Former Deputy Governor
of Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong has accused members of the National
Assembly of selfishly working for themselves and not for the interest of
Nigerians.
Ekpenyong said not much should be expected of individuals
who were imposed on their constituents, as most of them did not pass through
proper electioneering processes.
Commenting on the ongoing constitution amendment and
controversies surrounding the issue of devolution of powers, during an
interaction with newsmen in Uyo on Wednesday, Ekpenyong said most of the
decisions taken by the National Assembly has no input from the people they
represent.
"That National Assembly is selfish. Most of them did
not pass through proper election; most of them were imposed on the
people". He said
The former deputy governor who is from Ikot Ekpene
Senatorial District, represented by Senator Godswill Akpabio insisted that he,
as one of the founding fathers of the party and an elder statesman would have
seen his senator come to take the people's input if the national assembly had
in any way considered themselves representatives of the people.
His words "I have never seen my representative for
two years coming to ask me what I want out of the constitution amendment. I
have a senator, I don't know if he has consulted others, but if he has, why has
he not consulted me as somebody who has been in government and understood the
workings and desires of Nigerians?".
"I just watched and saw that certain individuals in
the Senate thought otherwise, not agreeing with the desires of the Nigerian
people that power should be devolved from the center to the States,
vis-à-vis the resources".
"When I came on board with Arc Obong Victor Attah in
1999, the agitation was for devolution of power, we know where the shoe pinches,
we know we have to give quality education, quality healthcare, so we defined
our healthcare vision".
"To have a primary healthcare center for each ward
and a general hospital for each local government area, to take healthcare
system to the poorest of the poor. But now people go to the senate and do not
know what the people are going through. How many people would be able to go to
Britain, national hospital Abuja to treat prostate cancer and the rest. These
were things that we were fighting for in 1999.
"So we were asking for devolution of power and
accompaniments of resources. And people go to the national assembly this time
around and say there should be nothing like devolution of power, it looks like
they are not Nigerians and they are representing their personal interests
and not the interest of Nigerians who are yearning for total development, for
healthcare, for water".
"I've never heard about the vision for water in Akwa
Ibom, right from the last administration. How water is to be taken to the poor
people of Itu, Ibiono, Obot Akara, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi and in fact across
the state. And then I have someone who is representing me in the national
assembly and he has not told me what he voted for. If he voted against
devolution of power it means that he is not representing my interest". He
said
Commenting on the recent Supreme Court ruling which laid
to rest leadership tussle within the People's Democratic Party, Ekpenyong
considered it as luck for the party and a way out for Nigeria.
He said since the ruling party does not seem to have an
agenda for Nigeria, the PDP therefore remains the only hope to shape the
destiny of Nigeria.
He acknowledged that the party made certain mistakes in the
past, but however assured that such shortcomings will be corrected to ensure
that the party is repositioned to move the nation forward.
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