By Jude Michael
The Labour Party House of Assembly member representing Awka South 1 State Constituency, Hon Nigeria Henry Mbachu, has said the need to secure lives first before provision of infrastructure was the motivating factor behind the decision of the Labour Party Caucus in the state assembly to forfeit their six months salaries to help the needy.
It will be recalled that recently eight LP members in the Anambra State House of Assembly resolved to donate their six months’ salaries to fight the hunger and health challenges of members of their constituencies.
Rising from a caucus meeting on February 29, at the House, the lawmakers asked President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, and other governors, to show empathy by suspending all development projects and channel all funds mapped out for those to rescue the people from hunger and starvation.
In a communique signed by the eight lawmakers led by the Caucus Leader, Hon Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego, representing Onitsha South II State Constituency, the lawmakers had stated that they decided to lend their voice to the cry of their dear Leader, Mr. Peter Obi, on the state of the nation after their emergency caucus meeting.
They therefore urged the federal and state governments to suspend work on all other sectors, including infrastructure, for the next six months and declare a state of emergency on security and hunger in the nation.
They called on all state governors, including Governor Soludo, to suspend all infrastructural development in their various states for the next six months and declare a state of emergency on security and hunger.
They had stated, ‘We, the Labour Party House of Assembly members, will relinquish our basic salary for six months to be our contribution to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
‘In conclusion, we all know that the campaign is over and the elections are over. The majority of Nigerians are suffering. People are dying every day as a result of hunger and insecurity.
‘Thus, there is a need for the federal and state governments to adhere to the advice given by our leader, Mr. Peter Obi. We must commend our leader, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, for his selfless efforts to ensure the stability and growth of our nation. It really shows that he is committed to making this nation a better place for all of us.’
Throwing more light on their decision, Mbachu said every reasonable and responsible government must first secure lives before talking about infrastructure because someone must be alive and secured before any other thing else.
His words, ‘Our party’s ideology is for the welfare of the masses. Regrettably, that sole ideology has been tampered with. There’s hunger in the land. When people call us, they make several demands which are genuine.
‘Yet, we’re here blowing grammar and making bogus policies and data when the masses are dying of hunger; insecurity everywhere. That’s what we want government to focus on.
‘This is not politics, we’re since done with elections. Besides, hunger doesn’t know which party you belong to. Everyone is affected. I’m sure other colleagues are also planning on what to do.
‘We want government to focus on food and insecurity within the next six months and we continue with other sectors. We’re committing our six months’ salaries to food and medi-care.’
On the modalities the salaries would be disbursed, Mbachu said the decision would be taken in due course.
Other colleagues that endorsed the communique were Hon Ogbuefi; Hon. Fred Ezenwa; Hon Kingsley Udemezue; Hon Justice Azuka; Hon Paul Obu and Hon Patrick Okafor.
