“Let Us Ask Ourselves And Our Fathers Of Their Contributions To The Development Of Our Nation And Not What Azaiki Has Done”
BIGHT NEWS – Prof. Steve Azaiki, member representing Yenagoa – Kolokuma/ Opokuma Federal Constituency has charged those lambasting him over a donation of musical instruments to a church and members of constituency, on request in Yenagoa, to ask their parents of their contributions to the development of nation.
The lawmaker stated this while reacting to social media statements condemning his gesture. The social media was awash with strings of reactions from concerned Bayelsans questioning the rationale behind the donation of musical instruments as part of his constituency projects as Federal Lawmaker.
Prof. Azaiki had on December 13th, 2019 through his Senior Special Assistant on Communication, Mr. Etete Enideneze, stated that “the gesture was in line with his campaign promises and agendas for the constituency which are being carried out in phases starting with award of scholarships and payment of WAEC and NECO examinations fees to deserving students shortly before he was inaugurated.”
He donated the “musical band sets each, to ten beneficiaries including churches and creative groups, at Glorified Ambassadors for Christ Assembly in Pakis Suits, Edepie, Yenagoa the Bayelsa State Capital.”
According to him, “the musical instruments would promote God’s work in the churches as well as improve the performances of the various bands in their secular or non-secular areas of musical and dance entertainment.”
However, the lawmaker’s gesture trail reactions from some of his constituents who are apparently of the opposition party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State. To them, the Federal Lawmaker would have addressed other urgent pressing needs of his constituents, as donating musical instruments to religion institutions couldn’t have been tagged constituency projects, as encapsulated in his spokesperson’s press release.
Prof. Steve Azaiki in his reaction, referencing his aide, wrote chided his critics, urging them to ask their fathers their contributions to the development of the Niger Delta, rather questing for what he’s doing as a lawmaker. He stressed that, what he may do as a lawmaker can not outweigh his contributions to the development of his people and nation.
His words;
“The author of this post rightly said the musical instruments to groups, churches and individuals is a fulfillment of some of my campaign promises to my constituents/ constituency but some people may be out of ignorance or may be lack of the understanding of English, understood it as constituency project. Actually it can be either.
“The point I am making is that in today’s world all of us must make contribution to better our society. This is time to remember the words of the Late American President John F Kenedy “ask ……, so to paraphrase him “ let us ask ourselves and our fathers of their contributions to the development of our Nation and not what Azaiki has done”.
“Let us look at even the most invisible of all- my published books on the plight of our people; Iniquities in Nigerian Politics, Oil, life and Blood, Crisis in the Niger Delta, – nine books in all.
“The things I will do for Bayelsa while at the National Assembly may not be as much as I have already done; building a World Class Library and Museum and a Primary School and Church among others are testimonies that is here with us. So we can not insult elders because we lack knowledge or we are just dumb stupid.” Azaiki reacted.
