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| Hon. Barr. Samuel Oghenevwogaga Mariere |
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Hon. Barr. Samuel Oghenevwogaga Mariere and wife
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| Mrs Joy Mariere giving Exercise Books to Primary School Pupils in May |
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Hon. Barr. Samuel Oghenevwogaga Mariere, Member representing Ughelli North Constituency 1, Delta State House Of Assembly fondly called the Omovudu 1 of Africa is an accomplished administrator, Managing Solicitor at S.O. Mariere & Associates. He had Management experience, courtroom experience as well as legislative experience. How many present day politicians had a career anywhere else, climbed to the professional height equalled to Samuel's being an astute advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria before delving into politics to bring in such wealth of experience? How many learnt the virtues of relentless, dauntless hardwork?
He knows the difference between a boss' and a leader', so he chose to be a leader.
One of the weapons of this young lawyer is humility; even the best of his critic cannot accuse him of being arrogant. He is also a consistent bar man in spite of his political achievements devoid of looting and diversion of tax payers' hard earned money.
Hon. Samuel Mariere was a founding member and one of the most committed party loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ughelli North Local Government Area and so party members grossly endorsed his candidature in 2010 when he decided to contest for the Ughelli North Constituency I seat in the Delta State House of Assembly.
Hon. Samuel Mariere went into politics, not for the money, but for the prospects, and was prepared to improve the lot of the people but the party leaders were thinking of themselves. He was openly cheated in the party primaries and another candidate chosen instead of Mariere. The entire constituency, minus the bad eggs, encouraged him and vowed to vote for him during the election even if he chose to register in an unknown party. They recognised his selflessness, diligence, integrity, charisma, astuteness, amiability, public spiritedness, leadership skills, intelligence, grit and a very moderate level of generosity.
Being an eternal optimist, he opted for the United Democratic Party (UDP), a political party that nobody knew existed. One of his heartfelt prayer was/is: "Oh God, do not allow me to betray the trust you and my people reposed in me. Teach me to number my days, humble my self and gain yours and my people's confidence".
This prayer point brought about a political miracle of the 21st Century and he did not just win the election, but was the only elected political office holder of that party all over Nigeria. And when he was elected, the people's hopes were high that the long years of misrepresentation of constituent by legislators who only went to represent self & fill their pockets was over.
He has the interests of his people at heart and didn't even need to be a political office holder before it shone through. Hon. Samuel Mariere's innate goodness shone through the rough hues and he even started delivering on his promises before the election by providing electricity to a part of Orogun and Ogor.
Hon. Samuel Mariere did not go into politics for numero uno self but for ethnic development. He knows what priority is. Less than three years as a legislator saw him performing beyond even the expectations of his constituents. He refuses to play to the gallery in the hallowed legislative chambers and so a great deal is achieved for his constituents from Agbarha-Otor to Evwreni to Ogor and Orogun.
Enshrined in his campaign manifesto are electricity, education, water, health, roads, human capital development and socio-economic empowerment and other projects which will make life better for his teeming constituents. Below is how he has implemented promptly, and still is implementing his manifesto as can be seen below in the above order:
ELECTRICITY:
* He made sure his constituents at Agbarha-Otor enjoy the benefit of electricity by spending his own personal money to the tune of One Million Naira to take electricity transformers to Samagidi, Omakowhre, Imirode and Edoide.
* In Evwreni he took a transformer to Oghenurie road and provided solar street lights to illuminate the town at night.
* In the Ogor axis, Edjekota got a transformer,aside the one he gave before the election. Another is now being installed at Otor-Ogor. Just like Evwreni, Ogor also now enjoys the illumination at night by solar street lights!
* In Orogun, he ensured that two transformers got to Ugono-Orogun. Yet, he also provided fund to restore electricity to Orogun from Agbarha.
EDUCATION:
He is a well-meaning Deltan who tries so hard to put together worthwhile ventures that would guarantee the future of the Urhobo child while others squander millions on vanities.
Mariere is also keenly aware of Delta Beyond Oil (DBO) and strives to actualize his mission of quality legislative advocacy for the general good of his people. Thus he implemented another of his campaign manifesto - education:
* He ensured that Agbaide Primary School at Agbarha-Otor becomes a government recognized school. There is an ongoing block of four classroom project aimed at making the school a modern abode of learning.
* He also facilitated the construction of a block of five classrooms at Agbarha-Otor Primary School.
* He saw to the renovation of six classrooms at Oghara Secondary School and the reconstruction of another four classrooms in the same school.
* In Evwreni, six classrooms were built in Eni Grammar School while another four are being built at his own expense.
* Unenurhie Secondary School got four classrooms while Mukoro Mowoe Primary School got five.
* In Ogor, he ensured that government recognizes Oviri-Ogor Secondary School even as he pays the teachers' salaries every month.
* Four classrooms have been built at Ohwowha Primary School.
* Orogun also benefitted from the education revolution as five classrooms were renovated at Igbuku-Orogun Primary School and another five got reconstructed at Arhagba-Orogun.
* Over 500 chairs and desks were distributed to 12 schools to engender a decent learning environment. While chairs and desk worth 50 million Naira have also been included in this year project to cover all primary and Secondary school in his Constituency, as well as blocks of 4 class rooms at Edjekota Ogor, Oviri-ogor, Owevwen Secondary School, and Orogun Grammar School.
* In addition to these, he pays the school fees of over fifty students in tertiary institutions through a quasi-scholarship arrangement. He also recently awarded scholarship to 8 pupils who did well in the first ever spelling bee competition.
It is noteworthy to add that he enjoys a strong spousal support and influence from his wife, Mrs. Joy Mariere (nee Asore), and I dare say "like husband, like wife'!
In May 2014, Mrs Joy Mariere visited Government Primary Sshools in the Consistuency for distribution of school uniforms and 15000 (fifteen thousand) exercise books to both privileged and non-privileged pupils in 34 primary schools among which are:
Okparode Primary School, Omavovwe Agbarha-Otor,
Obodite in Orogun Kingdom,
Evwreni Primary School,
Otogor Primary School,
Ejekota Ogor,
Agbiade Ghana Primary School. She is indeed a first lady with style , passion and good heart. She knows what is good for the pupils of her Constituency.
She has been all over the Constituency reaching out to the elderly and the needy in order to alleviate their plight. This is probably a novel phenomenon in the history of legislative representation in these parts.
WATER:
Mariere knows the essence of pipe-borne water to sustainable health. He therefore ensured that the constituents at Omavovwe-Agbarha enjoy the benefit of pipe-borne water by providing them two water projects.
*There are two other water projects going on at Edoide and Ehwahwa which were completed by the end of December (2013).
*Five boreholes were sunk in the five quarters of Evwreni to supply water.
* In Ogor, two boreholes were provided at Edjekota, one also at Oviri-Ogor and two at Ovwodokpokpor/Ighwreovie.
* In Orogun, the main town got two boreholes. Arhagba also got two, while Obodeti got one.
HEALTH:
Knowing the essence of building lasting communal monuments that will glorify the altruism of the human spirit,
* He ensured that there is budgetary allocation/adequate funding for the existing General Hospital project at Agbarha-Otor to consolidate the people's health .
* Ogor got a completed and fully equipped maternity centre.
* Ugono-Orogun now boasts of a modern health centre.
ROADS:
* He is seeing to the ongoing execution and completion of the much talked about Otokutu--Owenvwe--Agbarha Ring Road and the Oghara--Samagidi--Omakowhre--Ehwahwa Road.
The Evwreni--Iyede road is ongoing. He has also been struggling to ensure there is funding to complete the ongoing Igbuku--Obodeti--Eboh--Arhagba road in Orogun.
These road networks when completed will change the agro-economic fortune of the constituency for good.
HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT:
Hon. Samuel's guiding principle is: "Remember you live in a community. You have a responsibility to be accountable to your family and your community as well as yourself".
Mariere is conscious of human capital development and hence, has ensured that many of his constituents are gainfully employed in both the State and Federal Services as well as in corporate and multi-national organizations. He facilitated the employment of many into the Armed Forces, Police and other organizations at different levels.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT:
One thing that stands Mariere out as an icon is finding the answer to the simple, yet complicated question, 'who are we as a constituent?' before proceeding to build a name for himself as a politician of note. He searched for an identity then help others find themselves.
In order to ensure that socio-economic empowerment is all pervasive, he placed twenty-seven individuals on monthly salary at Agbarha-Otor, twenty-five in Evwreni, thirty-one in Ogor and thirty-five in Orogun.
A strong believer in the economic empowerment of women, Sammy Mariere has empowered over 100 women in Agbarha-Otor through a programme similar to Small and Medium Scale Business Enterprise (SME) to the tune of between N20,000 and N100,000.
Eighty women benefitted from the programme in Evwreni, over 100 in Ogor and thirty in Orogun. The number in orogun will increase after the completion of its program.
He knows there is joy in giving happiness of a lasting kind , especially to the needy. He is always thinking of putting sunshine into the lives of people and no matter how small you are, you are welcomed to his home.
Mariere also gave car gifts to political associates, with 40 cars presently bought to be given out on a yet to be announced date.
In continuation of his massive socio-economic empowerment programme, Sammy has set the ball rolling by giving out the following as starter packs to generate income and alleviate poverty among the people; twenty motor-cycles, ten motor-saws, twenty grinding machines, twenty sewing machines, ten hair- dressing equipment, ten clippers, ten electricity generators and two tri-cycles per clan. This full empowerment scheme has been implemented in Evwreni and Ogor, Agbarha will soon follow and finally Orogun.
Conscious of the merriment for which the Christmas season is known, Sammy Mariere usually take the pains to give out money, rice, goats, cows and chickens to all and sundry to make the Christmas and New Year celebrations worthwhile. It is also the season when he ensures that his constituents embark on spiritual pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Mariere is very much aware of the extra-legislative responsibilities which his office imposes on him. He is an avid supporter of many good causes and has provided substantial financial assistance to religious bodies, social and cultural organizations, professional and students' associations among others.
Mariere has restored his constituent's pride of place among the comity of ethnic nationalities in Delta state. For at the end of his tenure, it's his 'works' and philanthropic gestures that will speak for him - the people who got scholarships to go to school because of him, who got jobs because of him, who got a school to go to because of him. He is not living for himself and his family alone, else I certainly would not have been wasting my time talking about a great legislator who is touching lives.
Mariere, politics is not a means to an end. His works campaigns for him. Yes, 'works' are the things that should determine whether a person should come back or not. Does the present day politician 'politic' effectively in our interest? Hon. Samuel does!
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