Eseigbe Takes Grassroots Need Assessment, Interactive Engagement to Ebelle Ward 6
The grassroots consultation and need assessment tour of the Eseigbe Solidarity Movement has continued in Ebelle Ward 6, Igueben Local Government Area, with the APC candidate for Esan Central, Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituency, Sir Lucky Eseigbe, Esq., engaging the traditional institution, community leaders and residents in an interactive session.
Eseigbe, who led his team on a courtesy visit to the palace of the Onojie of Ebelle, HRH King David Usifoh, said the visit was to formally intimate the traditional institution of his mission and pay homage before commencing his engagement with the people.
He explained that he was in Ebelle to interact directly with the people, listen to their concerns and identify their pressing needs, stressing that genuine representation must begin with understanding what the people actually require.
Eseigbe noted that he could not enter Ebelle without first paying homage to the traditional institution, describing the consultation as an important step towards placing the people’s needs at the centre of his legislative agenda.
Receiving Eseigbe and his team, the Onojie of Ebelle warmly welcomed the delegation and commended the initiative, describing the need assessment as a great and welcome development.
The monarch also commended Eseigbe for his eloquence after listening to his presentation, noting that he had started well with his approach to directly engaging the people.
The Onojie further praised Eseigbe for recognising the important role of the traditional institution in community development, noting that traditional rulers remain key stakeholders in understanding the aspirations of their people and advancing development at the grassroots.
He also commended Eseigbe for making it a priority to consult with the traditional institution before engaging the people, describing the gesture as a demonstration of respect for the traditional institution and its role in community affairs.
The Onojie further commended the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for what he described as the good works being carried out across Edo State and Esanland in particular.
He said the people were praying for the Governor to succeed and offered heartfelt prayers for the success of Eseigbe and the other candidates, seeking God’s guidance, favour and victory for them.
The monarch also appealed to Eseigbe to help pursue the bill for the establishment of a Federal College of Education, which he said was already before the National Assembly. He urged the candidate to support the legislative process and help write his name and that of the people of Ebelle in the history of the community through the actualisation of the institution.
The Onojie assured Eseigbe and his team of the full support of Ebelle, while reiterating that the need assessment was a commendable initiative that had provided the community with an opportunity to clearly articulate its development priorities.
Addressing the enthusiastic gathering at the Ebelle hall, Eseigbe reiterated that his visit to Ward 6 was primarily to listen to the people, understand their pressing needs and use their concerns as a guide in his pursuit of effective representation.
He explained that the purpose of the consultation was not merely to make promises but to first understand the realities on the ground so that the people’s actual needs could inform his legislative priorities.
Speaking on behalf of the ward, Ward 6 leader, Elder Patrick Okonyon, commended Eseigbe for taking the consultation directly to the people, describing the need assessment and interactive engagement as a welcome initiative.
Elder Okonyon appealed to Eseigbe to pursue the proposed establishment of a Federal School of Agriculture, stressing the importance of educational and agricultural development to the community.
He assured Eseigbe that Ebelle was fully behind him, urging him not to be distracted by other political parties, as he maintained that the community had made its position clear in support of Eseigbe and other APC candidates.
Other speakers at the engagement appealed for greater youth empowerment, support for market women, restoration of electricity supply and attention to other pressing community needs.
Also speaking, Hon. Eloma, a Ward 6 leader, assured Eseigbe of the community’s support and expressed confidence in the grassroots engagement.
Some residents who spoke with newsmen during the event also commended Eseigbe for taking the need assessment directly to the people, describing the initiative as the first of its kind in the community.
They praised the APC candidate for coming to them personally to listen to their concerns, noting that the approach had provided residents with an opportunity to openly communicate their development needs and expectations.
The Ebelle engagement forms part of Eseigbe’s ongoing grassroots consultation tour, through which he is engaging communities, traditional institutions, community leaders and residents across the federal constituency to identify their specific needs and priorities ahead of the 2027 general election.