Mr Friday Nwuhuo, representing Ezza North-East Constituency in the Ebonyi House of Assembly, has appealed to his constituents to continue to support political office holders from the area.
Nwuhuo made the appeal on Sunday at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting with his constituents, held at Umuoghara in Ezza North Local Government Area.
He said that such support from the people would encourage their representatives to serve them better.
He further admonished youths of the area to shun all criminal tendencies and engage in profitable ventures.
The lawmaker described the meeting as a fulfilment of his campaign promise to regularly interface with his constituents to build effective synergy and understanding.
Nwuhuo said: “This town hall meeting is necessitated by the promise I made during the campaign that I will regularly meet with you to brief you on our legislative performances and elicit responses from you.
“The initiative is to ensure that we render a periodic account of our stewardship to the people who elected us to represent them.
“This gathering is to enable us to discuss how best to move the constituency forward through robust and qualitative engagement.
He expressed delight that he had been able to provide quality representation, saying “I am happy that our voices are very active in the house.”
Nwuhuo listed his achievements to include the award of scholarship to 15 indigent secondary school students from the area.
The legislator, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Security, Public Petitions, Justice and Judiciary, said that he headed the public hearing during the passage of the Criminal Justice Law.
In their separate comments, the Traditional Rulers of Umuezokaha and Okposi communities, Christopher Igboke-Ewa, and Anthony Njoku commended the lawmaker for the initiative, which they described as unprecedented in the area.
“This initiative is commendable and the first of its kind in the constituency. You have exhibited a good knowledge of participatory democracy.
“The meeting will enable the people to hold their lawmaker accountable and effectively engage him,” Igboke-Ewa said.
Also, Njoku said that the meeting would help to deepen democracy in the area and bridge the gap between the people and their elected representatives.
Mr Edwin Okah, the Special Assistant to Gov. Dave Umahi on Industrial Cluster, urged the lawmaker not to relent in providing quality representation to the people.
“You have started well, ensure that you work in line with the programme of the state government and ensure that you try your best to make life better for the people,” Okah said.
Other speakers also said that many communities in the area were in dire need of water boreholes, electricity, access roads, hospitals and other basic necessities of life.
The meeting was organised with support from the Irish Republican Institute, an international non-governmental organisation, which is committed to deepening democracy in Nigeria.