Deputy Speaker, Akpowowo, Reels Out Achievements In One Year, Co-sponsored Four Bills

…Empowers 120 Constituents With N12M, Palm Oil Mill For PDP Male Amputee In Delta

By Fred Latimore

Deputy Speaker and House Committee Chairman on Legislative Compliance at the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Arthur Akpowowo, on Friday June 14, dolled out over N12 million to empower 120 constituents, urging them to invest the money wisely.

He said the cash gift is to enable them start small scale business of their choice, especially buying and selling, and other forms of profitable commercial activities that would cushion the negative effects of the prevailing economic meltdown in Nigeria, occasioned by the defective economic policies of the federal government.

The lawmaker who gave out N100,000 to each of the constituents during a town hall meeting at his country home in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area, advised the beneficiaries to invest the money wisely, be prudent and should never eat the capital while a reasonable percentage of their profits should be reinvested to grow the business.

The beneficiaries are women carefully selected from various wards in the local government for the empowerment programme, while the only male who got modern equipment to start palm oil mill, happens to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who was knocked down in his motorcycle during the 2023 general elections by a reckless driver, leading to the amputation of his left leg.

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The Deputy Speaker said he decided to empower women because they are essentially partners in progress, prudent and tenacious in turning things around with available resources, no matter how small, adding that women are also very reliable and committed to mobilizing people for the party, especially during electioneering campaign periods, which is why they shall continue to benefit from the dividends of democracy under this administration.

He assured party elders, leaders and constituents of his unwavering commitment to attract socioeconomic and infrastructure development to Ethiope East local government area, while commending the state leader of PDP and governor of the state, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, for his good governance strides, and for achieving so much in the past one year without borrowing a penny from any bank or financial institution.

The Deputy Speaker disclosed that he co-sponsored four bills out of the 13 bills passed by the House of Assembly within one year, adding that four of the bills have been signed into law by the governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, while the remaining nine are in the process of being assented to.

Still on his score card in one year, Deputy Speaker Akpowowo, stated that a constituent who hails from Okpara Inland, and who was unlawfully dismissed from the state civil service in 1999, Mr Emmanuel Gbenitie, was reinstated and promoted to the position of a Director as a result of his (Akpowowo) petition to the State House of Assembly, adding that the constituent suffered untold hardship for 25 years before justice was served in the 8th Assembly.

“Today is the first town hall meeting and it will be held yearly to enable my constituents ask questions about how am representing them. It is also a day for me to give account of my stewardship in the last one year.

“Am happy to announce to you that I have given employment to over 50 constituents in various Ministries, Department and Agencies, as well as at Dennis Osadebey University, Anwai Asaba, Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, et al. I will continue to press for more jobs for our people.

“One of my constituents who hails from Okpara Inland, Mr Emmanuel Gbenitie, was unlawfully dismissed from the civil service in 1999. He struggled in vain for over 25 years to get his job back, until I stepped in around September 2023.

“I wrote a petition to the State House of Assembly, lobbied my colleagues and Mr Emonitie of Okpara Inland was reinstated, promoted to the position of a Director, and the state government will promptly pay his arrears worth several millions of Naira.

“One of the special beneficiaries today is a member of our great party, PDP. Sometimes last year, he was returning from a party unit meeting when he was knocked down by a vehicle, leading to the amputation of his left leg. I met with him to discuss the way forward. He requested for a palm oil milling machine. And I fulfilment of my promise, I presented the equipment today.

“Our amiable governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori is setting high standards in governance, I urge us all to continue to support him, pray for him in and out of season.

The governor has spread development to the three senatorial districts, and Ethiope East Local Government Area is in good standing today in the Political scheme of things. We must continue to work hard to deliver all our candidates in the forthcoming local council elections slated for July,” Akpowowo said.

The Deputy Speaker’s town hall meeting cum empowerment programme was well attended by party elders, leaders and supporters including; the LGA Party Chairman, Hon Felix Erhimedafe, former federal lawmaker, Rt Hon Sunny Emeyese, Ethiope East PDP Chairmanship candidate, Chief Augustine Ogedegbe, and several others.