By Chidiebere Ugwu
Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Legor Idagbor, has provided succor to Cross River community in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and the adjoining states of Niger and Nasarawa states.
President, Bekwarra Development Association, Abuja chapter, and Coordinator, Christmas Trip Home, Comrade Ogar Augustine Olom, disclosed that Hon. Idagbor, has graciously provided transportation fare to Indigenes of Bekwara, living in Abuja to travel home during the Christmas celebration.
Speaking to newsmen during the official flag-off of Hon. Idagbor, sponsored Christmas Trip Home, Comrade Olom, said that his concern as the coordinator is to see to the welfare of the people of Cross River, particularly Bekwarra people in FCT, and the adjoining states of Niger and Nasarawa states.
He said that Hon. Idagbor, is a wonderful friend and politician, who has always been available to help his constituents navigate personal challenges.
“Today he has demonstrated it again, by giving us an approval that we should at least assist people to travel during this festival season. People are finding it extremely difficult to travel at this time. The cost of transportation from Abuja to Cross River is above the reach of many families,” he said.
On how the beneficiaries were selected, he said that they organize the people they select, in such a way that the ten wards are factored into the arrangement.
He noted that, “beneficiaries, drawn from the 10 wards of the constituency benefited from this Christmas trip home”.
The Vice president, Bekwarra Development Association, Abuja chapter, Mr. Anthony Egbung, said, the gesture is wonderful.
He noted that Hon. Idagbor, has always met his constituents at their point of need.
“He knows that at times like this, there are people who have the urge to go home to reconnect and celebrate with their people, but do not have the financial muzzle to accomplish that. He felt that helping them to achieve that purposeful objective is worth investing in to bring happiness to the benefiting families,” he said.
The Vice president, prayed that whatever the sponsor is doing now, as well as his future aspirations should enjoy God’s grace.
On his part, a two time beneficiary of Hon. Idagbor, sponsored Christmas Trip Home, Mr. Achi Julius okara, described the gesture as a welcome development.
According to him, “I was a beneficiary last year and here I am again this year, courtesy one man’s sponsorship. We thank God for somebody like Hon. Idagbor, who has made this sacrifices for his people, even outside public office. People that have not travelled for very long time to see their people at home, have been offered the opportunity by one man’s goodwill. We thank him and pray that God should continue to strengthen him. We need more humanists like this in Bekwarra local government, he has done a lot for us and I can attest to that”.
Mr. okara, however, seiezed the opportunity to also appeal to the former lawmaker to also look in the direction of youth empowerment and skill acquisition in the area.
He said: “I will want him to also look into the area of empowerment of the youths in the area. We struggled to go to school and at the end of the training no job. We are not even asking for Government job anymore but empowerment, financial empowerment and skill acquisition, that can help the youths to grow. I am a trained nurse and I cannot practice because there are no opportunities in public health facilities. I had even built a place to trade in pharmaceutical products but do not have the required capital to pursue that dream. If we can get grants or even low interest loan, which would be paid back, we would be able to operationalize our business ideas”.
Another beneficiary, Ms. Blessing Ikebe, expressed joy and happiness for the act of kindness towards the downtroden.
“At first I did not believe it, until I was given my ticket and I boarded the vehicle. I appreciate him for offering us the opportunity to travel home this season to celebrate with our families at his expense.
I pray that God almighty will lift him up to do more for his people,” prayed.
The effort of Hon. Idagbor, who represented Obudu, Bekwarra, Obanlikwu Federal Constituency in the 8th and 9th Assembly, complement FG Government’s renewed hope agenda.
Earlier in the week, the federal government, announced approval of a 50 percent discount for inter-state road travels, and 100 percent for train trips, for Nigerians travelling to celebrate Christmas with their families.
The Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake, made this disclosure on Wednesday, while briefing state house correspondents, during the federal executive council meeting.
He said the discount will run from December 21 to January 4, 2024.
The Minister said: “In recognition of the economic situation of the country which he is working very hard to turn around, President Tinubu wants Nigerians to be able to travel within Nigeria to wherever they want to go to meet their loved ones without the extra-burden of paying exorbitantly for inter-state public transportation”.
