Encomium
The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro, is delivering on his campaign promises to his people. He’s actually doing much more than is expected of him as a legislator.
In less than three years and as a First Timer, Senator Moro has sponsored Bills, moved motions and is making contributions on the floor of the Senate that stand him out as an effective and very vibrant Senator.
As part of his constituency projects, the Senator has embarked on the following projects across Benue South. While some have been completed and commissioned, others are at various stages of completion.
OKPOKWU
In Okpokwu, the Senator has the following projects;
1. Construction of a HEALTHCARE Center at Okwungaga (COMPLETED)
2. Construction of DRAINAGE SYSTEM in Ugbokolo (COMPLETED).
3. Construction of a BLOCK OF CLASSROOMS in Odessassa Primary School (COMPLETED).
4. Electrification of Olaidu/Ojigo (COMPLETED)
5. Procurement and installation of transformer and electrification of Ichama community (ONGOING).
6. Rehabilitation of Eke-Ugbokolo road (COMPLETED)
7. Construction of lecture hall at the National Open University of Nigeria, Ugbokolo study centre (ONGOING)
ADO.
In Ado, the Senator has the following projects;
1. A BLOCK OF CLASSROOMS in Ogi (COMPLETED).
2. Procurement and installation of SOLAR STREET LIGHTS in Igumale (COMPLETED).
3. Electrification of Ikpemgbe community ( 95% COMPLETED).
4. Construction of HEALTHCARE CENTRE in Apa-Agila (95% COMPLETED)
5. Rehabilitation of Ekile road (90% COMPLETED).
OGBADIBO
Senator Moro has the following projects in Ogbadibo;
1. Rehabilitation of UKWO-OWUKPA-ITABONO road (COMPLETED).
2. Construction of ONYIRADA RIVER BRIDGE in Udaburu (COMPLETED).
3. Procurement and installation of TRANSFORMER at Ukwo-Owukpa (COMPLETED).
4. Procurement and installation of SOLAR STREET LIGHTS in Orokam (COMPLETED).
5. Electrification of AGO community in Otukpa (COMPLETED).
6. Construction of a BLOCK OF 3-CLASSROOM in Obu 1 LEA Primary School, Otukpa (COMPLETED)
OBI
In Obi, the following projects are sited;
1. Rehabilitation of ODIAPA road (COMPLETED).
2. Drilling of solar-powered borehole, along Ogore Road, Obarike-Ito (COMPLETED).
3. Construction of the Hospital road, Obarike-Ito (COMPLETED).
4. Procurement and installation of solar streetlights in Obarike-Ito (COMPLETED).
OJU
The following projects are sited in Oju;
1. Rehabilitation of Uchuo-Okpoma road (COMPLETED).
2. Rehabilitation of Obusa-Adokpa road (COMPLETED).
APA
In Apa, the following projects are executed by the;
1. Construction of a block of classrooms in Oba community (COMPLETED).
2. Construction of a 3-CLASSROOM BLOCK at LEA Primary School, Ojantelle (COMPLETED).
3. Electrification of Auke community (95% COMPLETED)
4. Electrification of Edikwu-Ankpali community (COMPLETED)
AGATU
In Agatu, Senator Moro’s legacy projects include;
1. Drilling of BOREHOLES in Obagaji, Okokolo, Odugbeho and Ushafa (COMPLETED).
2. Procurement and installation of solar-powered street light in Okokolo (COMPLETED).
3. Procurement and distribution of motorcycles to Agatu youths (COMPLETED).
4. Procurement and distribution of medical equipment to Agatu communities (COMPLETED).
OTUKPO
In Otukpo, Senator Moro has the following projects;
1. Rehabilitation of OCHOGA avenue (COMPLETED).
2. Rehabilitation of Jamaica street (COMPLETED).
3. Procurement and installation of TRANSFORMER at rice mill (COMPLETED).
4. Construction of Igaluwa-Ugboju road (COMPLETED).
5. Rehabilitation of ALHERI STREET (ONGOING).
6. Construction of DUAL CARRIAGE LINE from Asa sub-station to Enugu roundabout (COMPLETED).
The Senator, not relenting on his efforts to attract as many projects as possible to Benue South, has facilitated the following projects in the 2022 Appropriation Act;
1. Installation of 4 Nos Lafiya Tele-health Primary Healthcare system/machine kiosk in selected communities in Benue South Senatorial District
2. Training of youths in digital skills and empowerment with branded laptops.
3. Grading/lateriting of Ihilikpa-Onyangede road and completion of Ohimini River bridge.
4. Training in agricultural value chain and empowerment with chickens, goats, pigs, etc, in Benue South Senatorial District.
5. Grading and lateriting of Obagaji-Okokolo road in Agatu LGA.
6. Construction/Acquisition of delivery warehouses in rural outreach programme in Obekpa Efoyo), in Okpokwu LGA.
7. Grading and lateriting of Angwa-Otakpa road, in Apa LGA.
8. Grading and lateriting of River Ogbadibo Bridge and grading of Alekpo/Okpafie/Ogbadibo road.
9. Construction of community clinic in Agadagba, Ohimini LGA.
10. Purchase and installation of transformers in various locations in Benue South Senatorial District.
11. Drilling of hand-pump boreholes in various locations of Benue South.
12. Electrification of Otto community in Ogbadibo LGA.
13. Completion of the construction and fencing of a lecture hall at the National Open University study centre, Ugbokolo.
14. Rehabilitation of 20km road with associated drainage system in Ikpoga-Omadewu-Eboya, in Okpokwu LGA.
15. Grading and lateriting of Entekpa road, in Otukpo LGA.
16. Construction of Health Centre at Adenu Methodist Masses, in Oju LGA.
17. Construction of Health Centre at Ondo-Awume, in Ohimini LGA.
In addition to this massive infrastructural development, the Senator is training and equipping so many youths and women from across Benue South with items such as sewing/milling/hair dressing machines, poultry production, etc, the latest being brand new laptops and start-up capital given to youths for self reliance. He has also doled out cars to party executives and other Constituents to ease their movements.
BILLS, MOTIONS AND PETITIONS
In addition to Senator Abba Moro’s contributions on the floor of the Senate, oversight functions and execution of constituency projects, and other responsibilities as a Senator, we shall briefly touch on some of the Bills, Motions and Petitions, his primary responsibilities in the Senate, that he has sponsored in the last three years.
BILLS
Bills are Acts enacted by the National Assembly, subject to the Assent of the President or the Overriding Vote of the National Assembly. Senator Abba Moro has, in the last three years, sponsored the following Bills:
1. A Bill for an Act for the alteration of of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to make provisions for Local Government autonomy. The Bill, if passed into law, will give the Local Government system autonomy, which will help to bring visible development and governance to the grassroots.
2. A Bill for an Act for the establishment of Families of Fallen Servicemen Support Fund. The intent of the Bill is to cater for families of service men who die in the line of duty.
3. The Nigerian Maritime Administration And Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act 2007 (Amendment Bill, 2021).
4. A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Health Sciences, Akwete-Akpa, Otukpo, Benue State.
5. A Bill for an Act to establish the Veteran Welfare Fund.
6. Veteran Welfare Fund (Est.) Bill 2020.
7. Bill seeking the establishment of North Central Development Commission (NCDC)
8. A Bill for an Act seeking the establishment of Federal College of Agriculture in Opialu-Ojapo, in Okpokwu.
9. Constitution Amendment Bill, 2022, for an Act to alter the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY in Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Council Elections.
10. A Bill for an act to alter the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for FINANCIAL and ADMINISTRATIVE AUTONOMY for Local Government System in Nigeria.
11. Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2019
MOTIONS
In the last three years, Senator Moro has moved the following Motions on the floor of the Senate:
1. Motion on the devastating effects of windstorm disaster in Ogbadibo, Okpokwu and Otukpo communities.
2. Motion on the outbreak of yellow fever in Oye-Obi Local Government Area
3. Motion on the illegal and excessive charges on customers’ accounts by banks. The Motion condemned the charges and requested that the relevant regulatory agencies investigate the charges with a view to putting an end to it.
4. Motion on the killings in Ado and Oju LGAs, requesting for an end to the crises, one-minute silence in honour of those killed and a call on NEMA to provide relief materials to those displaced.
5. Motion on the herdsmen attack on Echori and Itakpa communities .
6. MOTION ON THE URGENT NEED TO CUSHION THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF RAIN/WINDSTORM DISASTER ON AI-AFAM COMMUNITY OF OWUKPA DISTRICT IN OGBADIBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
7. Motion on the INCESSANT BLOODY CLASHES BETWEEN BORDERING COMMUNITIES OF BENUE AND EBONYI STATES: URGENT NEED FOR SENATE INTERVENTION
8. INCESSANT MILITIA ATTACKS ON OKOKOLO AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF AGATU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE: URGENT NEED FOR SENATE INTERVENTION.
9. THE PREROGATIVE OF CORRECTIONAL INMATES AWAITING TRIAL TO VOTE IN GENERAL ELECTIONS: STATUTORY, INALIENABLE AND NON-NEGOTIABLE
10. Nigerians dumbfounded, outraged over Pay-Tv Tariff Hikes, demand for pay-per-view Subscription Model.
PETITIONS
The following petitions have been received from Constituents and laid on the floor of the Senate:
1. Petition to the Senate over the refusal of PENCOM to pay Mr Gabriel Iduh part of his savings to go for surgery.
2. Petition, on behalf of Ado Council Chairman, Hon. James Oche, against the killing of Ado people and abduction of five elders from the LGA.
3. PETITION OVER THE POOR HANDLING OF THE CASE OF MISSING ASP AKOR UDEH BY THE POLICE.
4. Petition on the gruesome murder of Mr Shedrack Ochoche by the Nigerian Police.
5. Petition against the gruesome murder of Alexander Ogbu, an idoma Journalist based in Abuja.
Senator Moro is redefining leadership and doing the undoable in Benue South. Women are talking about him. Men are talking about him. Youths are talking about him. From Ogbadibo to Okpokwu, to Ado, to Otukpo, to Ohimini, to Obi, to Oju, to Agatu, and to Apa, the song on everybody’s lips is, ABBA MORO IS WORKING! And Indeed, he’s working.
If this is not effective representation then nothing is. If all these could be achieved within a very short time and as a First Timer, one can only imagine what he will do if given additional term.
The Senator deserves nothing short of a right of first refusal and landslide victory back to the Senate in 2022 for continuation of the quality and selfless representation he’s providing for his people and Nigerians at large.
As Dr Elijah Adakole Friday Elijah succinctly put it recently, “The older, the better. Continuity is needed for Senator Abba Moro to solidify his claws in the Senate for the betterment of the Benue South Senatorial District.
“Changing him at this point will be a humongous disservice to all of us in Benue South. He should be allowed to proceed forth so that at the end of his terms, the senatorial position can swivel to either Oju/Obi or Apa/Agatu federal precincts.”
Actually, nobody changes a winning team when the game has just began and I believe the good people of Benue South are wise enough to put their best foot forward at this particular time in the person of Senator Abba Moro.
Emmanuel Eche-Ofun John
SA (New Media) to the Senator.
