In recent years, Nigeria’s democratic culture has tilted away from valuing oratory, ideas, and competence in parliamentary representation. Once upon a time, people admired leaders who could stand in the hallowed chambers of the National or State Assemblies and articulate the interests of their communities with eloquence, courage, and vision. The ability to “speak for the people” was regarded as the essence of representation.
Today, however, that premium has waned. Nigerians no longer judge their elected representatives by how persuasive or knowledgeable they are in debates, nor by the bills and motions they sponsor. Instead, electoral preference has shifted towards a more transactional model of politics—one that rewards presence at supporters’ events, handshakes at village meetings, and the occasional distribution of cash or material items. This is sad!
A legislator who returns to the constituency with motorcycles, tricycles (keke), or bags of rice is often celebrated more than one who influences policy, debates national issues, or holds government accountable. In many communities, the yardstick for “effective representation” has become how much largesse a legislator dispenses, not how many laws or oversight functions they perform in parliament. This is very sad!
This shift is a reflection of deeper socio-economic realities. Years of poverty, unemployment, and lack of social welfare have conditioned people to expect immediate, tangible benefits rather than long-term institutional reforms. For the struggling Nigerian, a keke for transportation or a cash handout seems more valuable than a fiery speech on the floor of parliament that will translate into visible change.
The danger, however, is that this practice reduces governance to patronage and undermines the very essence of democracy. When the electorate prioritizes “stomach infrastructure” over legislative performance, the parliament becomes weakened, and the cycle of poor representation continues.
Until Nigerians begin to revalue the power of ideas, debate, and policymaking, the country risks producing more politicians who excel at dancing at supporters’ events and buying tricycles, rather than those who can effectively shape laws that address the root causes of poverty and underdevelopment.
However, In an era when many Nigerians measure representation only by material handouts, Rt. Hon. Mark Esset stands out as a legislator who understands that true service requires balance—effective participation in lawmaking on one hand, and tangible empowerment of constituents on the other.
As a parliamentarian, Hon. Esset has consistently proven himself a voice for his people by sponsoring several Bills and motions that touch on critical areas of governance and development. His interventions on the floor of the House are not perfunctory; they are thoughtful contributions that demonstrate both knowledge of legislative procedure and deep concern for the welfare of his constituents. Through active participation in debates, he ensures that the issues affecting his people are not drowned in the noise of national politics but are instead placed at the center of policy discussions.
Yet, Hon. Esset does not stop at the walls of the Assembly. Understanding the pressing socio-economic challenges faced by his constituents, he has balanced his legislative duties with practical empowerment initiatives. From skills acquisition programs including the trainings in Agricultural productions and kaolin mining, to the provision of educational support grants; the provision of business grants to traders; the construction/renovation of classroom blocks in different schools; the provision of solar-powered boreholes to communities; the facilitation of road constructions; the provision of solar-powered streetlights to communities; the construction of a recreational center; the provision of free medical services and other livelihood support programmes, he has sought to equip his constituents with means to sustain themselves and their families and also cater for their overall needs. These interventions provide immediate relief and opportunity, while his legislative work addresses the systemic issues that create poverty in the first place.
What makes his style of representation commendable is the balance: he neither reduces governance to mere patronage nor neglects the realities of the people’s daily struggles. By being present in debates and bills that shape the future, while also reaching back to empower those who entrusted him with their mandate, Hon. Mark Esset offers a model of representation that is both effective and people-centered.
In blending advocacy in parliament with grassroots impact, Hon. Esset demonstrates that a legislator does not have to choose between being a voice in the chamber and a helping hand at home—both can, and must, go hand in hand. Indeed, he is the MARK of effective representation!
Unfortunately, some misinformed persons have decided to launch a campaign of calumny against this eloquent speaker, simply because he has refused to "unnecessarily" compete with some Members of the House whose capacities are enabled by the type of Committees they chair. Such criticisms are misplaced and portray a lack of understanding of how the National Assembly actually works.
The politics of the National Assembly is fundamentally different from what is obtainable at the state level. For example, it might interest one to know that Committees headship goes a long way to influence and determine the capacity of members to attract projects, programmes, and opportunities to their constituencies.
We must also remind ourselves that placing unnecessary pressure on lawmakers can be dangerous. When people expect “miracles” beyond the powers and resources legally available to their representatives, it sometimes pushes politicians into desperate, corrupt practices in order to meet those unrealistic demands. Ironically, when such persons are eventually caught and disgraced, the same people who mounted the pressure are the first to abandon them.
Hon. Mark Esset has continued to demonstrate commitment to his people within the powers and resources legitimately at his disposal. Through sponsorship of motions, bills, constituency interventions, and community support initiatives, he is steadily impacting the lives of his constituents. What he needs from his people at this stage is encouragement and understanding, not blind condemnation.
Rather than attacking him for not engaging in ventures outside his mandate, we should rally round him to ensure that he remains focused, effective, and upright in the task of representing the people of Uyo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.
Rt. Hon. Bassey Bassey is alllllllll former Vice Chairman of Uruan LGA
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