“These international organizations have resources readily available for life-touching programmes and projects in areas of health, education, agriculture, youth development and women empowerment. You only need a representative who knows how to network, write proposals and attract them” – LP NASS candidate
By Ime Silas
A frontline candidate for the Uyo/Ibesikpo Asutan/Nsit Atai/Uruan Federal Constituency, Mr. Ikakke Bassey, has stated that effective legislation and robust oversight will be his top priorities if elected to represent the constituency in the National Assembly in 2027.
Ikakke Bassey, who hails from Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, is seeking to represent the federal constituency comprising Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai and Uruan Local Government Areas on the platform of the Labour Party.
Speaking while addressing journalists in Uyo on Saturday on the sidelines of his continued grassroots engagements across the four local government areas, Ikakke said his direct interactions with the people at the grassroots have enabled him to identify the real problems confronting his constituents.
According to him, many of the challenges facing the people of the constituency are not beyond solution, but require the right legislative interventions, oversight functions and sincere representation at the national level.
“My direct interactions with the people of the constituency have enabled me to identify the problems my people are facing. I have carried out grassroots engagements, not in convoy, but to sit with market women, youths, farmers and elders. I have listened to them,” Ikakke said.
He noted that with the right kind of legislation, a lot of issues facing the people would have been solved naturally, stressing that the National Assembly is not just about sharing constituency funds but about making laws that create an enabling environment for growth.
“With the right kind of legislation, a lot of issues facing the people would have taken care of themselves. We need laws that support our farmers with access to credit, laws that protect our small businesses, laws that make our educational and health institutions functional. That is the core work of a lawmaker,” he stated.
Ikakke maintained that with the huge funds allocated yearly for constituency projects, anyone representing Uyo Federal Constituency shouldn’t be complaining, rather, results would be everywhere through meeting the needs of the people.
He expressed concern that despite billions of naira appropriated annually for constituency interventions, most communities within Uyo, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Atai and Uruan still grapple with deplorable roads, lack of potable water, poor and in most cases, total lack of electricity supply, unemployment and lack of empowerment.
“With the huge funds allocated yearly for constituency projects, anyone representing Uyo Federal Constituency has no reason not to meet the yearnings of the people. The money is there. What is lacking is the will to use it for the people. We have had representatives who see Abuja as personal business, not public service,” the national assembly hopeful lamented.
Ikakke, a development expert, also noted that most empowerment programmes and impactful projects executed by some proactive lawmakers across the country are not always funded from the federation account or constituency allocations alone, but are attracted from international donors and development partners.
“Most empowerment programmes and projects are not always from the federation accounts, but from international donors”, the Labour Party standard bearer revealed.
“These international organizations have resources readily available for life-touching programmes and projects in areas of health, education, agriculture, youth development and women empowerment. You only need a representative who knows how to network, write proposals and attract them,” Ikakke explained.
He regretted that the underdevelopment being witnessed in several parts of Uyo Federal Constituency is not caused by lack of availability of resources, but by the quality of persons sent to represent the people in Abuja.
“Underdevelopment is not caused by lack of availability of resources, but the quality of persons sent to represent the people in Abuja. When you send the wrong people, you get wrong results. When you send those who are only after their stomachs, the people will continue to suffer,” he stressed.
Ikakke, who is widely seen as a grassroots mobilizer, assured that if he emerges victorious in 2027, he will, in addition to constituency funds, also leverage his contacts to reach out to international donors, development agencies and private sector partners to bring sustainable development to the constituency.
“If elected, I will not only depend on constituency funds to cater for the needs of the people, but will also reach out to international donors, whom have resources readily available for life-touching programmes and projects. We will create a template where our youths and women can access grants, training and start-up support beyond the usual sharing of wrappers, clippers, cups of rice and motorcycles,” he assured.
He added that his legislative agenda will focus on youth employment, support for SMEs, rural roads, quality education, primary healthcare revitalization and strengthening oversight to ensure that federal projects sited in the constituency are executed to specification.
“My priorities will be legislation and oversight. I will make legislation and oversight functions my priorities, if given the mandate. We will make laws that touch the people directly and we will oversight Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that what is due to Uyo Federal Constituency actually gets to the people. Representation must have impact,” Ikakke concluded.
The grassroots engagements by the LP candidate is expected to continue next week across the remaining wards in Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo Asutan and Nsit Atai LGAs.
