In few days from now, the Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi will be one year in office. Having secured the mandate of the Ndokwa East people to represent their interest in the Delta State House of Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, was home over the weekend, where he stunned everybody with his demonstration of love for his people, empowering same with cash and cars to establish their prosperity.
The intent and purpose of the meeting cum constituency briefing was amongst other things to show his people his one year report card as Deputy Speaker, get feedbacks from them on his representation in the last one year, ascertain the people’s imminent challenge, define a solution for same and declare to the people a way forward. That was the reason, the entire PDP family of Ndokwa East and Ndokwa East people in general gathered in their numbers to receive their son, Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi at Ozomuku Primary School playground, in Ashaka, on the 27th of May, 2016.
In his usual style of putting smiles on the faces of the people, when they gathered to receive and meet with him; the people were full of expectations, after it was noised across the locality, that the Empowerment Master, will be splashing some millions on market women in the locality to boost small and medium scale enterprises.
Everybody on suspense
As the women sang songs of joy and praise, and the youths chanting songs of solidarity in expectation of the arrival of the Otumba 1 of Africa, the highly expectant audience became more ‘confused’ when they saw cars of varying classes , ranging from Toyota Camry to Prado jeep being driven into the colourful arena without plate numbers, indicating that they are new cars and for the strategic positions the drivers packed the cars, the people were kept in suspense, of what the Empowerment Master was up to this time around.
Not left out in the ‘confusion’, of how unnumbered cars got into the arena and for what purpose they might have come, were immediate staff of the Deputy Speaker, who didn’t know what their boss was up to, because car empowerment was never in the agenda of the May 27th constituency briefing.
Here, he comes!
Not too long, the Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi, was triumphantly welcomed into the arena like the biblical “triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem”. Women and youths with various uniforms danced and sang to the glory of God as he danced and rejoiced also with the various groups that had positioned themselves in the entrance of the town to receive him in a dance into the arena. Acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd, he danced round the playground, greeted traditional rulers, men and leaders seated in the high table and took his seat.
Without much ado, an opening prayer was said and the list of his achievements in last 11 months and some weeks was read to the amazement of the general public. Reading the eleven point achievements of Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi in eleven months and some weeks, the master of ceremony (MC), Chief Mike Nwabueze listed them as follows:
1. Five million Naira Empowerment for market women to boost small and medium scale enterprises.
2. Construction of 6 classroom blocks in Ibrede primary school, Ibrede.
3. Construction of 6 classroom blocks in Iselegu Primary School, Iselegu.
4. Direct employment of over 50 youths in the oil sector
5. Employment of over 20 men and women into the public service (political appointment and other related engagements)
6. Construction of 6 classroom blocks in Umueze Primary School, Ossissa.
7. Construction of 6 classroom blocks in Niger Primary School, Asaba-Ase.
8. Trained and Empowered 25 youths in conjunction with AGIP, through skill acquisition with starter packs.
9. Construction of 6 classroom blocks in Mixed Secondary School, Okpai-Oluchi.
10. Construction of 6 classroom blocks in Aboh Grammar School, Aboh.
11. Ten Million Naira, Scholarship Award to Anioma Students, through his foundation, The Friday Osanebi Foundation (FOF).
After this; reactions, questions, suggestions/opinions on issues affecting the people from the ten wards of the local government area were entertained. Top on the issues raised, including applauds for the Deputy Speaker for his achievements in just eleven months and few weeks; the people in their various speeches prayed the Deputy Speaker to help consolidate on the existing peace the local government council and the local government has enjoyed ever since the council acting chairman took over the mantle of leadership, following the suspension of the local government council chairman. They all begged the Deputy Speaker to ensure that the suspended council chairman – Mrs Chukwura Nkechi, doesn’t return as chairman again.
Other issues raised were erosion challenges, especially in towns along River Niger, urgent need for integration into state road network by calling on the government, NDDC and other interventionist agencies to extend the existing access road to Aboh to Akarai, Umuolu, Onogbokor, Onyah and other communities around that region down to Asaba-Ase.
Then came the peak moment where everybody was expecting to hear the Deputy Speaker address the people and let the cat out of the bag: who and who to be empowered and who will become a car owner from the meeting. The Deputy Speaker who was decked in his party’s (PDP) attire, adorned with a big ‘resource control’ hat with PDP logos; took his turn to talk to the people, answer their questions and present the packages he came with to the constituents.
Osanebi thanked God for his faithfulness and mercies in the last 11 months and some weeks in office. He thanked the people for supporting his party and her candidates in the last general election, also reassured the people that all the party promises to them will be met. Starting from the office of the Governor, Osanebi revealed that the governor has engaged a good number of Ndokwa sons and daughters working closely with him. He has already approved and awarded the widening and reconstruction of a 5Km access road to Beneku in Ward 4, many school projects and others.
He also thanked the people for their support thus far for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and revealed that there are many things in the pipeline, from Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, including roads and many other social amenities. He further thanked the people for the support and love they have demonstrated for Hon. Ossai N Ossai and himself.
If you love me, please forgive Nkechi- Osanebi
Osanebi noted that the woes befalling the local government council was a challenging and unfortunate one that everybody has to come to reason. He noted that he was overwhelmed with the love the local government leaders, women and youths have shown him. He further appealed to the people to forgive the chairman, Mrs. Nkechi, if truly they love him as they claim. Osanebi appealed to the gathering to forgive and stretched out their right hand of love and fellowship towards Nkechi to receive her back as their own child. The gathering which was stunned with the Deputy Speaker’s appeals, was thrown into a sober and quiet mood. He added that whatever be the issue, the LGA as a family can resolve same amicably, noting that impeachment, was never the solution.
