RT. HON. PRINCESS FELICIA BASSEY'S TWO YEARS IN THE 7TH AKHA ASSEMBLY: STILL KEEPING THE MOMENTUM OF EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE

 

By Edet Okpo

As we undertake an overview of the stewardship of the Deputy Speaker and Member representing Okobo State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey , what cannot be forgotten in retrospect was the promise she made to her constituents in her inaugural speeches during  her first and second term. 

Quoting her verbatim on those instances, the celebrated lawmaker had stated: “This opportunity given me to serve my people is not mine. I could not have come this far if not for the Grace of God and the love and solidarity shown me by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the generality of Okobo people – men, youth and women – who without reservations cast their votes that gave me this mandate. Therefore, I wish to assure you in utmost humility and integrity that I have come to serve and you shall have no  reason to regret  your decision to support me.”   

Two years into her second term in the 7th Assembly of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, it can be said with a sense of modesty that Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey has not disappointed the Peoples Democratic  Party, Okobo people or herself with that mandate given her in trust. Rather, she keeps giving her constituents reasons for gratitude and testimonies as days and years unfold.  

Because some politicians have made trust a matter of risk, one would have thought that with what  Rt.Hon. Princess  Felicia Bassey achieved in her first term in the 6th Assembly, while also serving as Deputy Speaker, she will use her second term to indulge in excuses and self-serving politics. But that has not been the case. 

As statistics of her stellar performance across the three fundamental areas of parliamentary stewardship at the Assembly  has shown,  Princess Felicia  Bassey has shown no signs of relenting in her good works of spreading quality dividends of democracy to constituents across all demography, even with the lean resources at her disposal. 

LAW-MAKING: Law-making is the most important aspect of engagement by any law-maker. Through it, you carry the burden of constituents and express them through robust debates and deliberations primarily aimed at winning the hearts and endorsements of fellow lawmakers. In this area, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey, has neither been found lacking in sound contributions nor lagging behind in action in the last two  Legislative years. 

Her intellectual enterprise, infectious articulateness and encouraging regularity have certainly added to the reputation enjoyed by the 7th Assembly as one of the best since State creation.  Whether at personal, committee level or general engagements, The Deputy Speaker has been justifiably involved in active participation and  contribution to matters of the House including motions, bills and resolutions; regular attendance at plenary, and oversight functions. 

In particular, as Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare,  she has distinguished herself in sponsorship and co-sponsorship of people-oriented and gender-targeted bills, some of which have been passed into Law while others are at various levels of progress. 

Some of such include (a) A bill for a Law to protect all physically challenged persons against all forms of discrimination and to provide for equal opportunities in the society and other matters connected therewith; (b) A bill for a law to eliminate violence in public life ; (c) A bill for  law to end and make provisions for the punishment for sexual harassment and violence in tertiary institutions; (d) A bill for a law to regulate smoking in public places and other matters connected therein ; and  (e)A bill for a law to provide  a  compulsory medical treatment for victims of sexual violence and other matters connected therewith.

This function has sometimes been extended to include direct or representative chairmanship of public hearings in the State  Assembly and beyond  . Some of these include: public hearing on a bill to establish Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing and Mid-wifery and other purposes connected therewith; and public hearing on a bill for a law to make provision for the establishment of Akwa Ibom State environmental protection waste management agency and other matters connected therewith. 

Others include public hearing on a bill for a law to establish the Akwa Ibom State fiscal responsibility board for prudent management of the state resources and ensure greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations and other matters connected therewith; A-one day sensitization and awareness campaign against cultism, rape, sexual violence and other vices in our society; and public hearing on a bill for an act to prohibit sexual harassment in tertiary educational institutions  and other purposes connected therewith.

OVERSIGHT: Rt. Hon. Princess  Felicia Bassey has been actively involved in all oversight functions assigned her by the Assembly in care of government ministries, agencies and parastatal as well as in critical sectors of the State’s corporate existence like road projects; Charity and Philanthropy have been her driving force. 

She has initiated and spearheaded visits to special centres like Motherless Homes, Orphanages and indigent widows and was also in the pre-written examination session for Senior Staff of the Assembly Service. The seminar was targeted at effectiveness and efficiency in line with routine schedules of duty and set goals of the Assembly Service Commission, in relation to the expectations of the 7th Assembly.

REPRESENTATION: The Deputy Speaker has also intensified and sustained the tradition of lofty ideas and pragmatic tactics that continues to endear her to Okobo people from inception. Such include regular interface and town hall engagements with the people; and prompt intervention in the explosive intra-communal and intra-border crisis that stopped what would have resulted in a pogrom. In a demonstrative show of empathy in unusual moments of critical importance like the COVID-19, Princess  Felicia  Bassey ensured that palliatives were given to Okobo people. 

Besides, she has also been involved in constructions of library at St. Vincent Secondary School, Oti-Oro; construction of two-bed room flat for Staff of St. Vincent Secondary School, Oti-Oro; provision of 600 Dual Desks for ten selected public primary school; and purchase of School of Nursing Forms for admission of  50 indigent students.

Others include construction of three classrooms and stores/office at A.M.E Zion Commercial School, Mbiokpodubo; purchase of JAMB Forms for 200 indigent students of Okobo Local Government Area; provision of 45 scholarships for indigent students of Okobo; payment of hospitals for constituents in minor and critical conditions; and empowerment and support for selected youths and women on skill acquisition. 

While all glory unarguably and deservedly goes to the Almighty God for His stupendous grace upon this great Amazon and  patriotic Akwa Ibom daughter of no mean repute, we cannot but acknowledge with a sense of modesty her impeccable and unblemished  record of dedicated public service as a renowned  woman-leader, community-developer, bridge-builder, pacifist, advocate, team player, mentor and one of the most consistent and loyal politicians in Akwa Ibom State. 

To say the least, Rt. Hon.  Princess Felicia Bassey’s patriotic commitments and celebrated strides in the growth and development of Akwa Ibom State and the wider humanity fittingly becomes an interesting narrative to all young and old women who are serving or are aspiring to offer their God-given endowments and acquired resources in service to the society.

Exponentially, the Deputy Speaker’s performance in the last two years is perhaps more commendable and encouraging considering that the 7th Assembly, unlike the 6th and previous ones, launched out in 2019 at a time of national crisis including a recession, which subsequently was made worse by the outbreak of the Corona Virus Pandemic in 2020. 

Interestingly, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey rather saw opportunities in those challenging moments and thus has written her name in gold in the triune mandate of law-making, oversight and representation. Leader.

Rt. Hon. Felicia Bassey first came to the House of Assembly in 2015 with lorry-loads of promises to Okobo people and a vision anchored on the necessity for change after years of yearnings,  lamentation and expectation  of the people for a leader who would give them a sense of belonging in governance  and turn around  their economic fortunes . 

Today, facts and record of her stewardship have not only vindicated her but reaffirmed the people’s huge confidence in giving her a second shot. Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia  Bassey holds a place of reverential envy and pride in the tripodal mandate of lawmaking, oversight and representation.

By introspection, these achievements, and those to come in years ahead, should present a challenge and send strong signals of challenge to whoever may be thinking of succeeding her from Okobo State Constituency in 2023. 

Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey remains a reference point in leadership and public service; a paragon for womanhood and centerpiece of women emancipation; and a testament of self-determination.

To you the great performer, celebrated parliamentarian, philanthropist and team-player, Rt. Hon. Princess Felicia Bassey, the emancipator who plays politics of conscience, inclusiveness, growth and development, your constituents wish you more power to your elbow and superfluous blessings from same God of great Grace who has brought you this far, keeping, protecting and leading you.