Probing Women In Rivers Assembly ..Score Sheet Of Hon Irene Inimgba

For the first time since the creation of Rivers State, the State House of Assembly presently parades four female members, namely, Hon. Irene Inimgba, representing, Port Harcourt Constituency II, Hon. Barizeze Felicia Taneh, Tai Constituency, Hon. Maurine Tamuno, Ogu/Bolo and Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart representing Okrika.

These women are pacesetters in their own right, in legislative affairs, of whom so much is expected. What has the Rivers Assembly benefited from their stay in more than three years? What can they bequeath to history as dividends of their representation?  Indeed, what difference have they made in the fluctuating fortunes of their constituents? First and foremost, how accessible are they to their various constituents and what prospects do they have, should they aspire to return to the Assembly in 2011? Generally speaking, what have they achieved in a predominantly male-dominated Assembly? Is their stay in the House a curse or blessing?

In today’s Mandate Search, we beam our searchlight on one of the privileged four women in the House, a trained nurse, mother and housewife, Hon (Mrs) Irene Inimgba.

No thanks to a section of the Port Harcourt media, the mention of the law-maker’s name at once paints a very gloomy picture of inactivity, wasted representation if you like. And due to this perceived unfavourable media exposure, there are no fewer than six persons within the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP),  the platform on which she won the April, 2007 elections into the assembly, are battling to nip in the bud, her second term bid, long before she even dreamt of it.

Usually unwilling to judge a book merely by its cover, Mandate Search set up a probe into why Hon Irene Inimgba was a failure, if indeed media comments in that direction are any leads to go by. When we found her, this was the first question we posed to her.

Being one of the four privileged women in the State House of Assembly, how would you describe your representation? Is it a curse or blessing to womanhood and indeed the people you represent? We ask because, going by media reports, you have achieved nothing.

The main intention of that approach was to force out the beast in most angry politicians, particularly when their ambition is threatened, and that way, assess her ability to absorb shock, handle annoying constituents and indeed negative press. More importantly, it was to break her defences, but what we found is what you are about to read.

Rather than take offence over the pretentious conclusion, Hon. Inimgba thanked The Tide for breaking away from the league of newspapers that chose to shave her head in her absence. “I thank you because you realise that a story involving more than one person cannot be complete without getting all sides of the coin,” she said and told her story as any good house wife and devoted mother would.

“My major undoing in office,” she explained, “is my belief that whatever service one renders, while, in office is what, one was elected to do and as such does not require undue publicity.”

So what can she tie to her name nearly four years after, as member of the House?

Elected in 2007, to represent Port Harcourt Constituency II, covering, Wards 4, 5, 6, 7 and 20, spanning D/line to the whole of old Port Harcourt township, through Bundu, and then to the New Layout, up to Borikiri and their adjourning waterfront-settlements, and again from parts of Aggrey road down to slaughter axis, traversing Amadi-ama, Ozuboko, Okuru, Abuloma, Azuabie and Tere-ama, the constituency is easily one of the largest in the State.

However,within seven months in office, in addition to her effective and very purposeful representation in the House, she initiated, completed and put to use a Constituency Hall, a necessary liason that did not exist prior to her election.

Three years after, Hon Inimgba has successfully touched lives of virtually all stake-holders through countless projects that have direct bearing to them, after extensive consultation.

For instance, in Abuloma can be found, a completed eight classroom block, 102-stalls market and a vibrant constituents’ empowerment project for people facing various social challenges like funerals, marriages, academic pursuits, child birth and homelessness all of which attract various stipends as a way of reducing the financial burden on the family. 

Okuru-ama devasted about five years ago, today has eight-classroom block built by Hon. Inimgba, thus removing the burden on children who trek miles to schools in Amadi-ama, Abuloma and other areas.

There is also at the Borikiri axis of the city another eight-classroom block, already in use by children of the UPE School while awaiting completion of the Model Schools being built by the Rivers State government.

At Bundu, there is another market, built by Hon. Inimgba, and is today a major relief for women who hitherto worked as far as the Railway or Creek Road Markets to shop for and sell their wares. The Garri market along Churchill Road was also renovated by the honourable member.

What of the Marine Base Water Project? There, can also be found two functional water schemes of about 4,000 litres, each complete with a generating set and house.

In this year’s budget, a mini-stadium is in the offing for the D/line axis and when completed would encourage sporting activities and also lend a big boost to the Youth Development Project enunciated days after her election in 2007.

Under that scheme, the honourable member annually convokes a Miss Constituency II Beauty Pageant and Talent hunt among creative but little exposed youths. The maiden edition was held in 2008 and a second in 2009 while, plans are on for the 2010 edition.

But easily one of the biggest of her achievements is her community relations, family outreach effort, the ability to relate to others, ability to strike the necessary chord in empathy with her constituents in need and above all, her ability to instill hope in her countless admirers and followers.

Apart from her effective representation in the House, her private member bill on the state of the school of Nursing and Midwifery and the need to upgrade its facilities, has gone far passed second reading. That effort by the State Assembly, we understand also earned both the institution provisional accreditation and halted plans to send the students away to other accredited schools.

But Hon Inimgba has a bigger dream. She foresees a day when there shall be a College of Nursing, in a university, alongside medicine equipped with the most modern of facilities, qualified lecturers and a grade ‘A’ medical structure that would be the pride of all Rivers People. Other unqualifiable gestures include regular free medical check-up and treatment for needy constituents, monthly empowerment for widows and other single mothers, donation of books to all schools including Islamic Schools within her constituency and the recent facilitation of overseas scholarship for five constituents who today study in various schools across Europe and America.

So what is her relationship with the party leadership in the various wards and the Constituency Headquarters? As usual, her answer was simply, ‘please find that out by yourself.’

Like many other grateful constituents, a party executive told Mandate Search, that any one battling to unseat Hon. Inimgba is fighting against quality representation and true success.

“Do you know that she lives in her matrimonial home at Amadi-ama, close to the constituency office, instead of the honourable members’ official quarters?

Also, a foremost leader of the party in Port Harcourt Constituency II, simply said, ‘Hon Irene Inimgba has made a mark very few can beat”.

So, will Hon Inimgba contest the 2011 elections? “My people will be disappointed and consider it a betrayal of trust, if I don’t.” she replied matter-of-factly.

With what we found, you be the judge.