Onwuosoanya FCC Jones(PHD)
The legislature is one institution that distinguishes democracies from other forms of government. Some scholars have argued that the legislature is the soul of a democracy because it is the arm of government which does not only represent the people, but primarily protects the people’s interests and also monitors the other arms of government to ensure that they do not abuse their powers or mistreat the people.
A legislator is therefore that individual who is elected into public office to become the eyes of the people and bring the ears of government to the plight of the people. They look around to ensure that whatever is due to the people is given to them. A responsible legislator does not give out money for fun, but looks out for opportunities that benefit their constituents and ensure that it gets to them. A legislator helps his constituents to attain their professional, academic and even social goals, by supporting their dreams and helping them to get what is due to them from the government.
Senator Patrick Ndubueze meets all the criteria for a responsible legislator. He might not be one to throw his weight around or run around all the media houses to blow his own trumpet, but everyday, he quietly but consciously works towards ensuring that his constituents are well represented and that whatever concerns any of his constituents which comes to his attention, and which is within his powers to solve, is done without requesting to know the Party affiliation or loyalties of that constituent.
Among the many and probably underreported achievements of this distinguished Senator in his eventful years as a senior legislator is his knack for building dreams, for saving ambitions and for helping poor families break free from poverty by assisting their children to get enrolled in those life changing institutions and jobs that have the potentials to uplift them to the highest possible positions in life.
As someone who is in government, I always have people who seek my support to get some assistance which they believe I have the contacts to do, and I always seek the support of legislators or more senior government officials to help these people. But it is not all the time that you get the prompt attention you seek from these legislators. Sometimes, they dismiss you without trying to help. But, this is where Senator Ndubueze is different.
A few months ago, I got that random plea for assistance by a very dutiful father who told me about the dreams of his daughter to gain admission into the Police Academy in Kano. His daughter is brilliant and had received accolades from the Police Secondary School in Nwangele where she finished as the best performing student. Gaining admission into the Police Academy is a tough job. This young family is from Senator Ndubueze’s Senatorial District and I contacted him about it. Being the type that doesn’t talk too much, he didn’t make an immediate promise, until a few weeks later, when I kept reminding him about it, and he happened to be in Katsina with his colleagues on an oversight assignment. He got me connected to the Chairman of the Committee in charge of Police Affairs. The gentleman Senator spoke well of his colleague, affirming what everyone already acknowledges; that Senator Patrick Ndubueze is a good man. He assured me that for his sake, he will do everything to make my little girl’s dream come true.
As a legislator whose sole interest is in solving the problems of his constituents and helping them achieve their goals in life, he didn’t care if this young girl’s father is a member of the APC, he didn’t care if they are going to vote for him in the next election, he only cared about helping the little girl achieve her goal of becoming a forensic expert with the Nigeria Police Force, and he did his best. He took it personally.
I followed up closely, but he always assured me that he had done his best. It was the only slot he got this time, and he forfeited it to me. His Personal Assistant always called to give me update on what is going on and helped me to inform the family of the next steps they need to take.
Yesterday afternoon, the father of our young and brilliant potential Inspector-General of Police sent me a confirmation of the girl’s admission and followed it up with an emotional and touching voice note, showering blessings and prayers on me for helping his family break the chains of poverty, eternally. But I know that I am not the one to take the credit alone. It is God Almighty who gave me the inspiration to contact and continually disturb the kind and responsible Senator Ndubueze, who finished the job, to the glory of God’s Holy name.
If more legislators are like Ndubueze, there would be more testimonials of parents who have had big burdens taken off their shoulders and families whose dreams are met. There would be more citizens who smile because their representative looked their way and helped them get the things they wouldn’t ordinarily get for themselves. There would be more fulfilled dreams than dashed ambitions and there will be more hope than there is disillusion.
A legislator does not need to be a rabble-rouser. They do not even need to be magicians. They only need to be humans who look at their constituents not like commodities to be purchased with bags of rice at every election cycle and discarded after the elections, but as friends, kith and kin, who deserve every support that they can get and who deserve the ears of those who represent them. Senator Patrick Ndubueze is one of a kind, and if we have more like him, Imo and indeed, Nigeria, will be better for all of us.
I congratulate my dear little adopted niece and her kind father on this important milestone, and like I told him; I do not need anything from them for this, but for them to thank God and thank Senator Ndubueze. Besides that, I also wish this brilliant little girl the best success as she continues her journey towards fighting crime, making Nigeria safer for all of us and changing the story of her lovely family for the better.
May God continue to bless everyone who uses every opportunity in public service to advance the interests of ordinary people. May the dreams of younger ones be given the impetus they need to fly and may we use our opportunities well to put smiles rather than pains on the faces and hearts of our people. Amen.
