In this interview with JOHN OBA, Hon. Ndudi Elemelu, Chairman Committee on Health, representing Aniocha North/Aniocha South/Oshimili North/Oshimili South of Delta State in the House of Representatives speaks on his committee’s readiness to revamp the health sector and other issues.
YOU BUILT A MAGNIFICENT CHURCH IN YOUR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, WHAT INFORMED YOUR DECISION?
Given how God has been very kind to me, my family, sustaining me and keeping me throughout all my crises, I felt that it was necessary for me to say thank you to Him. And the way I felt I can do that was to actually bring out what I have earned by way of allowances in my first session to give back to God who actually made it possible for me to be in the National Assembly.
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WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS?
Well, I think they are excited because it has made those who were not interested abinitio in going to church because of the nature of the then church building, in that community, have now found themselves attending and being brought to church en masse. For instance, the church is air conditioned, well-equipped with all the modern technological gadgets and all manners of things that you can find in modern churches were installed. The atmosphere in the compound and everything is something for one to be proud of. It has now converted so many people that ordinarily were pagans who could not have thought of going to church. They were people who did not believe in going to church but since the building was erected, they said God really exists. That is what that edifice has really brought to our people.
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WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE BUILDING?
Really, I have not sat down to compute the cost, because it was built according to milestones. But it runs into hundreds of millions of naira because even the equipment, the chairs, the flooring, the roofing, the Air- conditioners and also there is a residential building at the back for the Reverend Father which has about close to eight rooms, and is in an upstairs building. There is also an office at the back and it has about six rooms/ offices and one conference room. Children’s Bible school and Reverend Sister’s offices are also by the side of the Church together with a Bishop’s office attached. It is a huge building for a church.
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WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR PEOPLE AS TO WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO FOR THEM IN YOUR SECOND TERM?
They have always believed in me, the reason why they voted for me again was as a result of what I did for them in the past four years. I don’t need to begin to market myself to them because they know I have worked for them and I have always stood for what will move my federal constituency forward. What I can tell them is to have patience that anything they desire and wish to come from the federal government to my constituency will definitely come to them, both in the areas of health, power, education etc.
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CONCERNING THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON HOW TO CURB THE MENACE OF INSECURITY?
First of all, I wish to commend the president. I am not trying to be sycophantic, just being real because the president is really doing a lot to tackle the security challenges facing the country. All I want to advise is that in the forthcoming 2012 Federal budget, enough funding should be made to the security agencies so that they will be able to carry out their surveillance/intelligence assignments as effectively and efficiently as possible. It will also interest you to know that I am also a member of the House Committee on Internal Security and Public Safety. We are doing everything within our ambit to ensure that the lives and properties of citizens is being protected through a synergy with all the security agencies.
Conclusively, I want to state emphatically that security of any country is a collective responsibility.
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AS CHAIRMAN HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOW DO YOU INTEND TO REVAMP THE HEALTH SECTOR?
After many years of neglect, Nigeria’s health system has decayed abysmally. However, I want to assure Nigerians that my committee will do its best to ensure total overhauling of the health sector, so that they can enjoy quality service delivery.
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