It is no longer news that the Okobo representative in the AKHA, who happens to be the Deputy Speaker of the House held a constituency briefing and Empowerment Scheme for her constituents on Wednesday, being the 26th day of April, 2017.
Like all other political development, the said program has generated a lot of reactions from the populace. I happened to be one of those that have criticized the program because it fell below expectations and best of international practices. Nevertheless, I still thanked the MP for having organized the said program.
I and some serious minded sons and daughters of Okobo of all walks of life have been consistent on our call to the MP to do the needful by giving account of her stewardship to the people.
We are a group of young and dynamic men deserious and united in our resolve, to see to the betterment of our Local Government Area.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
The phrase social justice is a relatively new term. It first appeared in the middle of the 19th century, achieved its widest intellectual popularity in the post-war decade, and has already begun to disappear from all but Catholic usage.
The term was first coined by a Jesuit priest named Luigi Taparelli, in his work titled " Saggio Teoretico di dritto naturaleappgiato sul fatto" a Latin term meaning A theoretical treatise on Natural Law Resting on Fact".
MEANING OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
According to Wikipedia,
It is the fair and just relation between the individual and society. This is measured by the explicit and tacit term for the distribution of wealth, opportunities, for personal activities and social privileges.
It is also the equal distribution of resources and opportunities, in which outside factors that categorize people are irrelevant.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND GOVERNMENT:
Government the world over is a serious business. Through it, societal and structural imbalances imbedded in the society are being addressed and redressed. This is mostly done through the evenly and fairly distribution of resources, from the area of abundance to the place of want.
This ensures that all segments of the society feels the impulse of the government, and are being carried along in the scheme of things.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE SELECTION PROCESS OF RT.HON FELICIA BASSEY'S EMPOWERMENT SCHEME:
As stated earlier, our representative held her constituency briefing and empowerment scheme on the 26th of April. Amongst the items distributed to the beneficiaries were: Ten mini buses, some salon cars, hair braiding gadgets for women, clippers, grinding machines etc.
Social justice ensures that an open and transparent method is employed in the selection process of the beneficiaries.
The questions now begging for answers are as follows:
(1) How were the end users ( beneficiaries) selected?
(2) What were the conditionalities that must be met for one to qualify as a beneficiary?
(3) Were the items not supposed to be given to those that were/are seriously in need of them as members of the society, in order to improve their standard and quality of their lives?
(4) were the items meant for the members of the PDP alone, given the fact that the MP represents the people of Okobo in the AKHA and not the members of the PDP.
BENEFICIARIES OF THE SALON CARS AND MORAL BURDEN ON THE MP.
A peep at the beneficiaries of the cars will surprise all critical observers, and leaves a sour taste on the mouth of all rational beings. The beneficiaries are all related in one way or the other to RT. HON. Felicia Bassey.
Attah Okon Attah:
Immediate past transition Committee chairman. He should be giving out cars to the poor members of the society and not collecting.
Hon. KOFFI ASUQUO:
A one time councillor, former Secretary of the council and currently an SA to the Deputy Speaker.
HON. Helena Andem:
Immediate past transition committee member, and seriously engaged in the office of the Deputy Speaker.
Barr. Emmanuel Isangidoho
He's Felicia Bassey's personal lawyer. He fought tooth and nails, unleashing his legal arsenal to seeing that the controversial elections of the MP was upheld.
Hon. Maurice Fimba:
Currently the PDP chapter chairman, Okobo LGA.
Patrick Nkerwuwem and Haniigan Ating.
A CASE FOR HON. Ben Oyombio:
Ben Oyombio is a household name in the political circle of Okobo LGA in particular and Oro in general. He's of the Oyombio dynasty, a popular and respected family.
A thoroughbred gentle man, a teacher per excellence, an activist, youth leader and a political equaliser.
I came to know the subject matter in the year 2004, though from a far distance.
Then, he and some like minded youths of Atak-Oro extraction came together to form the body known as Atak-Oro Youths Assembly.
The core objective of the body being the emancipation of the Atak-Oro man in all spheres of life. But with emphasis in the political matrix of Okobo.
The group afforded Hon. Engr Asuquo Odiong the platform with which he pursued his political interest, thus, becoming the first Atak-Oro man to oversee the political affairs of Okobo.
As a councilor, he was the one that moved the motion for the MP, then chairman of the council to present herself for elections, to represent the people in the AKHA. I can still remember hearing the news in AKBC.
This move was to stabilize the power rotation policy practice in Okobo. Since some persons from Okobo Mbawa axis were angling to clinch the ticket.
The Young man's story changed when he was involved in an accident that left him paralyzed. An agile, vibrant young man suddenly being confined to a wheel chair should actually be the lowest point of his life.
The thinking then was, Ben Oyombio would soon disappear from the public radar. But thanks be to God for his never- say-die spirit.
BEN OYOMBIO AND HON. FELICIA'S EMPOWERMENT SCHEME:
In my closet, I have always wondered why Hon. Ben Oyombio was omitted from the beneficiaries of the vehicles. I have always asked myself of the criteria used in selecting the beneficiaries.
The young man has paid his dues in the PDP, he has remained loyal to the party and has never contemplated ditching the party. As a senior party official, he ought to have been given a car.
As a matter of necessity, we all know the guy's conditions, why not give him one of the cars to aid his movements? Omitting the man's name is the greatest injustice that could be meted to a man in his predicaments.
NEED TO CORRECT THIS INJUSTICE:
For the empowerment program of the deputy speaker to be meaningful, it is important she addresses this level of injustice meted out to Hon. Oyombio.
There is no point buying cars to those that are already wealthy and can afford it leaving those that are in need of it to lick their wounds.
Thanks and God bless.
ATAI JOHN JOHN
CONVENER,
NEW OKOBO MOVEMENT (N.O.M)
WRITES FROM UDUNG AFFIANG,
ATAK-ORO, OKOBO.
08102433538
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