Hon. Barr. Manasseh Ushahemba Namtar, a legal practitioner and aspirant for the House of Representatives seat for Vandeikya/Konshisha (Jerchira) Federal Constituency on the Platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has released his agenda for 2027.
Fondly called “BUN,” Barr. Namtar was born on December 12, 1990, in Gboko East to the family of Mr. and Mrs. John Namtar Apaa of Tse Ikyomke of Mbagusa/Mbatser Council Ward, Diiv, Shangev-Tiev, Konshisha Local Government of Benue State.
He seems well prepared to run the race and has released his agenda.
Read him: Thomas Carlyle once said “Not what I have, but what I do is my kingdom.”Armed with the quoted philosophical saying, Barr Ushahemba Namtar said he would always contribute and look forward to contributing to the development of the society in any given circumstance.
When I came on board in 2023 to represent the good people of Jechira in the Green Chamber, I did so as I am doing now for 2027 with great conviction and determination to consolidate on the positive achievements of successive House of Representatives members from Jechira, and to meaningfully contribute my quota towards addressing the challenges still facing the people of the Constituency.
My strategic interventions in the affairs of Jechira in 2027 and beyond is anchored on seven (7) thematic areas to wit: enactment of new laws and/or review or amendment of existing laws, security, education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and job creation and/or youths and women empowerment (ESEHIAJ).
Enactment of new Laws and/or Review or Amendment of existing Laws :The primary role of every Legislator or legislative house or chamber is law making for the peace and development of the society. As a Legal Practitioner for almost a decade, I discovered that many aspects of our endeavours are yet to be regulated; however they need regulation. I also discovered that some of our legislations are out-dated; they require amendment or review in other to be in tune with our current realities.
As someone that chaired many constitution enactment committees as well as Legal Advisor to various organisations, I have the requisite experience to initiate bills that will address lacunae (short comings or gaps) in our laws for the benefit of Jechira and the country in general.
Security :Thomas Paine once said “I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.” It is not in doubt that our country in general and our dear state in particular is facing varying security challenges from Fulani “herder crisis,” local militia attacks and unwarranted communal crises over land. Our Governor, His Excellency, Revd. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia is addressing these challenges head on, but it is not yet uhuru (over). In Jechira, and especially Shangev-Tiev, there is Ukpute (Igede)/Bonta (Tiv) communal crisis; there is also Mbaiase (Masev from Gwer East LG)/Ugambe, Mbamar, Mbatser (Shangev-Tiev) communal crisis among others. In April, 2021, virtually all well to do Shangev-Tiev settlements were set ablaze by the Nigeria Army due to the Ukpute/Bonta communal crisis.
All the crises at the Jechira borders with the Gwer East and Oju Local Government Areas in Benue State and the Cross River State are linked to the land. As a representative of Jechira in the Green Chamber, I will liaise with all stakeholders (traditional and religious leaders are included) from the four Local Governments as well as the Benue State and national boundary demarcation committee or commission to clearly demarcate these boundaries. Youths within Jechira will be fully oriented and mobilised through lawful means to serve as the first line of defence of Jechira in collaboration with the conventional security agencies to locally police Jechira.
No meaningful development can take place if our communities are always at war especially among Tiv clans. I will create synergy with fellow National Assembly Members representing the Federal Constituencies and Senatorial Districts that bordered Jechira within and outside Benue State for effective conflict resolution at the earliest possible stage.What I am trying to stress is that, the challenges highlighted are facing us now; it beckons on us to address them so that our children and those yet unborn will not go through them again.
Education: No matter what opinion others have about education, education still remain one of the viable keys for self-reliance. As a beneficiary of education, I will join forces with relevant stakeholders and carry out renovations of Schools within Jechira such as Central Primary School (NA), Vandeikya, Government Secondary School, Gungul among others. Where there is need to build new ones, I will lobby the executives for it and lay the foundation for their successful take off.
There will be three sets of scholarships for Jechira students spanning from primary, secondary and selected tertiary institutions. The scholarship in tertiary institutions will be for two categories of students- those who are academically sound with at least a CGPA of 3:50 and those from struggling or downtrodden families irrespective of their academic prowess. At the secondary school level, every student from Government owned or grant aided schools will be registered either NECO or WAEC at every academic session, if there is any record that such a student has been of such school at least from SS1-SS3. Selected brilliant students from private secondary schools in Jechira will also be considered. Learning tools among others will be availed to schools mostly in need.
Health:There is a saying that health is wealth. I will collaborate with the executives from the Local Government to Federal levels as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to provide the needed medical succour to Jechira. Our primary health clinics will be revitalised. Medical equipment among other things will be provided to primary health clinics in all the 23 council wards in Jechira. In areas where there is none, new ones will be established. Some of the primary health clinics in Jechira lack not just the infrastructure or equipment, they also lack qualified man power. I am aware of Jechira sons and daughters with Community Health certificate among other medical qualifications that are working in towns like Gboko and Makurdi for a monthly salary of just N10,000 to N15,000. I will appeal to these individuals with incentives to come back home to the primary health clinics in their various wards and render medical assistance for a monthly stipend above what they are being paid in towns.
Periodic medical check-ups will be organised for Jechira, especially for the elderly, women and children. Areas in Jechira without good water sources, especially for cooking and drinking will be provided with clean and germs free water through world class boreholes. Anything geared towards making Jechira a healthier society will be done without delays.
Infrastructure: The most infrastructural deficits Jechira is facing are roads and bridges. Before the advent of the current administration on board, virtually all roads and bridges in Jechira especially those in Konshisha were death traps. Our leaders in the constituency tried their best; but it was akin to drying up River Benue using cup at the peak of raining season. The roads and virtually all bridges from Awajir to Kornya, Kornya to Ihugh, Kornya to Branch Atser, Wuese Jov to Tongo, Ihugh to Tse Mker, Achoho to Gbinde and then Bonta to Oju, Anshagba-Amua-Agbeede to Ikyobo were very terrible.
Township roads such as the road between Central Primary School Vandeikya (NA) and Jack and Jill Nursery and Primary School to Mbagbera, Mbaliam to Ute and the road leading to Police Headquarters in Vandeikya town need fixing real quick. Some of these roads and bridges are being worked on by the current administration in the state. However, more collaborative efforts of all political elective office holders is required to have the desired result and within reasonable time.
Again, the most underdeveloped part of Jechira is Shangev-Tiev and when you come to Shangev-Tiev, Diiv is the most hit. Apart from the Achoho to Gbinde and then Bonta to Oju road that pass through a fraction of Mbagusa/Mbatser Council Ward, there is no other accessible road especially during raining season in Diiv. To crown it all, there are inadequate bridges (even those in existence were built through community efforts with little or no government support at all tiers of government). There is no bridge linking Mue Ter Shangev Tiev, HRH Moses Orngu Ikyarem with his consistory, NKST Manta and headquarters of Mbagusa/Mbatser Council Ward.
There are no bridges linking Mbagusa/Mbatser Council Ward and Mbatwer/Ikyurav Council Ward. A journey of one hour at most between the two council wards takes three to four hours during raining season because of Rivers Ubo and Konshisha. One has to pass through Tse Agberagba to Akputu before going down to meet with the person he wants to see at the other side of River Konshisha. The main stay of our economy in Jechira is agriculture. Once we have good roads and bridges, we will make wonders; no one will bargain our farm produce especially oranges using legs again.
Electricity: In the area of electricity, much has been done in this regard by successive National Assembly members from Jechira from 1999 to 2023. What is required in most cases within Jechira in this area is step down of electricity and extension of same to some of the communities that are yet to be connected. I will work on this seriously.
As a Legislator, there are limitations one is faced with when it comes to infrastructural development involving huge capital. However, with what is being availed to Legislators as constituency allowance couple with purposeful collaboration with the executives from the Local Government to the Federal Levels and with fellow National Assembly members, I will achieve a lot for Jechira. I will liaise with other National Assembly members within and outside Benue State and jointly lobby for or contribute to the construction of Federal roads and bridges that pass through Jechira to their respective constituencies or districts. Others have done this in Jechira in the past and we are enjoying it today.
Agriculture :Agriculture is our backbone (spinal cord). I will not joke with it. I already started liaising with agronomists among other agricultural specialists towards taking this sector to enviable level. I will be helping farmers with farm inputs among others every planting season.
I will avail our farmers with modern farm tools and improved seedlings that guarantee high yields annually. I will encourage irrigation by providing pumping machines to farmers so that there will be farming activities all year round in Jechira as it is done even in drier places like Kano State. I will lobby for at least a fruit juice company in Jechira either through government or private investment to help create employment and stop wastage of our produce. Anything legally and humanly possible that we assist our farmers is my priority.
Job Creation/Youths and Women Empowerment: I will create or bring different avenues that will gainfully employ our youths and women. I will also facilitate their employment into the state and federal government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) et cetera.
Jechira youths and women who are into businesses will be provided with financial assistance to take their businesses to the next level. Those who have workable business ideas but do not have start-up capital will also be assisted to start their business.
Zig Ziglar once said and I quote “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” I am not the greatest son of Jechira to have ever lived; I am not worthy to untie the shoe laces of most Jechira sons and daughters. Perhaps, I am the underdog in this race; but I believe that Jechira know what is and who is good for them. I am convinced that I am that son that is good for Jechira in 2027 for the House of Representatives.
As it is stated in the Book of Zachariah 4:6 it is “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit…” I am convinced that by the grace of God through the support of the good people of Jechira, I will make it to the Green Chamber in 2027.
