also said Dr. Ottah Agbo has challenged other Lawmakers to go to their communities and do life-changing projects like his colleague’s.
Benue State PDP Chairman, Sir John Ngbede celebrated the achievements of the Lawmaker. “Ottah is a prized asset of the PDP and we encourage him to keep making us proud. Only a PDP lawmaker can deliver such massive dividend of democracy… ” Ngbede thundered during the commissioning of the legacy bridge!
Hon Chris Adaba Abbah, (Mad Lion), PDP chieftain and Ogbadibo PDP leader, said “we trusted him, that was why we invested our votes and time in him. And we shall work hard to return him in 2023. I only support people oriented politicians and for me, Dr. Francis Ottah is a people’s person, he has done extremely well within a short period of time.”
Chief Patrick Ogbu, PDP chieftain in Ado LGA and Campaign Chairman in the 2019 Elections said he was not surprised at the feat recorded so far by the people’s Lawmaker.
“This is not the first time he would work for the people. He has donated his salary to orphans and widows and I have no doubt that he would keep delivering, to whom much is given, much is expected. Having won election in 33 out of 35 Wards, I am not surprised that Honourable Francis Ottah Agbo, is delivering on his campaign promise. That is why we want him to be reelected in 2023!” Ogbu posited at the legacy bridge commissioning.
Benue State Assistant PDP Secretary, Hon Rose Ameh who was so elated at the concrete physical development delivered by the Feed back Lawmaker within a short period simply said: “so far, he is the best Parliamentarian we have ever produced in Enone. We love him and wish him well…By the grace of God, 2023, he will be reelected!”
Former Member of the House of Representatives representing Ado/ Ogbadibo/ Okpokwu Federal Constituency,
Hon. David Idoko was full of praises for Ottah. “With the Ozigizaga breaking new grounds, Enone is in safe hands!” the soft spoken politician noted.
Indeed the Federal Constituency is in safe hands with the Moving Train in the driver seat. Since this is just the beginning of the year, one can say with the Americans that when it comes to work, as far as Dr. Ottah Agbo is in the saddle , “you guys ain’t seen nothing yet!”
