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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
As the 10th Assembly kicks off in earnest, member of the House of Representatives, Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, Honourable Chimaobi Sam Atu, has said members will work hard to justify the confidence in them by the electorate.
Atu, who is a member of the Labour Party, told Daily Sun, that the lawmakers, irrespective of party affiliation, will collaborate to come up with laws that will address national challenges. He stated that at the end of the day, Nigerians will be very proud of the 10th House under the leadership of the speaker, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas.
The lawmaker also promised that members from the minority parties will offer a robust and constructive opposition, to the benefit of the entire country.
What should your constituency and the entire country expect from you as a member of the House of Representatives, in the next four years?
Number one is giving a voice to my people and constituents and indigent Nigerians. Education. We need to improve the education system in Nigeria; by making laws, pushing bills that will strengthen the education system. Without education, this nation is doomed. Therefore, my colleagues and I, will vote overwhelmingly for an increased education budget.
Agriculture is one critical sector that I will give my attention in the House. As the world gradually moves away from fossil fuel, agriculture and technology must be given all the backing they deserve. We shall sponsor bills and motions that will ensure that agriculture and technology take their place in our economy. We shall attract Federal Government intervention projects in these two areas to our constituency.
I shall partner with the Federal Government to complete the Amechi Awkunanaw multipurpose dam and rural water supply scheme in Enugu South. This will help agricultural activities and support Enugu State government’s efforts in providing water for the citizens.
Then youth empowerment and empowerment in general. One of the things that causes insecurity in the country is that most of the youths are not meaningfully engaged. But when you engage them, empower them; it will reduce insecurity, crime in the country, most especially my area- Enugu North and South Federal Constituency.
In Nigeria, especially in Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, there are a lot of bad roads that need to be fixed.
You are aware that in our first sitting, after the inauguration of the House, I moved a motion on erosion being a threat to my area- Ugwuonyema area of Enugu State. I want that road to be fixed, because lives and property have been lost there. And nothing has been done about it for many years.
What should Nigerians be expecting from the opposition in the House in the next four years? Besides, a lot of people have said the Labour Party will fizzle out soon. What does the future hold for the LP, beginning from the House?
What Nigerians should be expecting from us is robust and constructive opposition against government policies; that may not favour Nigerians in general. As opposition, we will make sure that the right is done at the right time.
The Labour Party has come to stay. We will grow stronger and stronger. There is no way we will leave our party to another party because the ideology of Labour Party is quite different from that of other political parties.
I don’t intend leaving Labour Party for any other party. How can you build a mansion and you leave your mansion for a thatched house? I don’t think it is possible.
In Labour Party, there is peace of mind. In Labour Party, there is good ideology. Labour Party is the party that Nigerians believe in; that has much respect and regard; that has goodwill from people. How can you leave a party that enjoys the goodwill of Nigerians and go to a party that people don’t have confidence in.
So, I don’t think I and my colleagues will leave Labour Party. Rather what we are going to do is to build Labour Party to be stronger. And we know that we are not going to disappoint Nigerians, who voted for us; because much is expected from us and we are going do what they voted us to do.
The argument has always been that the House may not be a very independent House because the speaker is the nominee of the APC for the position. Do you share that view?
The House will never be a rubber stamp to anybody. Before he(Tajudeen Abbas) was nominated or elected to be speaker of the 10th House, he has interacted with much people. APC endorsing him is probably because they have seen that he enjoys the support of members. They just worked smartly to endorse him.
But then, he is a man of his words. Before he was endorsed by his party, he has promised that he is not going to disappoint Nigerians. That he is not going to disappoint the 10th assembly. That he is not going to be a rubber stamp to any person. That he is going to do things that will benefit Nigerians.
He is a man of integrity. He will stand with the masses.
What is your stand on the removal of fuel subsidy?
With the removal of subsidy, the Federal Government is expected to channel resources to education, health, economy, security and other critical areas. I support subsidy removal if there are clear-cut timelines for visible interventions that will drastically change the life of every Nigerian. This timeline must be achievable and verifiable.
I support subsidy removal if only it is followed the way it should be. They promised that they would use the money in education. They will use the money in health. They will use the money in infrastructure. Not removing subsidy and few individuals or a cabal will corner the money. I won’t support that.
But if they will utilize the money, the way they say it, I am in support of it. In as much as it will benefit the masses, I will support it.
What would lawmakers from the South East be doing to address the much talked about the marginalization of the zone?
The South East caucus is already working on that. It is not something I will come and tell you the direction we are taking. But we have started discussing the issues. Definitely, we are going to come up with robust plans that people of the South East will be happy with. Let me leave it at that until when the caucus comes up with its plans.
The people should believe in us. They should pray for us. We are going to make sure we are the voice they have clamoured for. We are going to make sure that things due to our zone get to us.
And to Nigerians in general, the House is going to work together, irrespective of party, irrespective of zones, to make sure that Nigeria is great again. We are going to work together to make sure that every zone gets what they are supposed to get.
