Charles Onyekamuo
4 March 2008
Lagos — The purpose and objective of a government is to provide services to the people, especially the rural poor.
However, in some cases the indigent cannot afford to access these facilities because they cannot afford to pay for them, hence some elected officials take it upon themselves to provide such services for their people free of charge. One such show of compassion happened in Anambra State recently.
Often the burden placed on the shoulders of those who lead may not necessarily be their inability to inject ideas on the way forward which their esteemed position has placed on them; but their lack of appreciation of those who made that position possible and the responsibility accruing there from.
This has been the case in Nigeria that the led often wonder if elections, that process of selecting their leaders, into both the executive and legislative positions are worth the trouble. The story is often told of how "we elected this or that person into this or that position and he abandoned us for four years only to come in another election year to say my people of inestimable value,' vote for me".
But the story appears to be different in Anambra North senatorial district where their representative in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Joy Emodi is being celebrated by her constituents for showing compassion to them through financial assistance to the less privileged, scholarships to the indigent and care to the weak and needy.
Emodi, a two time Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education on February 11, flagged off at the General Hospital, Onitsha a free eye screening and exercise for the people in seven local government areas of Anambra North senatorial district which she represents. At the flag off ceremony done with pomp and pageantry and which had the traditional rulers of the communities in the seven councils of the district in attendance, including the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, Igwe Christopher Idigo of Aguleri, Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje of Umunya, as well as thousands of other people, the distinguished senator said it was part of the fulfillment of her campaign promises while seeking re-election in 2007.
"When in 2007, I was campaigning for re-election into the Senate, I made promises to the people of Anambra North Senatorial zone to the effect that I will continue to give quality representation to the people and ensure that they enjoy the dividends of democracy. In addition to other democracy dividends, by government, I am directly intervening in the provision of medical health care to the entire people of Anambra North senatorial zone," she said.
The eye screening exercise which covered the seven council areas of the senatorial district entailed free eye medical examination and treatment of not less than 3,000 people with provision of adequate drugs and eye glasses as the case may be. A five-man team of medical experts were retained by the senator to ensure a successful execution of the exercise. The exercise lasted from February 11 to 13 for the people of Onitsha North and Onitsha South Local government areas, February 14 to 16 for the people of Ogbaru council area at the comprehensive Hospital, Atani, and between February 18 and 20, at Nteje Maternity Hospital, Nteje for people of Oyi and Ayamelum local government areas. The exercise ended Thursday, February 21, at Aguleri Health Centre, Otuocha for the people of Anambra East and Anambra West local government areas. The interesting thing about this exercise was the fact that it drew many people with ailing sights to each of the centres.
Emodi said she decided to initiate the free eye examination and treatment because she found that eye problems have become a cankerworm living with the people of the senatorial district and increases by day.
"It is for people who will not be able to take care of their eyes simply because they can't foot hospital bills," she told THISDAY in Onitsha and expressed joy that people turned out in large numbers in each of the centres to take advantage of the free eye examination and treatment.
She intends to continue the project through the Senator Joy Emodi Foundation to empower widows and youths through grants, interest free loans and skill acquisition in order to promote self employment as she did in her first tenure. She had during the two years she spent in her first tenure due to late court verdict that gave her victory in the Anambra North senatorial district election in 2003, given loans worth about N3million to over 100 widows in her district and scholarships to over 75 young boys and girls to train in vocations like the computer, dress making, confectioneries and domestic science.
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State who was represented at the flag off by his Deputy, Dame Virgy Etiaba said the initiative was commendable and goes to prove that not only was the distinguished senator cerebral on the floor of the Senate, but possesses an uncommon compassion for her people, as well deep passion for their welfare apart from legislative duties.
His administration, he said has placed high premium in promoting health care delivery and sustainability in all its programmes and actions, adding that health care ranks very high in his administration's home grown Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS). He described the Emodi initiative as complimentary noting that it will help in accelerating the state's development programme. The Governor called on other well-meaning Anambra indigenes and corporate institutions in the state to partner with his administration in ensuring the well-being of the people.
The partnership, he said could be in the area of health, education, science and technology, youth and sports, agriculture, commerce amongst others with a view to ensuring that the people are the ultimate beneficiaries. The eyes, he stated are regarded as the window to the soul, and are about the most delicate parts of the human body. He urged the state's citizenry to inculcate the habit of going for regular eye tests to evaluate the condition of their eyes.
"Several individuals have gone blind due to neglect and ignorance about the importance of eye tests. Some of our children may have what may appear to be minor complaints about blurred vision, itching of the eyes and double vision. These may be symptoms of a potentially dangerous eye problem and a test in time will go a long way in saving the sight of the victim.
"Today, the Senator Joy Emodi Foundation has brought to our door steps a free eye examination and treatment scheme. The beauty of this free eye treatment is that in spite of being a campaign promise by the distinguished Senator to her constituents in the Anambra North Senatorial Zone, the ultimate beneficiaries will include all citizens of the world who happen to have access to the venue of the scheme," he said.
Idigo of Aguleri said the programme was not unexpected given the Senator's pedigree. "She has always fulfilled her promises to our people. At Aguleri, she promised scholarships and it is flourishing now. One thing I found out is that she doesn't make promises she can't fulfill. Her love for the constituency is enormous. We have not had it so good. I commend her. She gave scholarships for computer training to 50 beneficiaries in my council area last time, and recently undergraduate scholarships to two boys and two girls in my town who are really in need. The subjects come to me to say she gives them money for upkeep in the university, to keep them going. The thing gladdens my heart," he said.
Former governor of the state, Dr. Andy Uba, who was represented at the flag off ceremony by Bright Nebedum, said it was good that the people of the state were coming together to work as a team for the betterment of the state. He thanked Emodi for accomplishing her promises to the people and her show of compassion to the less privileged.
Former managing director of Niger Dock Plc, and now a PDP national chairmanship aspirant, Chief Nnamdi Ozobia described Emodi as the indefatigable grass root oriented senator who had one leg in Abuja and the other in her constituency. Anambra State Secretary of the PDP, Dr. Tony Mac IV said that Emodi, despite being a Senator of the Federal Republic has been a wonderful philanthropist and kind hearted mother who has done her constituency and Anambra State proud and has continued to redeem the name of the Senate.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Felicia Obinwa, a petty trader who was examined and given a reading glass said she had been diagnosed of short sightedness in the past, but has not followed it up because of poverty. "I can see everything written on paper boldly. It is a lot better now. I can't read before, but I can do it now. May God protect and preserve Senator Emodi for us," she said.
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