Benjamin Wayo: Effective Representation And Politics Of Welfarism
The return of democratic rule in 1999 meant a lot of positive signals to the average Nigerian citizen. Indeed it marked a reassurance of democratic delivery and values via informed economic and political policies which opportunities were believed to have been squandered during the military era.
The experiences of Constituents from Kwande /Ushongo geo-political axis had been peculiarly strange as far as this new found democracy swerved. Not until in the recent times, democracy across this land was far from been felt and expressed in its true creed as long as the term featured across this land and its people.
Apart from some obviously grave intermittent political related upheavals that persistently reined during the 3rd democratic test, between 2004 and 2005, particularly in the Kwande Barakur axis of the constituency, the spate of politically motivated violence were indeed appalling, with mindless killings and destruction of properties that could best be likened to the Rwandan genocidal picturesquare.
In addition to these, recent untoward notoriety of the Fulani herdsmen against Tiv nation particularly, and other sections of the country had become daily occurrences and called for serious concerns. These unfortunate incidences would consequently elude the people of whatever form of democracy dividend that would have accrued to them there from.
However, genuine dividends of democracy largely became entrenched when the constituents of kwande\Ushongo with their flair for independence, and democratic ethos made bold to reaffirm their collective resolve to effect a change in their socio-economic and political wellbeing. This came at a period when the overwhelming wind of change aggressively blew across the entire Nigerian state towards the event of the 2015 elections.
Many of the Kwande /Ushongo constituents ranging from civil servants, farmers, retirees, artisans, aged, youths , business class.. et al, had come out in their droves to freely exercise their franchise through the utilization of their individual permanent voter cards (PVCs) with a clear focus to ultimately effect the desired change in their bizarre socio- economic status quo.
When they voted for proponents of the change mantra, they were more at home with this decision. When they particularly voted en masse for the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the Presidency, to the Governors at the state level, and the National Assembly members, they, in all intent and purpose particularly embraced the choice of the likes of Hon Benjamin Ioremeber Wayo Esq, as a deliberate viable stock to represent them at the National Assembly as dear choice to them.
The bet for the Wayo’s card was made even easier when the people placed former’s antecedents, beliefs and past records at par with his closest rivals in the PDP and APGA on the other side of the contest. He floored both candidates with a large margin at the polls.
Quite an impressive record of a political battle that still remains rare in the last 16 years. The voters were consciously confident of their collective resolution and bet for a better lease of life to be achieved in their wellbeing then and in the future. Wayo himself an advocate of the politics of humanism and welfarism would in turn realize how important the show of confidence reposed in him to deliver on the change agenda meant to his constituents, despite the home truth that he came into the race not as a money bag but simply on goodwill, past antecedents, an excellent tract record of service, and sheer providence.
Quite early in the life of the 8th National Assembly, Wayo had started showing signs of social activism, politics of wefarism and administrative tact to achieve social justice and equal representation. He had questioned the President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial choice of Chief Audu Ogbeh at the expense of his Tiv kinsmen who are acknowledged as the fourth largest tribe, spread across Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Taraba states in Nigeria; being the one tribe amidst minorities that overwhelmingly supported the President’s campaigns and subsequent electoral success at the 2015, March polls.
He had argued that over 95.5 percent of the votes in Benue State came from the Tiv group with the other tribes accounting for less than 5 percent. Even though Audu Ogbeh according to Wayo was adequately qualified as a man of integrity which the President would want for the appointment, Wayo had frowned at the disdain with which his people were treated by President Muhammadu Buhari’s selection of ministers from Benue state, given that vast selfless sacrifices, pains, enormous resources and good will was largely invested in the Presidents victory spearheaded particularly by leaders like Senator Akume, , Senator BAI Gemade, amidst other party stalwarts of Tiv stock.
Today, pundits and vast majority of the Kwande / Ushongo Constituency can conveniently draw a clearer appraisal from the people’s earlier decision and subsequent valid opinions and conclude that indeed the initial resolve to entrench a true change agent like Wayo was done critically and meticulously without any iota of regrets. The people’s position may not be mincing as it is practically anchored to an apparent flurry of achievements that appears to have direct bearing on their standards of living.
What is more remarkable is the bout at which these developmental drive have been carried out within a relatively short span of time that Wayo has held sway at the helm of it all at the Nigerian National Assembly. The accolades appear to be closing in better as attested to by the viability of their chosen representative to deliver on promised mandates during the elections is in no doubt glaring.
The Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives RT Hon Yakubu Dogara, himself a seasoned legislator had marvelled at his colleague’s brilliance and articulacy. The former had described Wayo as a veritable product for the Assembly; one who despite his relatively short spell at the NASS appears to be vast in legislative proceedings and education, whilst placing the peoples’ welfare as sole premium.
Dogara in his humble submission would want the likes of Wayo with such valuable contributions and potentials to be so returned at every election opportunity so that the larger interest of the constituents will be protected and ensured adequately.
From the mata bloc of Mbagwaza , Mbagba,Mbayegh, Ikov, Utange to Mbagwa of Mbakuha, Mabgir, Mbaawe, Atirkyese, Mbaaka and Kyobo stretching forth through Usar, Adikpo, Mbayoo and across Mbaketsa, Tondov , advancing to the mountainous areas of Turan’s Moon, Yaav Kumakwagh and Mbadura , and Ikurav ya’s Liev and Menev council wards, to the central axis of Adikpo and Ishangev Ya, the daring intentions of effecting growth in policies and programmes are to say the least impressive.
Barrister Wayo’s undaunted desire to bring about massive development is by no means shrouded as he clearly understands the deep concerns and needs of his constituents. It is to the greater good of most of the farmers and middlemen in the land to have their fresh produce directly linked to the market through routes that were before now passble.
Barr Wayo’s agenda in this regard is to make impassable routes passable, particularly around the border communities between Moon in Kwande local government and Cameroon. This project is at his breast chest, as he has resolved to make it a sole reality before the end of his four year term. So far he has started the sole project of constructing drainage systems across areas that are in dire need of these facilities.
This down to earth legislator has proven so far that a people can truly be made to regain their ideal place in a society. To prove his mettle in managing the affairs of men through genuine service to and social empowerment, Wayo has deeper intentions of holding fast to the Nigerian principle of federal character spread and to ensure that what is due to his constituents is genuinely sought for and obtained. Therefore the employment of a good number of employable segments from his constituents is central to his goals.
He has within his short stay at the NASS ensured that member of his constituency are treated with every iota of dignity and the desired attention. Those with employment challenges are adequately attended to. With this, the erudite lawyer and lawmaker has moved to ensure slots in the MDAs, the military and Para military, allocated to his two local governments are adequately protected and allotted duly in line with the federal character principle. This is more so as a lawyer who believes in fairness, justice, equity, transparency and due process as veritable ingredients in the democratic wheels.
In addition he has the economic atmosphere of his constituency moving. Wayo for a start started by dolling out financial grants to a good number of his constituents to start up SMEs with the purpose of making life more meaningful and sustained. These monies were given to most individuals including politicians, who in reciprocation of these gestures are doing averagely well in their various endeavours.
Even as a practising lawyer, well reputed for his human rights angle, Wayo had never hidden his undaunted resolve to change the conditions of many around him. He had with strong stoicism fought for and ensured that the rights of his clients who were mostly his constituents were never trampled upon. His legal services were almost free for many who came seeking for legal redress.
This approach to practice brought him to limelight and served as needed impetus to steer the quest for political leadership. Infact the Law to Wayo was simply a tool for liberation which he had effectively utilized for the good of mankind over the years. His deft combination of law and politics today is simply an extension of a long innate craving to selflessly serve and liberate humanity from the shackles of economic and mental slavery.
Scholarship advancement is also core to this virile Representative’s agenda. Wayo hopes to create a scholarship scheme that would be all encompassing covering mostly the vulnerable segments of his constituents. To him education is still another tool of liberation from the shackles retrogression, ignorance, and poverty.
What is exceptionally fundamental today is the way and manner the people of this land has recovered from social malady which initially had been their lot. Unlike the typical Nigerian politician whose quest is usually driven on self, ready to ensure that his sit tight agenda is secured above every other interest, this very down to earth lawmaker realises that time if of essence recognising that he only has a four year mandate and must work within this ranks to close in the needed development for his constituency and its inhabitants.
He appears far less to be preconceiving another agenda within this time frame. To him, he would prefer to offer genuine service and work assiduously to entrench the dividends of democracy through practical projects and social empowerment and allow these works to speak volumes within his mandate of four years. To merely spark another drive for political power after his four years now is to say the least far from his ideal creed.
On the part of the people, their experiences so far appear to be baked on renewed hopes for a better socio economic drive and a healthier delivery of a social contract with their dependable representative, Hon Benjamin Iorember Wayo. Kwande/ Ushongo Federal Constituency seemed to have regained her ideal identity and place in the recent events of political, economic and social reckoning as this seasoned advocate, erudite administrator, meticulous manager and legislator per excellence appear to be reawakening the conscious state of the people through, peace, dialogue and community engagement across the constituency which today appears eloquent paving way for intended development to thrive.
AKOSU EMMANUEL LUBEM
Freelance Journalist and Public Affairs Commentator
MMc, Abuja. E-mail : [email protected] Text: 07038578549