A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijaw nation, High Chief Michael Johnny, has praised the Delta South lawmaker, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, for his excellent performance and resounding achievements in the National Assembly.
High Chief Johnny noted that despite the short time he has spent on the seat to voice the concerns of his district to the government at the centre, Senator Joel-Onowakpo’s achievements has surpassed the entire achievements of his predecessors.
The Ijaw leader made the statement in an interview granted to frontline Niger Delta media, GbaramatuVoice Tv, on Tuesday, 24 March. 2026.
According to him, the 20years spent by the immediate past Delta South representative cannot be compared to the little time spent by the present occupant of the seat.
“The 2 or 3 years that Senator Joel-Onowakpo has spent in that place [National Assembly] can it be compared to the 20years the Ijaw man spent there?,” High Chief Johhy asked rhetorically.
“Senator Joel-Onowakpo has done better than the 20years of the Ijaw man that was there, the 4years of Senator Stella Omu, the 4years of Senator Spanner Okpozo,” he added
To correct a negative narrative, he explained the duty of a lawmaker with respect to making laws that will impact his district and the Nigerian people. He noted that a lawmaker must put together working law that will be of lifetime benefits to his people.
Read Also:
- Senator Joel-Onowakpo’s Bill for College of Fisheries Passes Second Reading
- Delta South jubilates as Sen Joel-Onowakpo empowers over 1,000 constituents
- Joel-Onowakpo’s incandescence illuminating pathway to Delta South’s prosperity
“The duty of a senator is to make laws. He is to look at the terrain where he came from to be able to put together a working law that will benefit the people in future to come,” The APC chieftain said.
“In the legislative business, you put together a working plan that will span 5, 8 or 10 years in making laws that will benefit the people for a period of time or in the future, that is the duty of a lawmaker,” he added.
He continued: “If less than three years the person [Senator Joel-Onowakpo] was able to sponsor a bill when we had our Jonathan, an Ijaw man as a President and Maritime University was unable to get approval because of too much petitions from our neighbours”.
“Our elder brother, Senator J.E Manager, tried his possible best for the Maritime University go and ask. He tried all his possible best; the man tried but the internal petitions could not make him to achieve it.
“Senator Joel-Onowakpo in less than three years was able to achieve it for us, not just for us in Gbaramatu but for all Nigerians.
“Senator Joel-Onowakpo has a bill for a nursing school in Patani. It is waiting for the President’s approval. It has passed second reading.
“Senator Joel-Onowakpo has a bill for Benikrukru about the hospital also awaiting the President’s approval.
“As I speak to you, as the Chairman of Local Content, people from Delta South, from different local government [areas] are going for vocational trainings across board and he is reaching out to projects like solar power installation, road projects, renovation of townhalls, renovation of primary and secondary schools are going round.
“The problem of Senator Joel-Onowakpo is that he is not the talking politician, he is not the bragging type,” he said.
Further correcting the wrong impression that Senator Joel-Onowakpo has not done enough for the people as being peddled around by perceived political merchants, High Chief Johnny stated that the lawmaker had staggering opportunity to impute items into the last budget as the previous chairman of the local content committee was already through with the budget before her replacement.
“Last year budget, Senator Joel-Onowakpo was not able to put enough projects because of the internal fight and the time was short. He just became chairman now and somebody prepared that budget before him,” he said
“Senator Natasha prepared that budget before him because she was the chairman of local content. She has already through with it before she was replaced by Senator Joel-Onowakpo. Look at the short time but he was still able to bring out those trainings for people to be going round,” he added.
He, however, assured the people of Delta South Senatorial District that in the coming budget, Senator Joel-Onowakpo has made huge provisions for projects that will accommodate the 8 local government areas.
