PROMISES ON PAPER VS. RESULTS ON GROUND
A RESPONSE TO THE 2027 MANIFESTO OF THE NDC HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE FOR OVIA NORTH EAST II
The people of Ovia North East Constituency II have every right to ask a simple question as 2027 approaches:
Should we abandon a representative who has already demonstrated what he can do, for someone asking us to trust a list of promises?
The recently circulated NDC manifesto promises constituency offices, agricultural databases, healthcare centres, educational interventions, youth empowerment, women empowerment, disability support, infrastructure, markets, rural roads, water and several legislative initiatives.
There is nothing wrong with making promises. The real test of leadership, however, is the ability to turn promises into reality.
And that is precisely where Hon. Andrew Edobor Uzamere’s record speaks loudly.
EDUCATION: FROM PROMISES TO ACTUAL CLASSROOMS
The manifesto says education should go beyond classroom construction and promises libraries, learning materials, teacher welfare, training, scholarships and digital learning.
But before another politician tells our people what should be done, let us remember what has already been done under Uzamere.
Hon. Uzamere has delivered:
- Six-classroom block at Emaba Primary School, Iguoshodin-Ngbemaba, including furniture, Headmistress’ office and toilet facilities.
- Two blocks of nine classrooms at Oghede Secondary School, with furniture, Principal’s office and toilet facilities.
- Six-classroom block at Obagie-Uwaifiokun Primary School, with furniture, Headmaster’s office and toilet facilities.
- Reconstruction of a three-classroom block at Uhen Mixed Secondary School.
- Three-classroom block at Egboha Community, Okada East, including Principal’s office, furniture and toilet facilities.
And the commitment to education has gone beyond buildings.
Hundreds of indigent students have benefited from the WAEC/NECO scholarship programme, while thousands of pupils across the constituency have received educational materials.
So when someone promises to “improve education,” the people are entitled to ask:
Improve it from where?
Because under Uzamere, the foundation has already been laid.
WATER: 15 COMMUNITIES, NOT A CAMPAIGN PROMISE
The manifesto speaks about clean water as one of its infrastructure priorities.
But Uzamere’s record is not a promise to provide water.
It is 15 borehole projects with generating sets delivered across the constituency.
From Gelegele, Ekewan-Waterside, Iboro and Ugbineh-Urhobo Camp in Oduna, to Ite, Iguzama, Igueze, Egbeta, Iguomo, Okada, Oduna, Utese, Olumoye, Egbetenyin-Iguiye and Ugbuwe—the evidence is in the communities.
The difference is simple: one is a manifesto; the other is a scorecard.
HEALTHCARE: DON’T JUST PROMISE—SHOW THE BLUEPRINT
The manifesto promises three new Primary Healthcare Centres within four years, medical outreaches, improved facilities, medicines, maternal care and health insurance.
These are worthy aspirations.
But leadership should also be judged by capacity, experience and demonstrated delivery.
Hon. Uzamere has already demonstrated that he can identify community needs, mobilise resources and execute constituency projects across all seven wards.
The question for the electorate is therefore not merely:
“Who can write a beautiful healthcare proposal?”
It is:
“Who has already shown the capacity to convert constituency needs into tangible projects?”
AGRICULTURE: ANOTHER PROMISE, ANOTHER DATABASE
The NDC manifesto proposes creating a database of genuine farmers within its first 90 days and connecting them to grants, training and agricultural programmes.
Again, it sounds good.
But our farmers do not merely need databases. They need roads, water, electricity, access to markets and practical interventions.
Uzamere’s approach has been to address tangible community needs—including water infrastructure, market development and other projects that directly affect the environment in which rural economic activity takes place.
MARKET DEVELOPMENT: FROM WORDS TO INFRASTRUCTURE
The manifesto identifies poor markets and promises a Rural Markets Modernization Bill requiring markets to meet minimum standards, including water, toilets, electricity, storage and security.
But Hon. Uzamere has already demonstrated his commitment to market infrastructure with the Igo Community Market in Oghede Ward.
Again, the distinction is obvious:
One is proposing what government should do.
The other has already done something.
SOLAR AND ELECTRICITY
The manifesto promises improved electricity access and rural electrification initiatives.
Uzamere’s record includes:
Solar streetlights at Egbaen Market, Iguoshodin Ward.
Solar panels and batteries for the borehole at Igueholor Community, Oduna Ward.
Solar streetlights at Utese Community, Uhen Ward.
These are not theoretical interventions.
They are physical projects that communities can point to.
YOUTH AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
The manifesto promises skills acquisition, ICT training, digital entrepreneurship, apprenticeships, sports development and innovation hubs.
It also promises support for women-owned businesses, cooperatives and entrepreneurship.
These are commendable aspirations.
But the people of Ovia North East II should ask:
What has the candidate demonstrated before now that gives us confidence that these promises will become reality?
Because Uzamere’s first term has already demonstrated a pattern of identifying needs, mobilising resources and delivering projects.
He has also sponsored the Unity Cup, supported seven ward teams with jerseys and provided prize money for participating teams—another example of engaging young people through sport.
THE MANIFESTO PROMISES 150 ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIRS
The manifesto promises the procurement and distribution of 150 electric wheelchairs within the first 180 days to persons living with disabilities.
That is a very specific promise.
And precisely because it is specific, the people should demand accountability:
Where is the funding coming from? What is the implementation framework? What happens after the first 180 days?
This is not an attack. It is the basic standard by which every political promise should be measured.
THE BIGGEST QUESTION: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
The manifesto itself admits that legislators often depend on government allocations and argues for partnerships with NGOs, development agencies, philanthropic organisations and the private sector.
Interestingly, this is exactly where Uzamere’s record becomes difficult to dismiss.
He has demonstrated that constituency representation is not merely about sitting in the House, attending plenaries and making speeches.
It is about identifying problems, engaging stakeholders, attracting resources and delivering results.
In less than one full four-year legislative cycle, communities across the seven wards have witnessed projects in:
Education.
Water.
Solar infrastructure.
Markets.
Scholarships.
Youth development.
Social intervention.
That is not a manifesto.
That is a scorecard.
AND WHAT ABOUT LEGISLATION?
This is perhaps where the opposition may attempt to shift the argument.
The manifesto lists several proposed bills, including bills on constituency development partnerships, farmers’ registration, rural market modernization, farm-to-market roads, cooperatives, youth enterprise, community healthcare outreach and mental health.
Those proposals should be subjected to the same scrutiny as every legislative promise:
Which ones will become law? What will they cost? What institutions will implement them? What measurable outcomes will follow?
A proposed bill is an intention.
A completed project is an achievement.
Both matter—but they are not the same thing.
THE PEOPLE HAVE A CHOICE
This election should therefore not be reduced to who can produce the longest manifesto or make the most attractive promises.
The real question is:
WHO HAS ALREADY SHOWN US WHAT HE CAN DO?
Hon. Andrew Uzamere entered office in June 2023.
In that relatively short period, the people have seen classrooms reconstructed and constructed, boreholes delivered, solar projects executed, scholarships provided, markets developed, students supported and communities reached across the constituency.
If this is what he achieved in his first term, why should we interrupt the process now?
The opposition can promise.
They can publish manifestos.
They can tell us what they will do.
But Hon. Uzamere can point to what he has already done.
And that is the fundamental difference.
YOU DON’T CHANGE A WINNING TEAM
Ovia North East Constituency II does not need to gamble with untested promises when it already has a representative with a visible record of delivery.
The first term showed the signs.
The second term is the opportunity for consolidation.
The next chapter should be about expansion, continuity and even greater impact.
Anthony Osazuwa
(Anthony is a constituent of Ovia North East II)
