Hon. Bette Philip Obi\’s 1 Year Legislative Journey

Hon. Bette Philip Obi 1 Year Legislative Journey

By, Prince Atibile Williams.

OVERVIEW:

Hence every servant is subject to the master, elected office holders especially are binded by same moral, logical and contractual obligation to return periodically with a bag full of stewardship for the electorates who entrusted them with their votes to x-ray.
This practice of scorecard presentation is said to enhance accountability, stimulate patriotism, increases access to information, review existing policies and postulate ideas that necessarily positions a Constituency in vintage path of socioeconomic and political transformation.

That said, Hon. Bette Philip Obi, Chairman House Committee on Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cross River State House of Assembly representing Boki 1 State Constituency who assumed office 13 June, 2023 is not immune from the tradition of scorecard presentation on the journey thus far.
He assumed office with great expectations from constituents of Boki 1 to ameliorate her plights through sound, effective and people oriented legislations.
Within this 365 days of his reign as Lawmaker, Hon. Bette Obi has made deliberate efforts with regards to living indelible legacies in the Legislative Organ in Cross River State with Bills, Co-sponsored Bills, Motions, Co-sponsored Motions, Oversight functions, Empowerments, and other Outreaches as would be discussed beneath.

BILLS BY, HON. BETTE PHILIP OBI.

A Bill by way of introduction is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to significantly change an existing law considered obsolete or not accommodative of new developments.
A Bill does not become Law until it is debated, voted, passed by the legislature and in most cases given Executive endorsement.
In view of the above, Hon. Bette Philip Obi stands out with thought blazing proposal for new Laws, amendment of old Laws and partnership with colleagues to enthrone good governance in the state.

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1. A Bill for a Law to Establish Cross River State Agency on Infrastructure Development, Asset Management, Monitoring of all Telecommunication Operators in the State, Infrastructure Safety in the State, Repeal of Cross River State Infrastructure Regulatory Agency Law, 2015 and other Matters connected therewith.
This Bill seeks to establish the Cross River State Infrastructure Development Agency (referred to in the Law as \”the Agency\”).

The objective of this Law when passed are to provide for effective preservation and maintenance of assets owned or controlled by the State Government, provide a uniform management framework for sustainability, efficiency and accountability in the use and management of such assets, ensuring proper monitoring and accountability for capital and recurrent works, improving health and safety in the work environment among other noble objectives.

2. A Bill To Establish Cross River State Forestry Research Institute.
Taking into cognizance the scenography of Boki gifted with tropical rainforest, Hon. Bette Philip Obi
proposed for a Law to establish state owned Forestry Research Institute with a view to effectively manage the forests.
Merits of the Bill includes, researching, experimentation, sample application and patenting, improvement of the genetic resources of forest trees and ecosystem for economic development.

CO-SPONSORED BILLS BY, HON. BETTE PHILIP OBI.

1. Hon. Bette Philip Obi Co-sponsored a Bill targeted at electricity stability in Cross River State.
This Bill seeks
for a Law to provide for Establishment of the Cross River State Electricity Board and for other
Matters connected therewith.

2. A Bill for a Law to provide for the Cross River State Preservation of Public Peace and for other Matters connected therewith.
Objective of the proposed Law is to foster the preservation of public peace in the state by empowering the Governor and the Local Government Chairmen as Chief Security Officers.

MOTIONS BY, HON. BETTE PHILIP OBO.

1. A Motion calling on the state Government to as a matter of urgency, lift the embargo on logging in the state to usher in sustainable management of our rich tropical rainforest.
The benefits of lifting ban on logging includes, Revenue generation, Medicine, Forest regeneration, Restoration of Forest Management Committees, Development partners support and Watershed management.

2. A Motion calling on the Cross River State Government to Relocate the Anti-cult/kidnapping Squad Station from the Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar to an alternative location in Calabar and to Establish a sub-station at the abandoned Police station at Ikot Edem village of in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.

3. A Motion calling on the Cross River State Government to restore Electricity in Akpabuyo and Bakassi Local Government Areas.

4. A Motion calling on Cross River State Government to Reinstate Compulsory Monthly Environmental Sanitation in Cross River State.

5. Motion calling on the State Government to take urgent measures to end incessant cases of cult crisis, bloodshed, Kidnapping, Militancy and destruction of lives and property in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.

6. Motion calling on the Cross River State Government through the State Universal Basic Education Board to urgently embark on renovation of public schools across the state.

7. Motion calling on the State Government to stop the outrageous charges/commission by POS Operators in the state.

8. Motion calling on the Cross River State House of Assembly to investigate and determine the true position of Transcorp Hotel and other Government assets/property.

9. Motion calling on the Cross River State Ministry of Works to liase with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FEEMA) to carry out general maintenance on the Ikom-Obudu road.

10. Motion calling on the State Government to Establish a Secondary Health Facility or upgrade the Health Centre in Ikom urban to a Cottage Hospital.

HON. BETTE PHILIP OBI HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT.

Away from Legislative matters, the regime of Hon. Bette Philip Obi is living no stone unturned in human capital development of constituents through agro-industrialization.
In this regard, he is navigating towards economic diversification with aggressive distribution of over 60, 000 palm seedlings for cultivation.

Moreso, over 40 persons across the five wards of Boki 1 State Constituency are currently benefiting from monthly stipends for stomach infrastructure.
These figures are exclusive of other direct beneficiaries including students fees, house rents, upkeep, medical bills, farm tools supply, start-up capital for entrepreneurs among others.

HON. BETTE OBI EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES FOR CONSTITUENTS.

Education, the bedrock for societal development is given priority with his soon to be launched scholarship scheme intended to carter for at 20 indigent students from each political ward in the Constituency.
Motif of the scholarship is to restore dwindling hopes of commoners through a systematic harvest of brilliant kids with no financial muscles to fund their academics.
This demography includes orphans, children with aged parents and the physically challenged.

HEALTH

Health which is a determinant factor for growth sustainability, Office of the Boki 1 Parliamentarian is in partnership with an American NGO to broaden access to medical services.
This all important assignment scheduled for October, 2024 is aimed at addressing issues of Hynea, eyes care and general examination of the body to ascertain wellness of constituents.

SECURITY STRIDE

The proactivism of Hon. Bette Philip Obi in restoring peace in Boki 1 State Constituency dates back to his Town Hall meetings with Chiefs, Youth Leaders among other opinion moulders which has impacted positively on the populace with drastic reduction in youth restiveness.
Recently, he brokered peace between Wula-mgbaeshuo, Butatong and Bukalom communities with resultant harmony.
On the alleged killings of Obudu indigenes in Kanyang, Hon. Obi in partnership with the Deputy Speaker, RT. Hon. Sylvester Agabi, Obudu State Constituency mediated peaceful resolution on the matter.
Boje, Isobendege and Katabang are captured in his peace initiatives.
His pragmatic leadership has earned him numerous awards from all quarters.

SUMMARY

The remaining 1095 of Hon. Bette Philip Obi reigns as Assembly Member promises to be impactful in meeting the plethora of challenges plaguing the constituency.
Without contradiction, all the challenges cannot be addressed overnight.
However, office of the lawmaker remains open to constructive suggestions in changing Boki 1 socioeconomic narrative.