A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Henry Ofongo, on Tuesday, came under attacks by his constituents in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, Bayelsa, for alleged poor performance at the National Assembly.

The constituents in an open letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, accused Ofongo of neglecting his constitutional mandate and abandoning his constituency after his election.

In the letter, which was signed on their behalf by President, Federated Union of Southern Ijaw Students Mr Atobu Pilot and the President, Amassoma Community, Mr Ebiowei Saniyigha, they claimed the lawmaker was unfit to represent them.

The constituents lamented that since six years the lawmaker started representing them, there was nothing to show for his representation at the House of Representatives.

“There are no roads linking our various communities, no good schools, no social or welfare programmes, no health centres and no good drinking water. Our people still bathe and drink water from our rivers.

“We are not saying it is his responsibility to construct roads, but as a national representative who has spent six years in the House, he can’t boast of a single Federal Government project that has been attracted to the area,” they said.

The disappointed constituents noted that Ofongo did not understand his functions, saying that the federal lawmaker could not boast of a constituency office after six years.

“This,” according to them, “means he has no presence in the constituency and the people have no way of reaching him. He has no project situated in the constituency after six years. If he claims there is any, let him show it to Nigerians.

“He is known for nepotism, no wonder, he appointed only his family members as his personal aides. He has not initiated any bill that will be of benefit to his constituents.

“He does not understand the rudiments of governance, as such lacks the quality of being a national lawmaker.

“He does not see himself as a public office holder; he carries himself so high that he thinks no one can share ideas with him. As a youth and former student leader, he has yet to roll out any programmes to benefit youths and students of his constituency.

“Our primary and secondary school buildings are in deplorable condition, causing an embarassment to us, one of such is the Opuama community school. Students are on the verge of dropping out of schools.”

The constituents said Ofongo had not met with his constituents six years after his election to create a leadership impression among his constituents.

When contacted, Ofongo dismissed the allegations as frivolous, saying his accusers were sponsored by his political opponents.

He said those accusing him were people who never supported him.

Ofongo’s words: “It is about 2019 elections and I have told anybody who wants to contest election to wait till that time. I don’t play politics of blackmail.

“All their allegations are frivolous. Maybe they are not aware of the last empowerment programme I did. Those of my opponents sponsoring them should go ahead. I don't believe in politics of blackmail.

“What do they mean by adequate representation. Am I elected to be paying school fees of people? I can only assist those I am able to assist. I am not an accounting officer with allocations to sponsor students or give scholarships.

“I can’t carry the entire student body to pay them bursary or school fees. They sent me request of programmes they wanted to do. If they want something, it is not by blackmail.”

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