JDPC Awka Organizes One-Day Constituency Briefing As Deputy Majority Leader, Akpua Presents One-Year Scorecard
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Justice Dvelopment and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Awka Diocese through a program called Community Legislative Members Interactive Platform (CLIP), on Saturday, 13th July 2024, organized a One-day Constituency Briefing held at Njikoka Local Government Area Headquarters, Abagana.
The interactive platform availed the Convener and the Member Representing Njikoka II State Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Jude Akpua (Omekannaya), the opportunity of presenting his One-Year Scorecard as a Legislator. Giving his account of stewardship in the last One-Year as a Lawmaker, Hon. Akpua who is the Deputy Majority Leader of the 8th Assembly said his Constituency had developed following his developmental strides in many sectors.
The Lawmaker highlighted several key areas of focus over the past one year including infrastructural development, empowerment, education, healthcare, employment, among others. Hon. Akpua noted that those initiatives were driven by the needs of Ndi Njikoka II Constituency aimed at improving the quality of life for all residents, while assuring that he would continue to represent them even better in other to bring greater developments to his constituents.
He commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo in his giant strides in just two years in office and for impacting in the lives of Ndi Anambra, even as he assured that he would continue to work with the Governor to address security challenges in the area.
In his words, ‘As a member representing Njikoka II State Constituency, I have three functions, which is lawmaking, oversight and representation. I did my bit in ensuring that my constituents benefited from the teachers recruitment and assisted in securing jobs and admission into tertiary Institution. I attracted the renovation of roads, lock up shops at Abba and Abagana, drilling of boreholes and renovation of primary schools , installation of streetlights in Nimo and gave scholarships and made sure that Pensioners were paid. I ask for your continued prayers and support,’ Akpua Concluded.
In his keynote address, the Executive Director of Justice, Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Awka, Rev. Fr. Levi Ndubisi Ukor at the One year Constituency Briefing thanked Hon. Dr. Jude Akpua (Omekannaya) for his dispositions, noting that they gathered as a way to experience the beauty of democracy and quality representation in order to deepen the culture of accountability in governance
He stated that over the years, Justice, Development and Peace Caritas JDPC, Awka, through a program called COMMUNITY LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS INTERACTIVE PLATFORM (CLIP), had been on the fore front of championing and advocating for a cordial relationship between the legislators and the people they represent. People see legislators as the closest government to them, especially in Anambra state where local government election has not been held for long now and therefore a lot is expected from the legislators.
‘The hallmark of constituency briefing is a democratic culture and a platform where legislators give account of their stewardship and representation. It is also an opportunity for the house member to discuss with his constituents on some needs assessment and deliberate on strategic solutions on how to tackle the bottleneck. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let us use this medium wisely to reflect on the development of our communities and the overall benefits of our constituency.
‘More still, we should also remember that a tree cannot make a forest. Hon Jude Akpua cannot achieve great things on his own; he needs everyone of us to support him in prayers and in practice. As we expect to hear from him today, let us be bold enough to ask him some necessary questions with regard to quality representation, because that is where the good bills and motions he sponsored can begin to bear fruits that will last.
‘Finally, I must sincerely commend Hon Jude Akpua, for picking up the courage to organize this constituency briefing. It shows his commitment and determination to serve. This is a rare attitude amongst politicians of these days. I therefore invite other representatives both at the State and National Assemblies to always organize an annual town hall meeting where they would be able to brief their constituents on their achievements and equally receive feedbacks from them.
‘Waiting for the campaign period to organize such town hall meetings or constituency briefings is abnormal and should be discouraged. Accountability and transparency should be the watchword in governance. Once again, I welcome all of you to this wonderful gathering and I urge you to pay attention to every detail that will be discussed here today. Thanks and enjoy your stay,’ he concluded.
There were participants like stakeholders from various wards, leaders from different political parties, government officials, ndi Igwe like Igwe Abba was there, Igwe Abagana e.t.c. Religious leaders e.t.c.There were welcome speeches from TC Njikoka LG, SSA to Governor on Security, Igwe Abba, among others
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