By Andrew Agbese
“I will continue to stand by what is right even if I stand alone for what makes one a man is not the amount of resources at his disposal but the principles of truth and selfless service he mainstreams,” says the Ozigizaga.
When the Honourable Member representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, Dr. Francis Ottah Agbo, fondly called the Ozigizaga made the above statement, he knew what he was talking about.
Even as a first timer in the House of Representatives, his impact has been felt in his pursuit of justice through the various ways, he speaks truth to power; challenging the status quo in favour of the masses.
His insistence on standing for the truth and for justice has caused him to confront preservers of unearned privileges as well as those who crave for the retainment of the old order, thereby upsetting the apple cart.
But the Honourable Member also known as The Moving Train of Enone politics has remained his old self, not minding whose ox is gored, for he derives his happiness from the joy of the masses!
The disbursement of his salary to widows and the less privileged in his constituency was seen as exposing other elites and several attempts were made to either stop or disparage him on that account, but he has been persistent.
The revolution he brought to the agricultural sector in his constituency by the introduction of high yielding vitamin ‘A’ fortified cassava stems was initially pooh poohed until farmers in the Constituency began to speak of no other species of cassava but the one brought by the Lawmaker, which they now call ‘Oriya Ottah.’
His brave stance on issues that would benefit the masses and insistence that the right things be done stand him out as a “rebel” but with a cause.
At a time when the chairmanship of his local government was seen as mere opportunity to have a bite at the national cake, he insisted it must be for service and that the best way to achieve that was to discontinue with the erratic tenure of the leadership and settle for one that would allow a considerable time for the occupant to perform without jeopardizing the zoning principle.
Hence he supported the then caretaker committee chairman of Ado LG to continue as elected council chair in what was later known as recalibration but stood his ground that the position should go to another zone in the LG when the chairman had served the term.
This did not go down well with a few persons due to self interests but the Lawmaker stood his ground.
Based on the same principle, he insisted that the Secretary of Ado LG Council must come from Ulayi District, contrary to plans by some to distort the entrenched zoning arrangement in Ari sub- zone, consisting of Ulayi, Ijigban and Ekile Wards.
Fortunately, this principle was upheld with the appointment of Mrs. Perpetual Nkechi Okafor from Ulayi as secretary, even though she was not the popular choice of Ulayi people.
His bold strides do not stop at his constituency but extends to the parliament where he has come up with ideas that others are scared to broach.
The Bill he sponsored to Amend The Press Council Act is meant to properly define who a journalist is and to prevent quacks into the profession by recommending a minimum qualification of a first degree or its equivalent to practice.
His Bill to Amend the Police Trust Fund Act is also intended for far reaching impact by making the NDLEA And other policing institutions beneficiaries of the fund.
The Lawmaker popularly known as the Ubagidi of Enone also has another bill to Convert Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo To A Federal Institution!
But the most controversial of his bills is the one on the amendment To The Principal Act Establishing The NDLEA which seeks to enable the agency undertake drug tests on those rendering essential services in the country as well as those seeking
elective offices after emerging as candidates of their respective political parties.
As chairman of the Committee on Narcotic Drugs, the Give-back Parliamentarian is also known to have introduced measures to make the agency more efficient and suggested that subsequent NDLEA chairmen be made to pass through National Assembly screening before or confirmation.
Since his focus has not been the acquisition of wealth but to serve humanity, Dr. Ottah Agbo goes against the grain by using his personal resources to do projects rather than wait on government.
This made him construct the famous Legacy Bridge linking Ogege Ward in Utonkon District with Idele in OJu LGA and Ekile Ward in Ado LGA.
The Talk-Na-Do Lawmaker explained that he had to use his personal resources to build the bridge because at the time he came in in 2019, the budget for the year had been passed and this left him with nothing to work with.
He has also started another bridge christened The Ottah Signature Bridge.
The Lawmaker also donated the newly installed 500 Kva transformer at Obu Branch, Otukpa and the 500 kva transformers at Ichama and Igumale as well as six (6) newly procured 500KVA transformers already distributed to strategic areas of needs across Enone.
Dr. Ottah Agbo also used his resources to register hundreds of intending applicants who had completed their secondary schools for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
He also took on the physical infrastructure in that sector to provide conducive learning environment for students and constructed a block of two (2) classrooms, in LGEA Primary School, Watuolo, in Utonkon District of Ado Local Government.
He has also completed and handed over the Chief Andrew Agom utilitarian two (2) blocks of six (6) classrooms constructed under three months to the good people of Okpoga for use at St. Benards primary school, Ugwu Okpoga in Okpokwu LGA.
Similarly, the Ozigizaga rehabilitated and reticulated Solar Powered Borehole in several communities of Orokam district, which had been abandoned for many years.
He is the first House of Reps Member in Idomaland ever to chair a Committee in his first tenure and was elected the spokesman of the Minority Caucus.
As we speak, he has rehabilitated the 20km Igumale- Ulayi- Ijigban Road.
Before the end of this year, he will commence the construction of the ring road in Avarichi, Utonkon district. The Owukpa Ukwo-Itabono road drainage will be constructed this year.
In the health sector, the lawmaker is constructing a Primary Health Care in Ijigban, Ekile and Nsura Ezzi, while there is ongoing renovation of the Primary Health Care Centre in Ulayi. These facilities are expected to be completed before next year.
Under his Operation Light Up Enone Scheme, many communities have started enjoying electricity. They include Ulayi, Ijigban and parts of Owukpa. Meanwhile, works on the electrification of Ezzi, Ekile, Ijokoro, Ojenyo have reached advanced stage.
But the biggest leap in the sector is the ambitious electrification Ichama, which remains the only district in Idoma land yet to enjoy electricity.
In the area of Human Capital Development, the Ozigizaga in less than three years of the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, facilitated the employment of hundreds of youths of his constituency in Federal agencies.
He has been consistently empowering women and the vulnerable with items such motorcycles, grinding engines, refrigerators, hair dryers, industrial sewing machines etc which has enabled them to embark on businesses, trading and in the process self-reliant.
In addition to the above, the Ubagidi of Enone has facilitated AGMEIS facilities and COVID 19 loans for thousands of his constituents and this has in no small measures boosted the rural economy of Enone!
He has periodically trained and retrained youths/ artisans in ICT as well, as sensitized the constituents on the dangers of drug abuse and narcotic drug trafficking.
Another positive attribute of the Ozigizaga which is yet to be acknowledged is his open door policy. His doors are wide open to all and sundry, and he is tolerant of dissents, a quality that is rare with Nigerian politicians!