Efio-Ita Nyok|24 December 2015|8:58am
On Monday 22 December 2015, while the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, was presenting his N6.04trillion 2016 Budget of Change to a joint session of Nigeria’s National Assembly, the member representing Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency was caught on camera snoring away. Incidentally, his colleague, Hon. Legor Idagbo
representing Obudu/Obanlikwu/Bekwara federal constituency was listening attentively to Mr.
representing Obudu/Obanlikwu/Bekwara federal constituency was listening attentively to Mr.
President’s 2016 budget proposal. What a contrast!
It’s quite surprising and demoralising as well that a so called Honourable Member -a two-time Representative at that, could be found to treat a budget proposal with such levity.
Firstly, he was sitting before the President of the republic as well as the Chair of the Nigeria’s NASS joint session, Bukola Saraki, as well as among his colleagues. But was found to be dosing off: This implies that he has the utmost disregard for these institutions of government.
Secondly, Ayi is a politician of an opposition party, the PDP, and was supposed to be as attentive as possible to enable pick on loopholes in the proposal from which he would make shipwreck of the ruling party, the APC; but he was found to be sleeping: The implication is that he less understands the meaning of being a member of an opposition party.
Thirdly, the said dis-Honourable Member isn’t just there on his terms but is rather the voice, ears and eyes of a federal constituency: Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency. While he slept, the entire constituent was sleeping. This is a profound slap against his Efik nativity, his primary federal constituency, CRS, Nigeria and the entire African continent.
From the above we understand what the said honourable member is doing there: he is representing his interest and not that of the masses. If he couldn’t as much listen to the first budget proposal by a ruling party, is it the tedious exercise of making laws, performing oversight functions on the Executive and representing the interests/aspirations of his primary constituency that he could perform? From every indication, it is obvious that the perception that Ayi is a passive member of NASS is not unfounded. Again, we see that former governor Liyel Imoke’s insistence on the candidature of Essien Ayi was a product of flawed reasoning. I think there were better options in the party as at then.
It is on the strength of the foregone reasoning that I am calling on Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi, representing the Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives to, as a matter of urgency, tender an unreserved apology to the people of his Efik nativity, constituents, CRS and Nigeria for this unbecoming behaviour. I am also demanding that the said honourable member pledge that he will never let his constituency down hence. Let ‘Isantim’ do the needful!
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Writer, Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.com
Is a Writer, Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.com
