Redefining Constituency Representation And Legislative Culture; Hon. Chief Billy Adesuwa Legacy Of Transformative Change
_Billy Media Force: Sunday Editorial (October 13th, 2024)_
Like him or Hate, the honorable member representing the good people of Orhionmwon Uhunmwode federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Chief Dr. Billy Osawaru stands as a Phoenix, uniquely remarkable in many ways. However, like Achilles, his heels lie in his gross inability to be political with the truth. In other words, he is unrepentantly unwilling to sacrifice propriety, fairness, truth, and justice on the altar of political correctness due to his ingrained desire to do things the right way.
Over the years, the political turf in Nigeria has been made very murky through the continuous deposition and accumulation of filth, prejudices, avarice, and extreme lack of patriotism by political actors. Hence, politics has been termed dirty, albeit erroneously. This old order had persisted, and the Nation and sub nationals retrogressed. Our version of democratic politicking, which has not ushered in the much needed progress is fast becoming our greatest undoing. As a people, it has precariously placed the Nation on the precipice of becoming a failed State.
Spurred by the garnered personal, intellectual, and professional experience from advanced and functional climes, He sought to make a difference, having identified institutional gaps. With the knowledge of the state of our polity and what needs to be done, Hon. Chief Billy Osawaru's vision in seeking political servitude was one that would reform and catalyze transformation. He was/is determined to make a progressive change through ingenious legislation, effective and transformative representation.
Change is constant, but humans abhor and resist new ways of doing things especially when it threatens to abort their thriving insatiable rapacity.
He is at odds with the concept of stomach infrastructure, which, unfortunately, is deeply ingrained in our political lexicon and practice. He described it as a cosmetic, devilish, enslaving, and ineffective approach to human empowerment and decided to do things differently toward ensuring true, enduring and lasting human empowerment. Therein, was the genesis of the undeserved antagonism and the sustained disparagement of his name, defamation of his person, and the belittling of his achievements in Office by his detractors.
How best do you explain the unabating criticism against a Man who in one year as a first-time lawmaker, has moved over 14 motions, tendered several petitions on behalf of his constituents, and sponsored a bill which is progressing steadily into becoming a Law for the establishment of a federal University of Agriculture in his federal constituency?
Hon. Chief Dr. Billy Adesuwa Osawaru's vibrancy, intellectually vocal power, visibility, and brilliant contributions to debates on the floor of the house and oversight committees meetings have placed Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode federal constituency and Edo State in general in National limelight.
As a proud Benin Chief, he has become a cultural ambassador of the great Benin kingdom. The Chiefly aura he exudes at the National Assembly has, in no small measure, elicited the interest of his honorable colleagues and Distinguished Senators who have come to appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the great Benin Kingdom.
In addition, using the core responsibilities, functions, and duties of a Legislator as a yardstick to measure Hon. Chief Dr. Billy Osawaru's performance, there is no gainsaying that, he has been exceptionally excellent. In Legislative duties, constituent representation/engagement, and oversight functions, Hon. Chief Dr. Billy Osawaru has raised the bar by being phenomenal. The question is, doesn't this man deserve commendations rather than knocks for performing and delivering on why he was elected?
Besides the aforesaid, the proud Benin Chief, within the time he has spent in office, has also been able to attract or facilitate a litany of completed and ongoing constituency projects scattered across the federal constituency. Some of the projects are ambitious and audacious legacy projects targeted at bridging the huge Infrastructural deficit in the predominantly rural and semi-urban areas of the federal constituency.
Blocks of classrooms are been built, Roads are been constructed, street lights have been installed, several boreholes have been drilled and installed, women and youth have been empowered, and school furniture has been distributed to several schools in the federal constituency...the list is endless. The list of proposed projects that he is in the process of facilitating is even more impressive.
This is aside the recent empowerment program he carried out, where he distributed empowerment materials and agricultural inputs to his constituents. The goal is to truly stimulate self-dependency and sufficiency amongst members of his constituency.
Hon. Chief Dr. Billy Adesuwa Osawaru envisioned a federal constituency that will be transformed through his vibrant, selfless legislative contributions and representation in collaboration with the government at other levels. He has started well, and doing well. He is focused on the pathway that leads to real progress and development. If we truly desire growth and development in Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon, all well-meaning patriotic constituents, party stakeholders, and political actors should rally behind him. Let's eshew sentimentalism, heinous divisive and entitlement politics, self aggrandizement and invest our time and collaborative energy for the good of our lands.
Let's give him the support and impetus to do more instead of the ongoing crab politics striving to "Pull Him Down". This is an ill wind that blows no good. Some persons may be invincible, but our consideration should always be the people who stand to lose from all these distractions and the genuine desire of a patriotic man to positively represent his people.
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Billy Media.
