Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Ivbiaro Community in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State has commended the member representing the local government at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eric Okaka for renovating a block of five classrooms at Ivbiaro Secondary School.
The community in a letter of appreciation to the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) lawmaker noted that his effort in rehabilitating the dilapidated secondary school was laudable.
The letter written by the Ivbiaro Progressive Forum World-Wide signed by its president Comrade Shaka Oyaregba and dated October 14, 2024 was delivered to the lawmaker by a delegation led by Alhaji Braimah Hameed.
In the letter, the Ivbiaro Progressive Forum world-wide described the legislator as a listening and worthy representative of Owan East people.
The forum opined that the renovated school building would provide a serene environment for quality education for the children of the community.
According to him, “Ivbiaro Progressive Forum World-wide wishes to express our profound gratitude to you over the renovation of our community Secondary School.
“The speed at which the project was undertaken and delivered is a testament of your ability to identify with the yearnings of the people you represent.
“Your action has significantly and positively demonstrated that you are a listening and worthy representative of our people. The school building will provide a serene environment for quality education for our children.
“We are indeed grateful for your contribution towards the development and well-being of our community. Be assured that you will always be remembered for this noble act and posterity will be kind to you. We are forever grateful”,the Forum stated.
Responding, Hon Eric Okaka, who was full of joy for the appreciation from the people of Ivbiaro noted that their action would spur him to do more for the benefit Owan East State constituency.
Okaka, the Minority Leader in the House of Assembly said the school’s renovation was his first constituency project since he was elected into the house more than one year ago.
He said, when his attention was drawn to a viral video of the dilapidated school building, he had no option than to commit to it’s reconstruction.
He noted that Ivbiaro people’s votes in ward 10 were part of the votes that gave him victory at the 2023 state legislative election to represent the local government at the House of Assembly and would forget that singular gesture.
“I want to thank you all for your appreciation. By the grace of God what brought me here to the Edo State House of Assembly, is that I have Ivbiaro votes as part of the votes. And, for me, I feel that I was voted to attract development to our constituency.
“Though I am from Otuo, and so many people thought that if I was going to do anything I should naturally start from Otuo but that was not the case.
“When the video of the Ivbiaro Secondary School came out, one of my leaders, which I am very close to and took me as his son, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi, the former Minister of Works, State, called me that he will be forwarding a video to me.
“I was on my way from Abuja. He said, the video has to do with a project in my constituency. When I watched the video, I called him back that it eas actually in my constituency.
“He, then asked, what do I think we can do to come to the aid of the community, and he was ready to contribute. He was so touched by the state of the school. He is a Benin man.
“I told him that he should not worry and that something would be done. I also assured him that I was going to put the school as my first constituency project.
“Also, Dr Alasa from Warrake is another person I respect so much. He also forwarded the video to me and asked how true is it. I responded that it was very true, and he asked me what I thought should be done. I assured him that he should not worry that something would be done.
“When the jobs started I sent the pictures of the work to him and when it was also completed I also sent the pictures to him, and he was so happy.
“For us, I think we cannot fold our hands and pretend that we are not aware of what is happening”,he said.
The lawmaker also promised to provide chairs in the school for the benefit of the students.