2023: How I'll legislate to bring development to Cross River if elected Senator - Obono-Obla

By Dansu Peter 

In an era and political sphere where fake and unrealistic  promises and are the order of the day, a legal luminary and former Chairman, Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Chief Barrister Okoi Obono-Obla has decided not to toe the path of lies, but rather harped on how best to use his experience as a doyen of law to legislate on issues that will bring development to the people of Cross River if elected as the Senator to represent the Cross River Central at Red Chamber of the national assembly. 

Chief Obla in a post on his personal Facebook account opined that it's an absurd for lawmakers to make project execution as campaign promises to the electorates, as this is not their function but that of the executives. He, however said, rather, if elected as Senator to represent Cross River Central by 2023, he would focus on making laws that will bring development to his people.

His words:

"Legislators are lawmakers and oversight the executive branch of government. Legislators should not be making promises of executing projects because that is within the province of the executive branch, which has the responsibility of implementing the law and putting in place infrastructure to serve the people. "

" However, I believe a legislator can lobby the executive branch to include in the budget or Appropriation Act projects that they think can help their constituent. "

" My district, Cross River Central, is rich in natural resources. Some of these natural resources, including solid minerals, largely remain untapped. When these natural resources are sustainably tapped, they can create huge economic opportunities and provide young people jobs." 

" If the people of Cross Central give me their mandate to resent them in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023; part of my legislative agenda will primarily focus on how the Federal government can partner with the private sector to tap these mineral and natural resources in a sustainable manner that will benefit my constituent. "

" I have identified a lack of electrical energy as a great impediment to the Central district's economic development. "

" In this wise, I will engage the federal government to partner with the private sector to develop a Hydroelectricity power plant in Agbokim Waterfalls in Etung Local Government Area to service the central senatorial district, which presently suffers from inadequate energy and electricity supply. "

" Research has established that the Agbokim waterfalls can be developed into a hydroelectric power plant that will supply 450  KVA. Having an adequate power supply will surely trigger abundant business opportunities and job creation for our teeming youth population. "

" Cross River from the Nigerian/Cameroun border to the Atlantic Ocean and its distributaries is an important national and international waterway. Two hundred ago, the Cross River was the means of transportation and point of contact and trade between the lower and upper Cross River Regions. "

" Undoubtedly resuscitation of the Cross River as a means of transportation will help revitalize economically the communities lying alongside the River's banks from Etung, Ikom, Yakurr, Abi, Biase, Odukpani, Akampa right to Calabar and Akwa Ibom. It will undisputably promote trade, commerce, social interaction, and tourism." 

" One of the areas of my legislative agenda will be engagement with the relevant federal government agency such as the National Inland Water Authority(NIAWA) and the private sector to use the Cross River waterway as a means of transportation to promote commerce, social intercourse relationship, tourism, and business opportunities."