31 Aug Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba OFR, CON, SAN – Another Mandate Justified
The performance index of the Senate Leader, Chief Victor Ndoma-Egba OFR, CON, SAN, speaks volumes. Hence the clamour for his re-election in 2015 has not come as a surprise to many in his home state, Cross River and beyond.
At the Senate, Ndoma-Egba’s service has been exemplary. His desire to make the state and indeed the Cross River Central Senatorial District have a voice at the national level is well known. Described fondly as the “golden voice” of the Senate, Ndoma-Egba has guided the Senate processes and procedures with his impeccable oratory, constantly reminding the country of the great potentials of Cross River state whose proud ambassador he is.
As a monitored report published on a frontline national newspaper, Thisday (March 16,2014) puts it: Ndoma-Egba is an energetic man with a zest for serving others, and fond memories of his youthful years as one of the guiding lights of his life. The transition from that age to adulthood has shaped his philosophy of life as he has seen it all and has nothing again to prove. In law practice, public service appointments – as commissioner, chairman and member of boards and parastatals, ad hoc appointments – he acquitted himself creditably.
“There are those times in your life, if you’re lucky, when you’re just in the right place doing the right thing at the right time, and that is the National Assembly, for me, making laws that will assist the executive arm fast track development, ensure there’s justice and equity and check social ills of the society,” Ndoma-Egba says. “Given my law background and years of practice and appointments held, I have nothing again to prove. All I do now is to offer my time and energy in the service of society.”
A prodigy of his late Court of Appeal judge father, Ndoma-Egba has maintained the dynasty of the law profession. Under his tutelage, his siblings and many lawyers at his law chamber in Calabar, have cut their teeth on the profession.
Despite the mudslinging and treachery that has come to characterise politics in this clime, Ndoma-Egba has maintained his God- given character traits. He is likable, easygoing, approachable and natural. The senator has remained his natural self-calm, non-critical, ready to listen, and to learn. It is a product of his upbringing, which is steeped in discipline and morals. That is why despite his nobility, his behaviour is devoid of haughty aristocratic airs.
Another Term?
Unlike the executive arm, which has a fixed term-limit, the legislator’s term is not limited. Ndoma-Egba found himself at the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly in 2003. He has steadily grown through the ranks since then. In 2007, upon re-election he became the deputy senate leader. In 2011, he was elected Senate Leader.
Already, some frontline political groups across the state have been calling on Ndoma-Egba to seek another term at the Senate in view of his outstanding representation thus far. One of such groups is the Cross River State Legion for Democratic Advancement. After a careful assessment of the states representatives at the National Assembly, the group has concluded that Ndoma-Egba is the best among them. Denying him another term means denying Cross River a voice, CRSLDA said.
According to a statement from CRSLDA, signed by its president, Comrade Leko A Inah, secretary Rosemary Egbe, and public relations officer, Dominic B Abung, “Even though in Nigeria’s peculiar democratic system many equate effective representation with the largesse a representative can distribute to his constituents, we must begin to grow our democracy to a level where we can assess our elected representatives according to their performance in the positions they were voted for.
“In a true democracy, the sharing of motor bikes and cars as well as cash to a few party loyalists by a legislator should not be the measure of effective representation, but motions moved and bills sponsored by the legislator for the good governance of the entire country.
“We in CRSLDA have observed keenly with pride and admiration, the contributions of Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba in the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which transcends his senatorial district and the state. We strongly believe that his continued service at the Nigerian senate will continue to consolidate the gains the Fourth Republic legislature has made and ultimately institutionalise the democratic culture in Nigeria.
“It is on record that Senator Ndoma-Egba has singlehandedly sponsored more bills (37) with far reaching impact on the Nigerian nation. He represents a tribute to a senator s career at the senate to have his name associated with important bills.”
CRSLDA advised the people of Cross River State, especially those at the Central Senatorial District, that as Nigeria gears up for another general election, they should “begin to count their gains of having a senator with the intellectual capacity of Ndoma-Egba. His return to the senate in 2015 will eloquently illustrate the value of legislative continuity, effective representation and above all continue to project not only his district but also Cross River as a whole within the Nigerian political space.”
Continuity Pays
Ndoma-Egba 2015 re-election has been kicked against in some quarters. Opponents want a change, a weak argument political pundits posit. In legislative operations and traditions, continuity pays, especially at the National Assembly, where ranking is a determinant of who gets what. If Ndoma-Egba is denied another term, Cross River State’s influence in the National Assembly will be seriously dented. An immediate and direct implication for Cross River state will be forfeiting the exalted position of Senate Leader to another state.
In terms of privileges, a Senate upstart will not find it easy. In the perking order, he will be the last to be considered for anything. He cannot have his way in Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) in terms of appointments and lobbying for projects.
It has been 34 years since Cross River got the big leap on the national political scene with the election of Sen. (Dr) Joseph Wayas as 2nd Republic Senate President in 1979. From 1983 till date, it has taken Cross River 30 years to get any closer to playing a major political role in the national political scene with the election of Ndoma-Egba as Nigeria’s. Senate Leader and third in the hierarchy of the Upper Legislative chambers in 2011.
If Cross River Central returns Ndoma-Egba in 2015, he will remain the highest ranking Senator in the South South and best positioned to occupy any major political office zoned to South South in 2015 by the ruling PDP. Ndoma-Egba in the January-March 2014 edition of his constituency magazine, The Report, captures the overwhelming and continued support he has enjoyed from his constituents, a development that has resulted to his sterling service over the years.
He said: “In terms of my core mandate, I have now over twenty seven bills standing to my credit. The Freedom of Information Bill which I sponsored in the Sixth Senate is now an Act of the National Assembly having been signed into law by Mr President and Commander in Chief. I have been able to carry out every demand of my office from my floor duties to my legislative functions and to my inter parliamentary obligations.
“I owe these achievements to you for your unprecedented and unqualified support. I have been able to concentrate on my primary responsibilities because I have not been distracted by unnecessary politics, political squabbles or machinations. I have therefore managed to remain focused on the mandate you freely gave me.
“Again, again and again, you have mandated me by your votes, to represent you inspite of my inability to meet your every expectation. You have not judged me by my failings but by my human effort.
Constituency Outreach
Through his influence, the World Bank reconstructed the Enugu-Abakiliki-Ogoja-Ikom Highway. The African Development Bank is to construct the Ikom-Mfum- Cameroon Road. He got the federal government to agree to construct the second (shorter) road from Ikom- Ajasor-Oban to Calabar.
Under public utilities, a big water project is being built at Edor along Ikom-Ogoja road. Another water project has been completed in his home community of Akparabong. The water project is reticulated hence it has 52 points in Akparabong alone. Adjidjinkpor, a nearby community, is also a beneficiary. He is lobbying the Federal Ministry of Education to have a Federal Polytechnic sited in the district. He attracted a building under construction now for the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar.
The information age is here. The senator is well aware of it. Thus, his decision to float a free computer literacy programme in Calabar [outside his constituency] has brought a revolution in the knowledge economy.
The spirit of this age is reflected in the hundreds of entrepreneurial successes in business centres established in Calabar and beyond for ICT activities. Thousands have benefited from this programme.
Ndoma-Egba has over 600 university students on his scholarship currently. This excludes the number that has graduated under the scheme. His university scholarship programme runs from undergraduate to post graduate including doctorate degree. Through this gesture, many indigent students have been able to complete their studies. He has helped so many of his constituents to get jobs in the Federal Civil Service, including enlistment into the police, army, navy, air force, customs, Nigerian Prison Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
A Man Of Many Parts
Victor Ndoma-Egba OFR, CON, SAN has been a member of the Senate for Cross River State since 2003. Ndoma-Egba was born in March 8,1956 in Ikom, Cross River State. He has an LL.B degree from the University of Lagos and an LLM degree from the University of Calabar. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978 and was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2004. He has been Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Calabar Branch, and President of the Calabar Chamber of Commerce. He has also been Director of the Cross River Basin and Rural Development Authority, and Commissioner for Works and Transport.
Running as a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Victor Ndoma-Egba was elected as senator in the 5th (2003-2007) National Assembly representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, and was reelected in 2007 and 2011. His legislative interests are economic matters and foreign affairs and proper representation.
Senator Ndoma-Egba is a member of Senate Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream); Human Rights and Legal Matters; Foreign Affairs; Information and Media, and is deputy chairman of the Judiciary; Rules & Business Committee.
In May 2008, Ndoma-Egba spoke in favor of reform of the Nigeria Police Act, which came into effect on April 1, 1943 and has essentially been unchanged since that time. In January 2013, Ndoma-Egba said that the solution to Cross River community clashes was the National Boundary Commission becoming involved in the demarcation of boundary lines.
Ndoma-Egba is married with three children.
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