2023: The Proposed Federal University Of Education Isiokolo And Why Ben Igbakpa Must Be Reelected

By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq

In Democratic Politics, especially in Nigeria and some parts of Africa, vibrant and result oriented elected representatives are not easy to come by. Reason being that some politicians see their mandate as simply empowerment either from political godfather(s) or from the party as reward for many years of loyalty.

These group of loyal and elected representatives’ major focus is usually on the political godfather(s) on whose back or political family they climbed to either state or federal legislative arm of government as lawmakers. The people they are elected to represent come last in their scale of preference because reelection will be determined by the same political godfather(s) and not the electorates, not based on performance. This is why politics remained the most lucrative business in Africa.

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However, there are few elected representatives who know their onions and also understand the fact that the people are the masters; why they are the servants sent forth to facilitate and bring dividends of democracy to their state and federal constituencies, as well as senatorial districts. These group of Democrats are usually very easy to identify through their robust contributions to debates and bills sponsored to impact the socioeconomic wellbeing of the people, the state and country.

One of such vibrant and visionary federal lawmaker in the present dispensation is Hon Chief Roland Ben Igbakpa, representing the good people of Ethiope Federal Constituency at the National Assembly. From day one, he impressed his constituents through the sponsorship of bills and meaningful contributions to debates during plenaries in the hallowed chambers.

Igbakpa, has been rated by the leadership of the Federal House of Representatives as one of the highly resourceful members of the house, and a well informed legislator with deep knowledge of legislative functions, proactive, displays, uncommon humility, a team player and an empowerment supremo, judging from his unblemished performance in the past three years and still counting.

As you read this piece, Hon Ben Igbakpa, is working round the clock to ensure that the Bill to establish a Federal University of Education in Isiokolo is passed and established. Isiokolo is the political headquarters of Ethiope East Local Government Area, known to have produced heavy weight politicians in the past and present.

We hear that some individuals are already working very hard to truncate the establishment of the University in Ethiope East, the very first federal University of Education in the South-South geopolitical zone. How do they intend to achieve this unholy agenda? Simple! They do not want Hon Igbakpa to return to the House of Representatives in 2023, so as to further retard development in Agbon Kingdom.

We all know that if the University is established in Isiokolo, it shall automatically speed up development in Agbon Kingdom comprising; Okpara Inland/Waterside, Kokori, Ovu, Orhuakpor, Samagidi, Egbo, Eku and host of other communities in the area. It will attract banks, good road networks, greater commercial activities, greater economic values for properties, provide thousands of jobs, create wealth for the good people of Ethiope East and by extension, Deltans and the state government through collection of taxes and many more.

Hon Roland Ben Igbakpa, is a shinning star at the House of Representatives and we are very proud of his enviable achievements. He is indeed a good ambassador of the good people of Ethiope Federal Constituency. He is the kind of politician and elected representative that we have pencilled down to join the league of Okowa Legacy Consolidation Group, OLCG, in 2023.

Those working behind closed doors to stop Ben Igbakpa from being reelected in 2023 will have thousands of us to contend with. I am a proud son of Agbon Kingdom, paternally Kokori and maternally Okpara Inland. Igbakpa is from Oghara in Ethiope West but we have adopted him as a bonafide son of Agbon Kingdom, due largely to his visionary leadership and for championing the course to have a Federal University of Education established in Isiokolo, the heart of the ancient great Agbon Kingdom.

We say to Hon Ben Igbakpa’s detractors that he shall surely be reelected in Ethiope East in 2023, and we are pretty sure that those who love good representation and visionary leadership shall also reelect him in Ethiope West, come 2023.

This is the prime opportunity for Agbon Kingdom to have a federal presence via the Bill sponsored by Hon Igbakpa for the establishment of a Federal University of Education.

It is therefore, our collective responsibility to support Igbakpa’s reelection in 2023, and declare those working against his reelection as enemies of Agbon Kingdom.
I so submit.