By Mike Makpah
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!When a man believes in standing on the path of truth, equity and justice, it becomes uncommon of his qualities which propel him to wade through the rough paths of the journey on earth and shines on like the sun.
Hon. Engr. Rodney Ambaiowei, representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria was inaugurated on the 13th day of June, 2023 into the 10th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after his victory at the supplementary election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Saturday 15th of April, 2023.
The supplementary election was a result of the inconclusiveness of the February 25th 2023 election conducted by INEC of which 27 polling units in few Wards of the Federal Constituency of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State were cancelled.
CHALLENGES
Life is a journey filled with lessons, hardships, heartaches, joys, celebrations, and special moments that will ultimately lead us to our destination and purpose in life. The road will not always be smooth. In fact, throughout our travels, we will encounter many challenges.
Hon. Engr. Rodney Ambaiowei can be likened to the biblical David who defended the people of Israel in the face of daunting challenges, especially when intimidated by the giant from Philistine, Goliath who boasted to defy the God and people of Israel in the field of battle but as a rare and unique personality, he stood out and led the party to victory in the 2023 general election in Southern ijaw Federal Constituency. On the 16th day of April, 2023 he was declared winner after the conclusion of the supplementary election, polling a total of 13,992 votes against his close contender, the candidate of APC who polled 12,992 votes.
Some of the challenges Hon.Rodney E. Ambaiowei faced includes:
Five (5) litigations (1) a pre-election matter at the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, and the other four (4) post-election matters filed at the Bayelsa State National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Yenagoa, which one of the political parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) went all the way to the Court of Appeal twice in Abuja and Lagos Divisions respectively, and the court fireworks ended in about 9 months time after the declaration (16th April, 2023 to 21st day of December, 2023).
Where others see leadership as taking authority and contending with leaders and government, Hon. Rodney sees leadership from the perspective of broadening his horizon and collaborative base, working hard, bridging communication gaps, being open-minded, ready to learn, and listening to government and stakeholders to attain the best results.
And true to type, he won all litigations against him in the various courts.
SUCCESSES
- SPONSORED MOTIONS
- Need to tackle the menace of incessant boat/watercraft mishaps on our coastlines/ waterways ( 20th July, 2023).
- Urgent need to contain oil spillage from offshore facilities around Southern Ijaw coastal communities to forestall environmental damages ( 31st January, 2024).
- Urgent need to complete the Amassoma community shoreline protection project ( 20th February, 2024).
- SPONSORED BILLS (27TH FEBRUARY, 2024).
- The establishment of Federal College of Education, Oporoma.
- The establishment of Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Amassoma.
- The establishment of Federal College of Health and Sciences, Enewari.
- EMPOWERMENT
- Distribution of 700 bags of rice and cash palliatives to constituents during 2023 Christmas and New Year celebrations.
- Procured over 200 jamb forms for students in the Constituency( 22nd January, 2024).
- He has written over 40 recommendation letters for his constituents to secure employment, obtain foreign scholarships, redeployment, and transfer of service.
- He had passionately made available financial support during marriages, dedication of children in churches, burial ceremonies, and transport fare for some constituents in most cases got stranded in Abuja
- OFFICES
Apart from the head office in the National Assembly Complex, Abuja,
*He has floated an operational Constituency Office in Oporoma for constituents to get across to him. The office is located behind the Governor’s Lodge.
*Also, the creation of an easy and accessible liaison office for constituents in Yenagoa, opposite Association of Chipping Dealers of Nigeria, Yenezue-Epie, by the Express
- OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS/ OTHER DUTIES
He has performed over 45 Over-sight functions both National and Internationally, regular in House Committee meetings, and consistent in plenary sessions and have contributed greatly in debates.
*This man Honourable Engr. Rodney is a man who has his people at heart.
Maya Angelon said “People … may forget what you said, people … may forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel …happy ”.
For this one year in the Nigerian House of Representatives, he has really impacted positively even with the daunting challenges in the Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State.
This astute member of Parliament(MP), no doubt would continue to be an indispensable asset to the good people of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and infinitely more so, to fight Bayelsa course in support of the Governor Douye Diri’s led prosperity administration in the State as a member of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even as we await the commencement of the Constituency projects for Community development and Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs) for human empowerment across the Federal Constituency.
*Mike Makpah is the Media Assistant to the NASS Member Representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency
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