By Patrick Ochei
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly in Abuja, Senator Prince Ned Nwoko has paid a courtesy visit on the highly revered Monarch of Ugboba Kingdom, HRM Obi Ezedimbu Emmanuel Nkebakwu to thank him for his community’s votes that earned him his Senatorial ticket and also to brief him of his activities at the Legislature.
Senator Nwoko while maintaining that he was voted to represent the people of Delta North (Anioma) and that he had resolved to speak on any issues concerning them, commended the King for his leadership disposition that has kept the community peaceful and united.
He hinted the Monarch of his effort towards getting the Federal Government to supply electricity to every community of Anioma through the 980 megawatts Okpai Gas Plant in Ndokwa extraction of the Senatorial Zone.
The Senator affirmed that the Senate had agreed with him that of the 980 megawatts generated by Okpai Power Plant, 100 megawatts should be stepped down for Anioma to boost electricity supply within the Senatorial District.
The lawmaker also authoritatively assured the king of water supply to every community within the Aniocha/Oshimili areas, from the Ogwashi-Uku dam which he attracted during his tenure as member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003.
He said, having completed the body of the project, the next phase which is distribution, is what he is engaging the Federal Government on, to hand it over to the State Government in order for the local communities around to benefit from the water supply.
While reaffirming his legislative blueprint for every community being represented by him to enjoy the dividends of one or two Constituency projects directly from him, he asked the Monarch to agree with his people on a priority project for him to execute in the community.
Senator Nwoko who is a privileged member of 17 Senate Committees, including Boundary Matters, assured the Monarch that in few months, the National Boundary Commission would be in Delta to adjust the boundary between Delta State and Edo State to permanently resolve issues of land encroachment.
On the issue of coal mining in Ugboba, Senator Ned Nwoko commended the MOSRA Energy Limited for showing capacity to mine from the interactions had with them.
He said he is interested in the coal mining both as an environmentalist and as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment in order to ensure that the activities of the company do not conflict with the interest of the community.
His words, “The mining company has shown to me that they have license to mine and had done Environmental Impact Assessment before commencement of mining. I am happy that they underwent through various processes on conditions of mining and the Federal Government had given them license to do business.
“However, my concern is that they meet all their obligations to the community and even go further. I am here just to have a knowledge of the coal mining environment. I’m aware that the State Government had done their own assessment with regards to pollution or any form of damage on the environment. The Federal Government will also send experts with a view to correcting any defect; this is to enable us work in cohesion in the interest of development that positively impacts on all. Let me just get to the coal mining site for my own sight-seeing Your Majesty”, Senator Nwoko requested.
In his response, the Ugboba Monarch, HRM Obi Ezedimbu Emmanuel Nkebakwu commended Senator Nwoko for his unique representation at the Senate, describing him as a square peg in a square hole.
He said the antecedents of Prince Ned Nwoko as member of the House of Representatives and current activities in the Senate had distinguished him in no small measures, maintaining that the Senator means well for Anioma and Nigeria, and as such has the jurisdiction to ensure that the right things are done.
Meanwhile, the Monarch said that as a lessor, he has the obligation to take the Senator to the coal site without undermining the rights of the lessee who was not on ground at the moment.
He however, assured the Senator that the community had enjoyed peaceful coexistence and harmony since MOSRA Energy Limited commenced mining activities and that the company had been trying to meet up its obligations to the community, yet there is still more to be done based on the Community Development Agreement (CDA) and obligations as tax to government.
Perhaps, Senator Prince Ned Nwoko who was conducted round the coal mining site, was pleased with his findings and declared that he was now better informed with what is going on in his environment.
In a nutshell, the Senator Prince Ned Nwoko who departed Ugboba community in an atmosphere of conviviality with the people, also visited Obomkpa and Ukwu-Nzu communities to dialogue with them.