By joshua Ikpea Presents Legislative Scorecard To Constituents, Seeks Unity, Grassroots Partnership
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin city
Stakeholders from across Edo Central Senatorial District on Tuesday converged on Uromi Town Hall for a stakeholders’ town hall meeting convened by the Senator representing the district, Senator Joseph Igiagbe Ikpea, to deepen legislative accountability, development dialogue and inclusive participation.
Held under the theme, “Deepening Legislative Accountability, Development Dialogue, and Inclusive Participation,” the meeting attracted traditional rulers, political leaders, elders, youths, women groups, professionals, artisans, market women, community leaders, party stakeholders, media practitioners and other residents.
The meeting provided constituents with an opportunity to engage directly with their representative, understand the constitutional responsibilities and limitations of the legislature, discuss budget implementation and constituency projects, examine the political future of Edo Central and receive sensitisation on the dangers of drug abuse.
Delivering the opening address and Governor Monday Okpebholo’s goodwill message, the Edo Central Senatorial Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (Rtd.), commended Senator Ikpea for convening the meeting, describing it as a timely platform for accountability and direct engagement between the people and their representative.
Esekhaigbe called for unity among the people of Edo Central and continued support for the Okpebholo administration, noting that the emergence of an Esan-born Governor represented an important political milestone for the district.
He urged stakeholders to close ranks and unite their political aspirations, while appealing to beneficiaries of government appointments and opportunities to extend support to others in their communities.
Addressing the enthusiastic gathering, Senator Ikpea explained that the meeting was deliberately designed to accommodate the wider community and was not restricted to members of his political party.
He said elders, ward and local government leaders, youth and women leaders, party stakeholders, artisans, market women, professionals, media practitioners and other critical groups were invited because meaningful legislative engagement must reflect the wider constituency.
Ikpea reaffirmed his commitment to political unity, stressing that neither he nor his supporters were interested in creating divisions and that the overriding objective remained the unity and progress of the people.
On his legislative scorecard, Ikpea explained that the timing of his assumption of office affected the extent to which he could influence projects in the main budget cycle.
He, however, disclosed that he had pursued interventions through the supplementary budget, including attention to a primary school project in Uromi, which he said was among the commitments he made during his campaign.
The Senator also sought to clarify the misconception surrounding constituency projects, explaining that appropriated funds do not ordinarily come into the personal custody of lawmakers but are channelled through the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies responsible for implementation.
Drawing from his previous experience as a local government chairman, he also highlighted his record of financial prudence, recalling that he left office without owing workers’ salaries despite the financial difficulties confronting local governments at the time.
The Senator appealed for continued support and disclosed plans to work with elders’ chairmen, local government and ward leaders to undertake a comprehensive needs assessment across communities in the district.
The issue of legislative responsibility was further explained by former two-term member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, PhD, who spoke on “The Constitutional Duties of a Legislator.”
Ikhariale explained that the executive is responsible for implementing government policies and programmes, while the legislature is responsible for lawmaking, representation, appropriation and oversight.
Former two-term House of Representatives member, Rt. Hon. Barr. Friday Obomezele Ituah, who presented a paper on “Budgeting and Implementation vis-à-vis Constituency Projects,” reinforced the explanation.
Ituah stressed that lawmakers do not ordinarily award contracts, select contractors or pay contractors for constituency projects, but can identify needs, lobby for their inclusion in the budget and monitor implementation to ensure value for public money.
Speaking on the political future of Edo Central, leadership strategist Dr. Pascal Enobhimen identified values, vision and service above self as essential principles for the political and developmental advancement of Esanland.
The town hall also featured a sensitisation lecture by the Edo State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Dr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, who warned against the dangers of drug abuse and substance misuse.