By Victor Lewis
The enigma called Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, a scion of the great Ibori dynasty, is presently redefining political representation in the dualistic Ethiope Federal Constituency and no one is in doubt. She isn’t a product of a one-off power-seeking deceit that is a common feature of most politicians in the present political milieu.
At this critical moment in the history of this country, the commonest perception amongst the people is to ascribe any act of goodwill or charity to political motivation or allurement, especially where such disposition is coming from a known politician or someone with political ambition. But for Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, her act of charity and compassion are not only natural, but inherited and DNA-based.
The Amazon of Ethiope Federal Constituency is, indeed, equipped with a rich pre-politics heritage of charity, compassion and humanity – all ingrained in her DNA. And there are abundant proofs for this.
Long before she was elected to the National Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives in 2023 to represent Ethiope Federal Constituency, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu had already distinguished herself as a woman driven by compassion, humanity, and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of her people. Which was why her entry into politics was not particularly motivated by ambition, but more, by continuation of years of grassroots engagement and philanthropic service that had already made a visible impact across communities in Delta State.
And this is what is making the whole world of difference between the Amazon and her predecessors, and even others indicating interest in the Ethiope Federal Constituency seat. Yes, a quick fact-check can verify this.
Those who have been acquainted to her
could testify of her age-long passion for humanity and the life of service. Evidences abound of her grassroots interest and her innate desire to mingle with the ordinary people, the talakawas, with a view to providing solutions to poverty, unemployment, deprivation and access to healthcare.
In 2011 for instance, long before she considered using politics as an additional SPV to reach out her people, she founded the Starlite Hopes Initiative (S.H.I.), a charitable organization established to support the less privileged, the elderly, and persons living with disabilities in Ethiope West and surrounding communities in Delta State. What started with about sixty volunteers eventually grew into a formidable humanitarian network of over three hundred members who devoted their time and skills to community development and social support.
One of the most remarkable interventions of the initiative was the establishment of mobile free clinics in Ugbenu, Jesse, and Ogharefe. These clinics, which began operations in 2012, brought much-needed healthcare closer to rural populations who previously had limited access to medical services.
Equipped with laboratory facilities and diagnostic tools, the clinics have attended to over 15,000 patients and facilitated safe deliveries for more than 200 newborn babies—an achievement that speaks volumes about her concern for human life and dignity. Yours sincerely, as a journalist, accompanied the medical team to commission the facility located in Ugbenu, directly opposite the popular Koko junction in Ethiope West LGA.
Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu’s innate compassion has also found expression in the sphere of economic empowerment. Through various skill acquisition programmes, she provided had continued to provide vocational training opportunities for young people and victims of flood disasters, enabling them to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence.
Education has equally remained landmark focus in her philanthropic philosophy. Over the years, she has supported the educational aspirations of numerous underprivileged students through scholarships and initiatives such as free JAMB registration programmes, helping many young people take their first steps toward higher education.
The list of her pre-politics philanthropy and compassion is quite endless and it is this unique drive to reach to more people with diversified needs to better their lives, that prompted her consideration to use politics as a special purpose vehicle to expand her capacity as an individual. And as the first opportunity is gradually winding down, no one, I mean, no one in both Ethiope West or East, nor even her predecessors is left in doubt as to her uncommon and qualitative representation she has exhibited over this past three years in the Green Chamber.
In fact, yours sincerely can testify without mentioning names, some of her colleagues in the House of Reps who openly confessed to her unmatched ability to empower her people whilst still excelling in other aspects of her legislative duties.
When, in her first political attempt, she was elected to the State House of Assembly in 2015, it did not take the Amazon a long time to delve into initiatives that will promote her vision of reaching out to her constituents in the area of health care, youth and women empowerment, and public service.
If her performance in the State House of Assembly is commendable, then indeed, she has become a champion since she was elected to the House of Representatives in 2023. Her story as being told, experienced and verified by her constituents, and even her colleagues in the Green Chamber, is most likely the main reason for the increasing clamour from both sides of the Ethiope River, to return to the National Assembly to continue her good work.
There is always a time in one’s life when truth saying becomes associated with maturity and sign of integrity; when one’s decision is not controlled by emotions or sentiment; when individual interest is subjugated in general public interest; when the question of “who has the capacity to deliver” takes the front seat rather than whose turn is it. In Ethiope Federal Constituency, that time is now. And the majority of “Ethiopians” clamouring for the continuation of Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu for a second term cannot be wrong.
As a ranking member of the House of Representatives as from 2027, the chances of making it to a principal position is way quite brighter than for one who might just be occupying a turn. This is an opportunity the good people of Ethiope Federal Constituency are not ready to trade off for any reason.
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