The Aftermath

HON. LENGSHAK SUNENA
Aspirant; Member representing Kanke Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA)

MANIFESTO
Kanke LG is one of the LG in dire need of the right legislature to enhance its development. Right from creation, the Local Government has struggled to develop against all odds that have been dragging it down for ages. Human and capital development have seemed to be a mirage within an unreachable grasp of the great people of Kanke; and for years, the story remains the same about the Local Government developing someday in the future.

The hope we nurture for decades as a people almost fade away right before us like a candle light burning out. Our leaders past have put in their best to see to the development of the LG, but like a ghost, the problem still eats us deep; making us realize it’s our collective responsibility to develop our LG. it is also now obvious that we need each other to move the LG forward regardless of our regional and political affiliation.

It is time we come as one people, united and determined to cause a positive change. It is time we become our brother’s keeper; only by that we shall realize our strength as a people.

In search of approaches to contribute my quarter to the development of Kanke LG, I was able to look at the previous approaches applied lately and then come up with the conclusion that Kanke LG has been ravaged by:

Bad governance: over time, the issue of selection of leaders has been the cause of the problems of the constituency. Our sympathy for our affiliation of interest has beclouded our sense of judgment into making blind decisions which have haunted us over time. Constant awareness and orientation towards involvement in politics, governance, decision and policy making will correct such future anomaly.

Poverty: Has eaten deep into our fabric  has affected every aspect of our humanity by turning us against ourselves. But I believe that constant engagement of the constituents in empowerment initiatives and programmes geared towards making the people financially independent will change the narrative.

Lack of visionary leaders with advance political ideologies

Illiteracy: has been one of the major problems of the constituency. I believe that the creation of free educative programmes for both young and old at various levels will boost literacy level and ignite the desire to be learned.

MY LEGISLATION WILL FOCUSES ON:
Education: there should be a law seeking to establish more schools on zero school fees to encourage enrollment at all levels. Qualified teachers should be employed based on merit whose teachings will be strictly by the approved curriculum. By this, the level of illiteracy will be curbed and reduced to the barest minimum. Parents should also be mandated by law to send their wards to school.

Community Participation: a law should be established mandating constituents to supervise all government projects to the final stage; this will address the issue where contractors uses inferior materials for the project and sometimes abandon the project.

Partnership/collaboration (empowerment): As my oversight function, I will liaise with organizations and training institutions to train my constituents in various fields of trade and commerce with starter packs at the end of each training to start up a business in which they have been trained for. These empowerment programmes will keep running concurrently throughout my office tenure. In addition, I will also collaborate with private organizations to create job opportunities for my constituents in complimentary to any job opening in the state and federal government.

Agriculture: I shall together with the constituents formulate laws that will seek to subsidize agricultural items such as fertilizer, seedlings, pesticides etc to farmers; in a bid to encourage large scale farming and boost production of agricultural produce in the constituency. Bumper harvest and trade in some other commodities will boost the constituency’s economy which will attract investors to site their organization, industry etc in the constituency.

Psychosocial Support: A law should be created mandating the state and LG government to freely render psychosocial support to drug dependents and the depressed in the constituency and to also curb the circulation of illicit substance.

An agency should be created in the LG that will be saddled with the responsibility of training constituents in various vocational activities and placed beneficiaries on weekly stipends to encourage participation and dedication.

Infrastructure: my constituency projects will be collectively decided by the constituents and priorities given as to which and where should first benefit. Other infrastructural development will also be lobbied to be sited in the constituency for the benefit of the people. It is true that good road network enhances commercial activities.

God’s willing, Kanke (LG) Constituency will succeed.