DEPUTY Speaker and House Committee Chairman on Legislative Compliance in the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo, has co-sponsored four bills. He dolled out over N12 million to empower 120 constituents, urging them to invest the monies wisely. He said the cash gift was to enable them start small scale businesses of their choice, especially buying and selling, and other forms of profitable commercial activities that would cushion the negative effects of the prevailing economic ‘meltdown’ in Nigeria, occasioned by the defective economic policies of the federal government.
The lawmaker, who gave out N100,000 to each of the constituents during a town hall meeting at his country home in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area, advised the beneficiaries to invest the funds wisely, be prudent and should never eat the capital while a reasonable percentage of their profits should be reinvested to grow the business.
The beneficiaries were women carefully selected from various wards in the local government for the empowerment programme, while the only male who got modern
equipment to start palm oil mill, happens to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was knocked down in his motorcycle during the 2023 general elections by a reckless driver, leading to the amputation of his left leg.
The Deputy Speaker said he decided to empower women because they were essentially partners in progress, prudent and tenacious in turning things around with available
resources, no matter how small, adding that women were also very reliable and committed to mobilizing people for the party, especially during electioneering campaign periods, which is why they shall continue to benefit from the dividends of democracy under this administration.
He assured party elders, leaders and constituents of his unwavering commitment to attract socioeconomic and infrastructure development to Ethiope East local government area, while commending the state leader of PDP and Governor of the state, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, for his good governance strides, and for achieving so much in the past one year without borrowing a penny from any bank or financial institution.
The Deputy Speaker disclosed that he co-sponsored four bills out of the 13 bills passed by the House of Assembly within one year, adding that four of the bills have been signed into law by the governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, while the remaining nine are in the process of being assented to.
Still on his score card in one year, he stated that a constituent, who hails from Okpara Inland, and who was unlawfully dismissed from the state civil service in 1999, Mr Emmanuel Gbenitie, was reinstated and promoted to the position of a Director as a result of his (Akpowowo) petition to the State House of Assembly, adding that the constituent suffered untold hardship for 25 years before justice was served in the 8th Assembly.
“Today is the first town hall meeting and it will be held yearly to enable my constituents ask questions about how am representing them. It is also a day for me to give account
of my stewardship in the last one year.
“I’m happy to announce to you that I have given employment to over 50 constituents in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as at Dennis Osadebey University, Anwai Asaba, Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, et al. I will continue to press for more jobs for our people. “One of the special beneficiaries today is a member of our great party, PDP. Sometime last year, he was returning from a party unit meeting when he was knocked down by a vehicle, leading to the amputation of his left leg. I met with him to discuss the way forward.
He requested for a palm oil milling machine. And I fulfilment of my promise, I presented the equipment today.
