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By Akpan David, Calabar
A PDP lawmaker representing Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra federal constituency of in the National Assembly, Peter Akpanke has bemoaned the way politicians pay attention to themselves than those who elected them.
He has also expressed worries over states of roads and hardship which the people of the Cross River northern senatorial district have been plunged into.
He spoke at his thanksgiving service held at St. John’s Catholic Church in Obanliku for his electoral victory.
Akpanke said, “It’s a terrible thing what our people are made to suffer from the hands of politicians who they voted into office to represents their interest and to better their lives.
“They are much after their own interests and not those of the people they persuaded to vote them into power.
“You all can see the situation of our roads, especially that of Obanliku roads. It is as though we don’t even have a governor.”
Akpanke who is the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on FCT Area Council and Ancillary Matters, lambasted the immediate past governor who incidentally hails from this senatorial district for deserting them.
Akpanke decried the state of roads across his constituency, saying government must be seen to work for the benefits of the people whose mandate they enjoy.
He said he will continue to draw government attention to the needs of the people but will however not relent to carry out necessary action that will lead to the improvement in the livelihood of people.
“It is in this regard that I appeal to political actors to jettison personal interest as reason for seeking political offices, and always see and put forward, the interests of the generality of Nigerians.
“We owe the people a duty to provide good governance and not the other way round,” Akpanke stated.
Also speaking, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, Mr Venatius Ikem, implored Akpanke to replicate his philanthropic gesture by working hard to see to the needs of his constituents.
He noted that the primary duty of a lawmaker is to see to the enthronement of laws that will impact positively on the lives of his constituents and by extension the country.
He said representatives must also influence meaningful projects to his area.
“I have no doubt that you (Akpanke) will do all that is necessary to better the lives of the people of Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra federal constituency,” Ikem said.
Other PDP stakeholders and some members of the 10th National Assembly and Cross River State House of Assembly, Labour Party Deputy Governorship Candidate from Enugu were in attendance.
