In giving account of his stewardship, Hon. Idagbor Legor appears to have to strike a balance between effective representation and constituency intervention, and in the same vein attracting a flurry if goodwill. Paul Obi writes
For Hon. Idagbor Legor, leadership comes with not just the display of power, but the responsibility to render service to citizens in a more practical way. It is an avenue for sacrifice, a call to go the extra mile and extend a hand of fellowship to mostly the downtrodden.
Since his adventure into politics in 2007 as the Chairman of Bekwara Local Government Area of Cross River State, Legor has operated within and even above the pay grade of leadership positions he had been called to serve. Over time, Legor had carried on without any format of let or hindrance, striving to succeed in a turbulent terrain – of politics.
Though, Legor belong to the club of ruling elites who have usurped political power for themselves, it is not difficult to spot and isolate him out. His focus has been to stay on the job and carry out the function of a legislator without displaying the vagaries that political power can afford.
This thread resonated recently during the annual constituency empowerment programme by Hon. Legor for the Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara Federal Constituency. Speaking at the event, Cross River State deputy governor, Prof. Ivara Esu commended Legor’s efforts in reaching out his constituents. Esu added that, by empowering many of his constituents and providing quality leadership on the floor of the House of Representatives, Legor was fulfilling the core mandate expected of a Nigerian legislator.
According to Legor, “we need to empower our people to utilise the full value chain, that is to enable those people empowered to be able to make a living from their hand work, to ensure that people have access to loans for small scale businesses that will be beneficial to them,” he added.
On the importance of the empowerment to the economic well-being of the constituents, the lawmaker explained that “Our rice and other agricultural produce if properly utilised will boost our economy.” He further stressed that “we need to encourage the farmers in the rural areas in particular to commercialise their farm produce and encourage more access roads which agriculture will hardly thrive without.”
Speaking against the backdrop of his role in promoting youth friendly legislations, Legor stated that, “I am a youth friendly Representative, for those that know me; my doors are never closed but opened 24 hours. So I will continue to interact with our youths, continue to find out what we can do that will better the lots of our youths in Cross River State and Nigeria.
“We need to do a lot for our youths. I’m thankful that the bill, Not Too Young to Run scaled through and has gone through third reading and now the age limit for every elective position has been reduced. On my own part, I will continue to do my best within my power to ensure that we give our youths opportunities,” Legor said.
In the same token, the lawmaker appears to have stirred some level of curiosity on how he balances his role as an intelligent lawmaker and a politician on the side of the people. For Legor, it is merely about understanding the tide, it’s about rooting for the people course and standing firm to the reality of the times.
From his early years in politics as local government chairman, to being a commissioner and to the House of Representatives, Legor’s focus had been to serve, and with humility too. Though, remaining steadfast in the current political dispensation may be a tough task, he has rather navigated his path, avoiding the political snares and traps thus far. His dexterity to reach his goal even in this turbulent era makes him a true legislator of the present times.
