The Labour Party flag bearer for the Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, Warisenibo Ibigoni Dienye Pepple says Nigeria’s developmental trajectory has been stunted due to the absence of a development mindset amongst the nation’s legislators.

Warisenibo Pepple, who said this in an exclusive interview with Kristina Reports on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, stressed that this particular factor was one of the major obstacles to development in Nigeria.

According to the Labour Party candidate, who is seeking to succeed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) incumbent, Farah Dagogo, “development begins with the passage of budgets and continues through budget tracking or oversight to budget performance appraisal”.

“The time of budget defence is very important in the development process because that is the time when the legislature considers the development plans of the government to see in what direction it will lead the country and to determine if the necessary efforts that will drive development have been captured by the executive arm of government.” 

He further emphasised that “whereas the Legislature may not directly input into the budget, the questions they ask and the suggestions they make can provide steers for the budget team of the government”.

Warisenibo Ibigoni Dienye Pepple emerged as the Labour Party flag bearer for the Bonny/Degema federal constituency at the substitution primaries of the party held on Monday, July 11, 2022 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

In his acceptance speech at the event, the House of Representatives hopeful promised that if elected to represent the constituency in the 2023 election, he will not only use constituency projects to attract development to his constituency but also play an active role in purposefully legislating for the development of Nigeria.

He also added that in the event that Mr. Peter Obi emerges the next President of Nigeria, he will need a supportive National Assembly to work with.

He commended Nigerian youths for the efforts they are making to take back their country, urging them not to focus only on the Presidency but on every elective office in the land, adding that “God will crown their efforts with success”.