Spotlight On Hon. Peter Ibida -By IfeanyiChukwu Afuba

Governance does not consist only the activities of the executive. It may well be that in the practice of Nigeria’s democracy, the legislature interfaces and impacts on the citizens in a way that the executive does not.

The name Hon Peter Ibida excites interest in the legislative sphere of Anambra State politics.

The two – term member of the Anambra State House of Assembly is easily spotted inside and outside of the legislative chambers by his trademark Mobutu Sese Seko hat. However, the leopard spot design aside, the two walk opposite directions, one in the service of his society; the other in the odious pages of history.

Ibida who represents Njikoka 2 constituency is reckoned with as a stabilising hand in the State’s parliamentary business. He has a reputation for playing the supportive role to get the system work and produce optimal results. In the theatre of conflicts that legislative proceedings in much of the third world sometimes turn out to be, disposition of the Ibidas, become a critical element.

When political intrigues boiled over in the attempted removal of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Rita Maduagwu in November 2018, Ibida stood firm in neutralising the crisis. The plot was widely seen as setting the stage for an assault against the progressive Willie Obiano administration.

As the Vice Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Public Finance, Ibida has played a part in managing the State’s financial profile. Anambra State currently ranks the sixth least indebted among Nigeria’s 36 States.

In 2019, Hon Peter Ibida sponsored the Anambra State Tertiary Institutions Activities Regulation Bill. The proposed legislation which has been passed into law seeks to develop and raise common standards in State – owned higher institutions.

More striking perhaps is that Ibida’s engagement representation resonates with his constituents. Resident in the locality, Ibida is viewed as accessible and listening. From scholarships to free health services to economic empowerment programmes, it’s a long tale of how he has continued to meet the needs of the people.

A cabinet chief of his town, Nimo, Ibida has been acknowledged for a fair spread of the projects he attracted in the three communities of his constituency. Chieftaincy titles and letters of appreciation from town leaderships and other groups attest to the spirit of being treated well.

And now, there are growing calls on the legislator to go to the House of Representatives. Proponents of the Abuja trip say that the shift will benefit the State more. They contend that since Ibida is able to attract projects and the federal government has more money to spend, more amenities and welfare packages will follow the transition. Hon Peter Ibida is observing the clamour with keen interest.