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“Igba Otun De” (Yagba New Era) exponent, Adebisi Yewande Awoniyi, an aspirant to the House of Representatives, Yagba Federal Condtituency, in a statement by her media team at the weekend, rolled out an eight-point agenda in a multi-sectoral manifestos covering sports and culture, infrastructure and community facilities.
The list includes women empowerment, education, commerce and investment, skill acquisition, primary health care and agriculture.
It is the first of its kind in Yagba Federal Condtituency in the run up to the 2019 polls.
Below are excerpts from the statement:
When I told my late Dad of my interest in politics, I told him it is not because I can be a stereotype politician, but because I had come to understand and share his vision for our land. What I have seen since his death is a sorry sight of poverty and hero worshiping of politicians all for the sake of survival. I have looked and observed the dignity of the average Yagba man, woman and youth practically ebbing away. Why? Because of poverty; tangible poverty. I have painfully seen how people grovel at the slight trace of money even in the smallest denomination of new notes.
Our Youths have become political messengers as I find it difficult to refer to them as political thugs which is what I even hear politicians proudly refer to them as (I hear my political thugs). Our girls and ladies have become political bed mates for few crisp Naira notes. No more dignity, no more self-esteem and no more individuality of our people.
I will be coming out with an 8-point agenda focused on impactful programs:
Agriculture
Ensure actionable policies that will move our people away from subsistence farming to being a more viable commercial type of farming. The focus will be to be a catalyst and part of a value chain.
Primary Healthcare
Just as the mantra of Security Agencies is “Security is everybody’s business”, the mantra for our healthcare system will be “Good Healthcare is everybody’s business”. It is the responsibility of all to contribute to the collective good health of the people. Policies that will ensure execution of requirements of World Health Organsation will be ensured with collaboration from the private sector and NGOs
Skill Acquisition
The phrase Empowerment has been bastardised all over the country, it is painful to see that what is regarded as empowerment programs do little to actually empower individuals. It is rather sad that those empowering believe the only way to empower is to give items like grinding machine, deep freezer, clippers etc. This they do without creating the enabling environment to make them use it effectively e.g the lack of electricity to power such gadgets are often not considered necessary to address. Some of these empowerment items limit the ingenuity of our youths and will keep them perpetually at the grassroots level.
There is therefore the need to shift focus to more ingenious ways of empowering the youths for their self-esteem and dignity while developing their God-given talents and ability. Emphasis will be placed on skill acquisition bearing in mind the saying that goes “Do not give me fish rather teach me how to fish.”
Commerce and Investment
Yagba Constituency and Okunland as a whole is crying for the need to jumpstart commerce in the area. We need to be able to attract investors that will provide employment for our teeming youths while using the natural endowment in the area, cultivated in the area as raw materials. There are major infrastructures that need to be right most especially the road network and electricity. These will have to be looked into seriously. With the reach and network one possesses, it is doable.
Education
Education remains mandatory legacy of all and the need for quality education in developing the individuality, and endowment of a child should remain our priority.
It is an unfortunate realization that the quality of our students and graduates remain below acceptable mark. This is attributed to teachers being able to teach to the limit of their expertise. It is also a sad realization that the foundation to a solid education even though is entrenched in our Universal Basic Education leaves much to be desired in terms of quality and facilities. Facilities for the developmental stage of a child is in neglect as facilities and educational aids are not given the required attention. There is therefore a great deal of dependence here on quality of our teachers. The physically challenged are also entitled to quality education and same opportunities in life. These are all areas that will receive attention with my manifesto.
Women Empowerment
The decision reach at the Beijing conference for 30 % women participation in Government will be given optimum attention. This will be targeted at all agnecies of government right down to the Local Government Areas. Greater participation of Yagba women in activities and programs at the national level will be a conscious effort to expose our women to their rights and women empowerment programs, both national and internationally.
Infrastructure and Community Facilities
The obvious deficits lie in road and electricity. This invariably means Yagba Constituency does not have an enabling environment for commercial activities and investments. These will require a head-on and determined effort, pulling in all assistance at all levels of government. Collective private participation to make the roads motorable will be solicited.
Transparency and Accountability
Any Government without a focus on transparency and accountability of elected and appointed officers is a failed Government from the onset. What has beleaguered Nigeria as a whole which is corruption is like a cancer that has spread to all levels of governance.
There is need to compel through executional policies judicious use of all allocations at all government levels. There is need for more feedback to the people at the grassroots level.
Sports and Culture
Sports has been proven to be important in child development, youth development and a vehicle for national development and national bonding. It helps develop God-given talent of an individual to the fullest. The aim will be to reduce crime rate in our society and to create employment.
While football remains the main focus in sports, several other sports will be identified to accommodate more youths. There will be the pursuit of more inclusive sporting activities that will also target female sporting enthusiasts.
Regardless of how developed and aware we are, culture and heritage remains a pride of any people. Our culture must not be forgotten nor allowed to be forgotten by our youths. The very rich history of a people once kept alive remains an automatic check on fostering unity and peace within the community. There will be a concerted effort in making sure that our elders are not forgotten in enjoying a rich quality of life.
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