By Joshua Omoloye, Abuja
Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio has charged Abuja based politicians to always go home and identify with people in their constituencies.
He lamented that people at the grassroots at most times do not feel the impact of some politicians who are only rooted in their offices in Abuja.
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State made this clarion call on Friday while receiving in his office the wife of the Ondo State governor, Arabirin Betty Akeredolu.
Akpabio said “as politicians, we must stop being Abuja politicians. We must go into the villages to truly see and understand the plight of the people. As the governor of Akwa Ibom State, my ability to open up the state, take the children off the streets of Abuja, Lagos and Kaduna, stopped the house boys, house girls syndrome which my state was known for through compulsory and free education, which brought joy to my people”.
The Ondo First Lady was in Abuja to thank the NIger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) through the Minister, on the Esie Obodo road, Imo State, and to formally solicit the assistance of the Minister for her pet project; Bemore Empowered Initiative (BEI).
She was also received by the former First Lady of Akwa Ibom State and wife of the Minister, Mrs Unoma Akpabio.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Jackson Udom, the Minister was quoted as saying,” I appreciate your gratitude to the new and focused NDDC, in the intervention in Imo State, which is one of our mandate states.
“For the fact that the road is now being given attention by the President Muhamadu Buhari-led administration is a demonstration of the readiness of the present administration to provide the needed infrastructure for the people of the region.
“I will also be glad to have the President commission the road when completed. Be rest assured that that road would be completed and put to use as soon the budget of the NDDC is approved by the National Assembly.
” I feel very touched by your interest in the girl child. My wife in and out of office as the First Lady, has been doing much for the girl child, the widows and multiple birth programs.
“But on your part, you have chosen to focus on empowerment of the girl child. It is a project that must be supported.”
Earlier, Arabinrin Akeredolu in her address saId “even long before my husband was elected governor of Ondo State, I have been engaged in National discuss. I have interest in developmental, gender and health issues as it affects women, especially breasts and cervical cancer. I have been in this for decades. When I now have the opportunity of being the First Lady, there were issues that were very dear to my heart and one of them is working towards bridging the gender gap in Science and Technology, “.
According to her,” we don’t seem to place much emphasis on capacity development because the return is not immediate. They are long term. You won’t see it immediately until maybe they have graduated and gainfully employed, that is when you will see the results of that investment.”
She stated further that based on paucity of funds in government, because it has its prioritized programs, ” I decided on my own to reach out to well- meaning Nigerians and Agencies to please let us invest in our girls because we are now in a period of digital technology. If a girl can make graphic designs, design websites, it would make them responsible because while in the university, they are already earning a living.”
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