Brass—Dr. Puko Erenfamokuma, Coordinator of a sociopolitical group called the Campaign for Social Development Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency, has threatened to lead a protest against the marathon race being organized by the member representing Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli.
Puko, who is a lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Niger Delta University, made this known via a Facebook post on Thursday.
He stressed that the lawmaker is proposing to spend “N1,700,000” for the marathon race, while more than 100 undergraduate and postgraduate students are battling to pay their school fees.
When contacted by our reporter, the lecturer revealed that he is not protesting against the lawmaker; rather he is against the huge amount of money proposed to be spent on the marathon race.
In his words: “We are not protesting against the lawmaker, what we are against is the huge amount of fund to be spent on the proposed Unity Marathon race in Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency at a period when many youths from the area are passing through hard times to foot their fees in their various institutions.”
When asked why he thinks a lawmaker has to pay the bills of constituents instead of making laws, he responded that: “Yes, that’s the core duty of a Lawmaker, to make laws but that doesn’t mean from the salary he is receiving such a Lawmaker can’t opt to see these constituents having challenges to foot their school fees and he will not assist.”
He reiterated that some of the students finding it difficult to pay their fees have “managed to train themselves and they have graduated, but are owing little fees to pay before obtaining their certificate.”
He maintained that all efforts including placing phone calls and sending text messages to get the lawmaker to assist in paying the fees have been abortive.
While stating that millions are usually earmarked for events that will not add value to the lives of people, he called on the lawmaker to remember that “some of these youths contributed to his victory.”
Mangrovepen.ng has earlier reported that Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli will on the 14th of August, 2021, organize a marathon race for constituents tagged
“The Israel Sunny-Goli Unity Marathon Race.”
A statement by Mr. Noel Dimi Inafa, Chairman Publicity/Media Sub-committee, hinted that the marathon race is open to indigenes and non-indigenes residing in Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas.
According to Inafa, the winner of the male category of the competition will go home with a star prize of N500,000, while the second and third positions will be awarded N350,000 and N150,000 respectively.
While the winner of the female category will be awarded a star prize of N300,000. The second and third place holders will go home with N200,000 and N100,000 respectively.
