Our culture as Nigerians, in this case, the Niger Delta region and its political terrain requires that political leaders, particularly public office holders offer themselves beyond the services of their offices at Yultide. The expectation of Christmas and New Year gifts ranging from cash, domesticated animals and grains has become a norm in shared opportunities.
The Edo Representative in the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC Rt. Hon. Patrick Aisowieren though new in office, has demonstrated his understanding of the Edo demography and signpost a new era in Stakeholder engagement for shared vision and opportunities as he has maintained since his days at the Edo State House of Assembly through the National Assembly.
He had his job cut out in his first month in office with Christmas on the horizon, and these include but are not limited to a successful relocation of the Edo NDDC Office from Murtala Mohammed Way to a more befitting Airport Road in Benin City. Yes, it was Christmas and Mr. Stomach Infrastructure does not joke with collective happiness.
The first step as orchestrated from the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt was a direct bank credit to fifty identified associations from the oil-rich Local Government Areas of the state including Orhionmwon, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia North East and the centre of power (Oredo) of the famous Benin Kingdom. This was followed closely by the distribution of hundreds of bags of first-class Nigerian rice to Traditional and Religious Leaders.
Aisowieren’s usual Christmas arrangement for Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency was not forgotten after exiting office as their Rep Member as he bought hundreds of bags of rice to accommodate the interest of the twenty-two wards and numerous followers that have remained fervent over the years.
Being an insider and one who has followed the history of performance of previous NDDC Reps in the Yultide, and taking note of reactions from over two thousand beneficiaries that got cash gifts, I can authoritatively say without fear of contradiction that Aisowieren’s effort in the 2023 Christmas was unprecedented.
From the expanded Cow and Ram spree across the state devoid of partisanship, to the envelope handshake across APC Stakeholders in Edo South, North and Central, the story of Rt. Hon. Patrick Aisowieren’s generosity is on the lips of every informed and grateful Edolite as the Orhionmwon legendary political leader brings his acts to the forefront of Edo politics.
Like the NDDC Rep will always say, “You can never get hungry when your mother is in charge of cooking for the public”, Oza-Aibiokunla his place of origin and birth had it better than in previous years as the community became a farm of Cows and Rice. Abudu, the administrative headquarters of Orhionmwon and Ossiomo both in Aibiokunla had a nice time with the NDDC State Rep as he showered largesse and had fun with residents of the area.
We indeed encountered some lapses due to human imperfections, but Aisowieren has never promised perfection in public office but better and continuously improving deals for the benefit of a greater number of people of the oil-rich state.
2023 is gone with Rt. Hon. Patrick Aisowieren spending less than two months in office with unprecedented Christmas celebration, and between infrastructure and human capital goals of 2024, this year’s Christmas will be an improvement on 2023 as we journey on with tangible goals to shape a new public perception of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
One will wonder where an NDDC Rep got such resources within one month for the Christmas celebration, but a closer look shows an Aisowieren who sees the Christmas celebration as a personal responsibility and show of gratitude for God’s blessings, requiring sacrifice from personal income pulled in from all investments, whether in or out of public office.
Liberty ‘Ruyi is Admin and Public Relations Adviser to Edo NDDC Representative