I’ll Not Disappoint PH Fed Constituency – Nsiegbe

The people of Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II in Rivers State may be in for a good time at the House of Representatives if the vituperations of their new representative is anything to go by. Shortly after her inauguration at the hallowed chamber of the House of Representatives on June 6, the representative, Mrs. Blessing Ibiba Nsiegbe, in a chat with The Tide said the people of Port Harcourt were in for a real good time.

She said her election and inauguration marked a clean break from the past ‘passive’ representation of her constituency in the House of Representatives as she had come with innovations to the business of representation, and determined to give the people able representation. “I will never disappoint! Not God, not man,” she pledged.

Mrs. Nsiegbe told The Tide at the National Assembly complex that she was well abreast of her assignments of lawmaking, oversight function, execution of constituency projects and touching the people’s lives through personal projects and programmes, explaining that she drew a lot of inspiration from her late politician-husband, Charles Nsiegbe, who at various times was the caretaker chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government and member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing PHALGA constituency III during which time she served as the ‘Acting Mayorness’ and First Lady’ of their State Constituency.

A visibly elated Mrs. Nsiegbe said “I give glory to God (for my inauguration) because it has been my heart desire to lead my people so by the grace of God now that I have emerged victorious and inaugurated as the person representing them in the House of Representatives, Abuja, I very much appreciate God and the people that voted me in,” adding that the onus now lies on her to prove her mettle and fulfil her campaign promises.

She said she’s taking her time in deciding the type of bills she’ll sponsor on the floor of the House but assured that it will be in the best interest of her constituents and indeed, her State -Rivers. For constituency projects that have pitched most members of the National Assembly (Senate inclusive) against their constituents in the past and robbed them the opportunity of being returned or re-elected to the 7th National Assembly, she said, she’s aware of the enormity of the task and the height of the people’s expectation so will ensure they’re not short -changed or the money meant for such projects diverted.

Her words: “My constituency projects will be executed to the letter. Immediately the National Assembly gives the go ahead, there won’t be any delay on my part as I will ensure it is executed to the letter,” recalling “I told my constituents during my campaigns that whatever I will execute as constituency project will be decided by them. I will confer with them from time to time to know what they really want because they are the ones wearing the shoes. Whatever they decide on is what I’ll execute.”

The Rivers State University of Science and Technology – trained Masters Degree holder in Education said aside sponsoring and co-sponsoring bills that will have direct bearing on the people and executing constituency projects, she’ll also embark on self-help projects and initiate life-bearing programmes for her constituency.

Her four – year tenure in the House of Representatives, she believes, will be one of changing lives and the story of the constituency. “I will ensure fair and effective representation to all”. She insists, acknowledging also that she will strive to carry the women folk in the constituency along, being a woman herself.

Nsiegbe argued that this should be expected because “we’ve been represented in the past in the House of Representatives but I feel, concerning women in the Federal Constituency, they’ve not been given a fair share of representation so I feel, I, as a woman should give them effective representation – and indeed, the entire community, now that I’m their representative. I want to ensure that women are fully integrated in the scheme of affairs in the constituency and that at the end of the day, every one is happy”.

She castigated her predecessor in office (Chinyere Igwe), saying “He did not carry the people along. Like you have seen or might have heard in Port-Harcourt that for four years, we never saw any of his constituency projects so I will not toe that line. I believe in change that eyes would see; not the one they will tell you  in story but the one that will help the masses”.

Nsiegbe beat her chest that at the end of her four – year tenure in the House of Representatives, she must have impacted positively on the lives of her constituents. “Like I said, I’ll leave legacies that eyes would see, legacies that will empower people – not just for now but for the future; something that the people that will come after could see”.

She was full of praises for the Rumuwoji Council of Chiefs, Rumuwoji Town Council and the entire Rumuwoji Community for the unflinching support given her before, during and after the election, and assured that in her legislative duties, she will be guided by the qualities of the State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi. “I will tap from the wisdom of our Governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi…” she said.

Nsiegbe dismissed with a pinch of salt the campaign of calumny mounted against her by her opponents at the poll that she’s not an indigene of Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II, saying emphatically, “I am from the constituency. I was born and bred in the constituency. I married in the constituency and I have lived all my life in the constituency… I feel my constituents believe in me and I know they believe in me so when the offer came; not just after but when my intention to run for this office came, they backed me up; my constituents, all those in my constituency. Not one person in particular but all my constituents. That is the victory you saw at the poll that has brought about my inauguration” adding that “God is the ultimate decider of everyman’s destiny, not man, not opponents”.

Justus Awaji