Since his emergence on the political scene in 2015, Abinye Blessing Pepple has been living up to the sobriquet of “The Vocal” ascribed to him by his teeming supporters, majority of whom are youths like him. He has remained a strong voice in advocacy for Rivers people, particularly, his constituents from the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly where he represents Bonny constituency to every other fora he has had opportunity to speak on. In addition, one of his key advantages is street credibility, which he enjoys across his constituency.

In this interview with the Editor-in-chief of Kristina Reports, Godswill Jumbo, he outlines his achievements, postulates on what development trajectory for his constituency should be, and assures his constituents that should they sustain their confidence in him come 2019 election, he would continue to justify their faith in him. Enjoy the excerpts: 

Kristina Reports: It’s been about a year and six months since you were through with the legal tussles , how has it been representing the good people of Bonny constituency?

Abinye Blessing Pepple: So far, so good, we have quite tremendously well in terms of our immediate responsibilities of lawmaking, oversight functions and keeping in touch with the good people of Bonny. So far, so good it has been unique, it has been amazing, it has been robust.

KR: We have seen the challenges you have trying to change the paradigm…instead of sharing money you are looking at building the capacity of the youths, the capacity of community members and even the concept and implementation of the fire station as a constituency project. What is the motivation, what is the drive behind this change of direction, sort of? 

First of all, I think we must be accountable to the electorate and one of the ways of the ways to be accountable is to look at a clear paradigm shift from what it used to be. For example, once you provide the platform for our people to access quality education, you must provide that indices that can guarantee quality education for members of our constituency. When in 2017, we finally came on board I initiated the first JAMB empowerment scheme; that scheme has assisted, has aided, has guaranteed an opportunity for members of our constituency to access education. As I speak, over 125 members of our constituency are currently studying in various universities across the country because of the free JAMB scheme. Now we further introduced the free GCE empowerment program. That program is to enable members of our constituency to remedy their deficiency in their  O’levels so that they can have the opportunity and privilege to have five credits to access education. That we have done in 2017; that we have sustained in 2018.

Beyond that, there are members of our constituency in the opportunity to have skills acquisition like the offshore marine training because capacity building is key. The best way to change society is to address the issues of unemployment. And because it is important to address the issues of unemployment you must create the opportunity and platform. Training is important, education is important; you cannot create job opportunities for someone that is unskilled or uneducated. It becomes a problem. We must look at capacity enhancement, particularly, to young men and women of our constituency. That we have done and that we have sustained. And in terms of our constituency project that we have we decided not to embark on programmes and projects that have no direct bearing. The Bonny fire station is the first and independent emergency response centre in Nigeria. Outside the state capital you cannot find any local government headquarters in Nigeria out of the 774 local governments that has a fire station. I challenge you to go round the 36 states of the federation. And beyond that, if you look at the edifice we have put on ground it is far better than those of 27 states of the federation. What we have in Bonny is far better than Jigawa; what we have in Bonny is far better than Benue; what we have in Bonny is far better than Ebonyi State, and many other states. Go and research and you will see that what we have done is an enduring legacy for our people.

And the motivating factor that led to the achievement of these indices is because during the electioneering campaign I didn’t give any electorate a dime. They came out in their numbers and I was voted for massively. I think this payback time. The list of those that would work in the fire station has been published. That shows our commitment to create employment opportunities for graduates and non-graduates. That means it is a legacy project.

KR: We look at evacuation points for these people you are training. Right now, the train 7 project is almost up and running and the Bonny/Bodo road project is almost commencing. Now, have you looked at the implications of these projects taking off in this community? Have you looked at topping up what you are doing now, expanding the scope of skills, certifications, and disciplines given that these projects would need more than what you are currently training people for? Aside that, are you also looking at the security and social challenges that would come with these projects? What are you planning to do to help your constituency and your constituents to be able absorb the shocks that would come with the opening up of this community to the outside world?  

ABP: First and foremost, one of the indices to mitigate the traffic that Bonny would witness as from 2019 especially that of the train 7 plus project is the fire station because apart from the train 7 plus project, the road expansion that is linking Bonny to Port Harcourt will bring in more traffic to the kingdom. So, the fire station becomes one of the important projects that will address the issues of incidents, emergencies, fire, accidents, etc because if we have heavy collision of two trucks – this one leaving Bonny to Port Harcourt and this one coming Port Harcourt to Bonny – once there is any collision, NLNG may not have the capacity to move their fire trucks to the scene of the incident. Even Shell may not also leave their facility to Bonny/Bodo road to address that emergency issue. But Bonny fire station will leave to address such issues.

So, I think that part of the ways to opening up the local government is by putting up such edifice to address traffic and emergency needs of our people. Now, in terms of social security, it is not only in the hands of the government. But as the member representing Bonny constituency, we are interfacing Nigeria LNG and other IOCs to see how we can address the issues of security and other social challenges that will be imminent as a result of the expansion project in our kingdom. I think that aspect is a collective responsibility of our people. Both those in government and the private sector. We are going to have a common synergy to address such challenges.

KR: Let’s look at politics a bit. Your primary is just by the corner. There are already insinuations that your party is not comfortable in projecting you again as its flag bearer. Could this be true? And should your party go ahead to project you as its flag bearer, what is it you want Bonny people to expect that if you go again?         

ABP: Thank you very much. The first insinuation is not correct. As I speak, I have picked up my nomination form, submitted it and I have been screened and confirmed and cleared. So, as long as Bonny constituency is concerned as per our party, I am the only flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party. By Sunday, we are going to have our primaries and I will be returned unopposed because of the legacy, because of the love, and because of the capacity that I have been able to demonstrate by service delivery for our people. And the party is satisfied to advance me to be re-elected in 2019.

Now, what are the expectations? It is my hope and belief that I would re-elected in 2019 general election. And if I win, I intend to consolidate on the gains of some of the things we have done within the period we have served. But most importantly, we will look at supporting the kingdom to see that the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny is operating at its optimal capacity and guarantee a sustainable framework that would make foreign students to come to Bonny to study. One of the things I want to do is to persuade the Rivers State Government to invest in the Oil and Gas Polytechnic in Bonny. Recall that when Dr. Peter Odili was Governor of Rivers State, he invested so much in the University of Port Harcourt. Even when Amaechi was governor of Rivers State, he invested in the University of Port Harcourt and now that Nyesom Wike is Governor of Rivers State he has invested so much in the University of Port Harcourt and the Rivers State University. So, in 2019, I will make education a priority where Rivers State government would come and invest in the Federal Polytechnic of Oil ad Gas, Bonny. So, education is key in 2019.

KR: Two key political issues that are trending: one is that Bonny is heavily congested and development experts think that if the Bonny ring road is done it will disperse the population by opening up the hinterland, which you know has a geography to play, which so far, remain uncharted, remain unexplored, and undeveloped. What is our position on that? It is an NDDC project. Are you considering a collaboration between your office and the NDDC to prioritize that road? 
Secondly, there are concerns that between 2015 and now, sofar, there has been only one constituency project, the Bonny fire station. People need to understand what is the snag because they expect that every year should a constituency project.   

ABP: On the issue of the road project within the hinterland, it is a key project that would serve the best interest of our kingdom.  just recently, Nigeria LNG paid the sum of over N30 billion to NDDC as part of their counterpart funding for the development of the Niger Delta region. If NLNG can pay such huge amount to NDDC it is important that some of that money comes back to develop the community. One thing I will do is to seek audience with the managing director of NDDC to see how NDDC can come back here and complete the project. If they can get over the N30 billion from NLNG that is operating in Bonny as part of their own funding to develop the Niger Delta region, part of that N30 billion should come into Bonny to complete the Bonny ring road.

Now, in terms of constituency projects, there is no constitutional provision to receive constituency projects. It is just a prerogative of the Governor. Now in 2017, yes, we had one; in 2018, we are yet to have another constituency project. But, recently, His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike has given approval for 2018 constituency project. But approval is different from release. Once we get release, I will nominate the contractor that will handle the project then I will also convocate a townhall meeting. Every year when a constituency project is released, I always convene a townhall meeting where I tell our people that this is the project for 2018, this is the contractor for 2018, this is the amount of money, this is the duration of the project and all that. It is a transparent process. When the 2017 (project) was awarded, I convocated Bonny people at Ibanise hall and told them the project, told them the contractor, told them the amount; it was a transparent system. So, once, the release is made to the contractor – I am not the contractor – but I have the opportunity to say look this contractor is familiar with our terrain. This contractor is familiar because our terrain is XYZ because you cannot bring in an Hausa man to come and do projects within the Niger Delta region. You must use indigenous contractors to appreciate local content policy. 

So far, once the release is made we will have to call our people to Ibanise hall again to tell them that 2018 (constituency project) has been approved, 2018 (funds) have been released. For me, I think that the 2018 project should be the construction of the Agaja modern market. Once we do that project, that project will be completed in less than 90 days.