The member of the House of Representatives representing Ovia Federal Constituency of Edo State, Mr Dennis Idahosa (APC), has said that the decision the Ovia people had taken by their votes in 2019 was such that those who placed the area on the path of retrogression and underdevelopment would no longer be entrusted with public offices.
Idahosa stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Benin on his intention to seek a second term as a member of the House of Representatives.
The lawmaker, who noted that the decision to seek reelection was a decision by his constituents, however, said that there was no comparison between the Ovia he met and the Ovia of the present.
Idahosa stated that before now, there was a huge gap in terms of interactions between the people and their representatives as well as the attraction of dividends of democracy to the constituency.
He noted that it was as a result of the infrastructural gap in the constituency that in 2019, he christened his campaign, “Liberation of Ovia from under-performance and under-development.”
The lawmaker stressed that he had been able to change the narrative in almost four years of his stewardship to the people of the federal constituency.
“God has used me to open our eyes that a lot more can be achieved only if we truly desire the growth and development of the area and its people.
“For a start, there is now that connection between the people and their representative unlike what was obtainable in the past. This is in addition to the numerous projects that I have been able to attract to the constituency.
“Just to mention a few, we are saving our children from the trouble of haven to travel long distances to attend classes and also improving our learning environment by building schools across the 23 wards that make up the constituency.
“We have also been able to attract other projects such as town hall, street lights, bridges, and health centres among others.
“Most importantly, God has used me to improve the standard of living and quality of lives of the people through several empowerment programmes I have initiated and executed within this short time in office.
“Again, let me reiterate here that my service to the Ovia people was divinely orchestrated by God. He remains the ultimate source of my victory, not man.
“This must be sustained by the resource God is using me to fulfil his purpose for Ovia,” he stated.
The lawmaker said that he had attracted and executed 80 constituency projects across the 23 wards and moved 18 motions as well as sponsorship of four bills.
He listed the bills he sponsored including A Bill for an Act to amend the Orthopedic Management Board Act to Establish the National Orthopedic Hospital in Edo State and for Related Matters (HB.1612).
A Bill for an Act to amend the National Commission for Museums and Monuments Act, Cap. N19 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and for other related Matters, 2019. (HB.431)
A Bill for an Act to amend the Labor Act, 2004 CAP198 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria to make Compulsory a register of employees for employment outside Nigeria to be submitted to the Ministry in charge of Nigerian Embassies and to discourage discrimination of applicants on age brackets and for other related matters (HB.2162)
A Bill for an Act to amend the University of Benin (Transitional Provisions) Act, Cap U4 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to incorporate certain provisions that are of general application to Federal Universities and empower the Governing Council of the University to make statute to regulate the disciplinary procedure of the senior staff of the University and for other related matters (HB. 2163).