By Onwe Wisdom
It was Pan Onwe Leader who opined that a person whose actions salvage others and trailblaze the path for others to journey through is a leader.
The above expression succinctly captured the redefining legislative prowess cum community based and people oriented charisma of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, Senator Prince Ned Nwoko which investigation proved him to be the 1st among all the 109 Senators in the first Legislative year 2023-2024 to have started, completed and commissioned an infrastructural project captured in the 2024 budget.
Impressed with his performance on the scale of Constituency Project Performance Index (CPPI), journalist interact with his Constituency Project Coordinator, Dr. Michael Nwoko
Sen. Nwoko apart from being the first senator to have started a 2024 budget project , completed and commissioned, Senator Ned has the highest number of bills sponsor and motions moved on the floor of the Hallow Chamber, some of thes bills and motions are not exclusively for the people of Delta but are bills or motion of urgent national importance for the benefit of the people of Nigeria as a whole.
Senator Nwoko, a Nigerian Lawyer and Philanthropist enigma commissioned lights project in Kwale local government area apart from his Constituency Empowerment Initiative where constituents were trained, equipped and and empowered.
“The first phase of the project captured three major cities across the three federal constituencies that make up Delta North Central district.
The next phase is going to be done in Asaba while the third phase will be in Agbo, Khafre constituency.” Dr. Michael aquatinted journalists and adds that there are solar street light projects built for commissioning within the next few days in Aniocha, North local government area, his own community.
“There are some other interventions that he’s also processing through various MDS in order to capture more solar street light projects.
“These areas of intervention are very critical, the Distinguished Senator is giving it the needed attention because the people really are desirous of people’s oriented projects that can be impactful to them,more that it is part of his campaign promises.
“I recall during his election process, he made a very solemn campaign promises to the people with respect to ensuring that there is even distribution of projects across the senatorial district.
“13 of June 2023, to be precise, he was so much in a hurry to deliver promptly on his campaign promises with respect to project and some other areas, motions and bills.
“I can tell you that he is the first senator in the 10th Senate to have commissioned constituency projects captured in the 2024 budget, because that was actually his first budget.
“Yes, he has done some empowerment programs for youth, women and for farmers etc.
“we are making tremendous progress. Now, the solar street light project is not only going in Kwale, it’s also going to touch the three federal constituencies.
“while other projects, such as water projects which two are water currently ongoing. We also have another one currently ongoing at Umunede local government area. They will be ready for commissioning within the next few weeks”.
The one for ldumu Juboko is about 90% completed already. As I speak to you, water is running now despite being a very difficult topography. And is worthy to note that this is the first time in the history of this community to have drilled successful and access water due to the topographic of the area. He did it and did it successfully.
“These are communities that have suffered from acute water shortage problems over the years because of the a very high topography situated over 1000 feet above sea level. That is quite high.
“But as I speak to you, the water project is about the first successful water project in Idumo Juboko, and within the next few days to be commissioned”.
On roads infrastructure, few road projects were captured in the 2024 budget.
“The other day, you witnessed the mobilization of contractor to site, They were mobilized to the site at the Benin-Asaba expressway, to carry out remedial and rehabilitation work on the road.
“The contract extends from the Onitsha Head bridge down to Asaba axis in Agbo but because of how bad the Asaba axis was, they needed to mobilize there and salvage the situation there.
“I understand that the roads are of strategic economic importance. I’m sure you know that these roads transversed major communities and towns within Delta North senatorial district, and they equally serve as Link roads. And so it is totally unacceptable to allow such roads of strategic economic importance to waste. And that is why we are working tirelessly.
“Apart from the 2024 budget, he has also done so much to capture more road projects in the NDDC budget that have already been passed by the Senate. What we are waiting for now is implementation.
“He has proposed a new road that will open up a VISTA, an economic hub in Delta North Senatorial district.
“So it’s going to reduce travel time. It’s going to open up a new economic Hub, because the tourism industry will boom, boat crews will go into business and all these is also going to go a long way to address the flooding situation that has ravaged most of those communities.
“We are in the flood era now, as I speak to you, the Senator took an urgent motion today to call for urgent action by relevant agencies of government towards ensuring victims of flood are giving the needed attention in Delta North Senatorial district, as a lot of communities now have been submerged.
“The senator has conceived an idea that can bring about permanent solutions to end flooding situation in the area, he has proposed the dredging of the river Niger to ensure that water does not cross over to the land. So this is what the construction of the coastal road really is going to address.
“I can tell you that there is no community that is left un-touched in the proposed NDDC budget, and we still have a lot more budget to come before the end or the first tenure of the senator.
“He was the first senator who actually did a training and empowerment program that was in November 2023, just a few months after he became a Senator involving about 260 youth and women and the robust training that they receive that can help them to add value to their businesses, etc.
“The whole idea is that when you empower a business person, for instance, it is expected that the business grows, that business, expands it such that the business can become an employer of labor thereby it creating value chain as well, and it enhances your capacity to equally provide for your family.
“We’ve done about four different empowerment programs involving youth, women, farmers, Muslims with packages stipends”.
On health, Dr Michael affirmed that in November 2023, the senator launched the first phase of the free medical outreach program that spread across three committees that cut across the three federal consequences that make up the senatorial district.
“We went to the primary health care center and partner with them. Primary healthcare center is the foundation for which healthcare is rendered all over the world, being that it closer to the people. This is to ensure that there’s close proximity to assessing healthcare, which is actually the whole idea.
“And for universal healthcare to be achieved, there must be accessible healthcare, quality healthcare, and healthcare must also be affordable. But if you look at our society generally, you agree with me that most of the population are living below poverty line and so they cannot afford healthcare.
“Then we also look at the equity plan that has to do with the vulnerable in the society, pregnant women, children at the age of five, the elderly people, the retirees.
“So on that note, the distinguished Senator thought it wise to take healthcare to the grassroot by adopting healthcare initiatives that can guarantee access to healthcare without naturally having people to pay from their pocket.
“So the Medical Outreach Programs are free. The people come out to assess healthcare, regular consultation with doctors, various specialists, assessing health care without paying from their pocket. And so they prescribe medications for them.
“Five eye surgeries were books.
We did one cataract extraction, then we did one myomectomy surgery, just a week after the medical outreach, we did one cataract extraction, biopsy, then remaining two herniorrhaphies. We have taken one, one has not been taken because of a few complications, but the patient is still being monitored closely.
These surgeries would have cost that patient half a million naira but the distinguished Senator provided the funding
“No matter how benevolent the Government is, if the people are not well, they cannot think well or even comprehend the benevolence of government as they are cut off from society if they are not well. So health is really primary.
“And I can tell you the senator has performed excellently well within one year in office, I can tell that he’s actually the best Senator we have in the 10th Senate and in Delta State, I can also tell you that arguably, he’s actually the best senator that Delta North Senatorial district has ever had, having performed within one year in office, I can even tell you unequivocally that he has not started.
“The whole idea is to ensure that these projects are implemented in quick succession, so that the people can put them to use, these projects are there for public good and I have a firm belief that my principal, Dist. Sen. Ned Nwoko is resolved to ensuring tha all projects are done and completed timely.
“These projects are visible. We are in the era of practical we must use the instrument of governance to better the lives of the people.
“That is what distinguished senator believes in, and he has a formidable team working very closely with him to ensure that these deliverables are met” said Dr. Michael Nwoko.
