SENATOR EMMANUEL BWACHA: A COMPASSIONATE AND TRUE REPRESENTATIVE
Success and credibility are not bestowed but earned through vision, hard work, dedication and professionalism. These attributes comes naturally to Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. A grassroots politician and household name in Nigeria Federal Legislative arm.
Reflecting on Senator Bwacha's achievements both in his private and public life, the essence of the adage, “deep rivers flow with silent majesty, shallow brooks make the most noise”, becomes visible. He is unarguably, a distinguished Senator. His consistent sterling performance in his administrative career, admirable self carriage and effective presence in the National Assembly has earned him many prestigious national and international awards and accolades among which is Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and many other leadership awards for his constructive and pre-eminently positive attitude towards legislation and humanity. He has himself to be a champion for Liberal ideas, from his antecedent of a tenure in the lower house Marked by impressive membership of numerous committees.
Having served his people of Takum/Donga/Ussa Federal Constituency in the House of Representative between 2003 and 2007 through proper representation including sponsoring of bills and motions, a clarion call was made to this parliamentarian to re-contest for the upper chambers to represent Southern Taraba Senatorial District (here in after to be referred to as STSD) in 2011 general elections.
Consequently, he indicated interest and eventually became the PDP candidate for the Zone. With overwhelming and convincing support from his constituency who gave him their mandate in the election that ensued. This meek, unassuming and humble parliamentarian was elected into the red chambers in 2011 general elections. While in the Senate, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha showed the stuff he was made of. No doubt he is one of the few revelations in the 7th assembly. A delight to watch on the floor of the red chambers, whenever he rises up to make a presentation, the hallowed chamber becomes electrified and charged that even a drop of a pin would be heard.
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, is very sound, sharp, insightful, vibrant and brilliant in his contributions, he has mastery of the House standing rules such that his point of order are hardly over-ruled by the Senate President. Senator Bwacha's presentations are always deep, incisive more often than not, his interventions are ever timely and enriching. He makes his presentations with all seriousness and articulates his points to the admiration of his fellow Senators, who responds with thunderous applause.
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha sponsored a motion for the urgent funding of the activities extended continental shelf project. The Presidency went ahead and mobilized resources to actualize the lofty initiative. The continental shelf is a stretch of the seabed bordering our shores and is known to contain commercially viable metallic and non-metallic ores and hydrocarbon resources. The exploitable of these resources is expected to open up uncountable job opportunities and gross revenue in billions of United States dollars.
The distinguished Senator also sponsored a bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Institute for Soil Science which awaits second reading. Bwacha participated in the deliberation that culminated to the controversial bill for an Act to provide for National Grazing Reserve Commission and for purposes connected therewith Bill (SB 60).
He made valuable contributions to the works of the joint committees on Health and Agriculture, on Quarantine Act CAP Q2 LFN 2004 (REPEAL AND RE-ENACTMENT BILL 2003) (SB 210). The Senator strongly identified with the need to sustain the moral fiber of our faith by co-sponsoring the Bill against same sex marriage. Senator Bwacha sponsored a bill for an Act to establish Nigerian Institute of Animal Health Husbandry Technologists and a motion requesting for the imposition of the State of emergency in Taraba State as provided in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
No wonder he was appointed Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and other committees, where he made appreciable impact in those committee. Senator Bwacha knows the art of law making as such he built into all the committees he represented.
Beside his primary assignment of law making, Senator Bwacha has open a new chapter in the index of development in STSD has his patriotic intervention in the process of good governance, particularly in the provision of social infrastructure are impressive. Senator Bwacha demonstrated his unflinching support for the right of the people by supplying water in his Senatorial District by drilling over 20 boreholes within STSD in February 2013, while 28 additional ones are ongoing.
Tremendous efforts were made by the Senator to include in the national budget of 2013 the reticulation of water through piping from Suntai (Bali LGA) to Mararaba (Donga LGA) at the cost of N280 million in 2012/2013. Although works has not commenced due to poor budget implementation.
In his renewed quest for quality education to the people of STSD, since education is the bedrock of every society and the foundation at which this structure called society is laid. Two primary schools in Akwana and Rafinkada in Wukari Local Council were provided with new furnitures. A block of classroom was erected in Jibu Wukari Local Government Area, over 2,800 copies of textbooks, were supplied to some schools on STSD. The Senator also established an ICT centre at the Wukari LGA Secretariat. The annual disbursement of scholarships to 265 needy indigene students of STSD from the Senator's personal pool of N20 million has been consistent.
On the provision of roads, Senator Bwacha in collaboration with five members of the House of Representatives from STSD who belong to PDP, contributed out of their constituency funds in 2012 the sum of N1 billion towards the completion of works on the Wukari-Takum road. Out of this amount Senator Bwacha contributed N250 million, while N150 million each came from the five wise honourable members of the House of Representatives. Also in fulfillment of their promise to assist the rural dwellers, Senator Bwacha and the five wise honourable members have made tremendous efforts to have 44km Donga-Suntai rural road included in the 2013 national budget at the cost N250,000,000.00. Preliminary works have already stated.
In order to enhance pasturing and peaceful co-existence between cattle rearers and other farmers, Senator Bwacha have initiated the establishment of resting points, and grazing reserve in Mararaba (Donga LGA) to cater for that busy cattle trading route. The gigantic project is almost completed.
As part of the dividend of democracy to the good people of STSD in the area of religion, Senator Bwacha financed pilgrimage cost for several persons for Christians and Moslems this year, apart from the ones he sponsored for some religious obligation last year. This not withstanding, our able Senator also engaged fully in the propagation of Christianity through distributions of Christian books, sponsoring of Christian programme and donations to various churches within and outside his Senatorial District.
In the area of health, Senator Bwacha graciously settled the hospital bills of over 500 patients who were treated with various aliments within and outside his Senatorial Zone, from 2nd March to 30th 2014 when a team of surgeons from the United State of America and some Nigerian Doctors visited the State. The construction and furnishing of Primary Health Care Centre in Mararaba in Donga LGA is going on.
In the area of employment, during the period under review, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha made tremendous efforts and got teaming unemployed youths of STSD employment into various Federal Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals. A total of 50 persons have gained employment into: National Assembly Service Commission, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NAFDAC, AMCON, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Federal University Wukari, National Examination Council (NECO), National Centre for Agriculture Mechanization Union, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Niger Delta Development Commission,
Lake Chad Basin Development Authority, Federal Ministry of Aviation, National Biotechnology Development Agency among others.
Senator Bwacha also paid attention to women and youth empowerment through skills acquisition programme through his intervention 23 indigenes of STSD took part in the Computer Excel proficiency programme organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in the year 2012. Equally empowered are two indigenes of STSD who received training on skill acquisition programme through NDE organized by the same Ministry. After the training exercise, they obtained loan to start their privates businesses. The Senator also facilitated the nomination of four (4) indigenes of STSD for vocational training in poultry production at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology Vom.
In order to boost socio-economic activities of the rural dwellers and the operations of macro, small and medium enterprises at the grassroots in STSD through electricity, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha distributed 7 units of electricity transformers, installed 300 KVA transformer relief substation in Nyivu Donga LGA. Contract has been awarded for the installation of solar power street light in Chanchagi Ward in Takum LGA, Lissam in Ussa LGA and Mararaba in Donga LGA. as well as construction of additional two solar street light in Kumbo and one soalr street light in Nyivu both in Donga LGA. The electrification of Takum-Kumbo-Mararaba project is completed.
As part of the divided of democracy and in order to empowered the electorates, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha distributed 20 brand new cars, 130 motorcycles and 140 grinding machines among other items.
In order to encourage trade and investment the distinguished Senator raise a shopping complex in Mararaba (Donga LGA), to be rented at a discounted price to the electorates for commercial activities.
All of these massive achievements that have been recorded by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha is as a result of his dexterity, commitment, dedication, and realism; which has ensured his strict adherence to the transformation agenda and vision of President Goodluck Jonathan who wants a virile, resilient, more dynamic and developed Nigeria in apparition for the vision 20:20:20 of which Senator Emmanuel Bwacha is demonstrating to be pivotal towards its actualization.
JOHN AKEVI
08188188081
DONALD TERFA
07036026019