By Charles Okogene
Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpor loves to hog the spotlight. Unfortunately, this love for the limelight is nothing but glory for self. But it is interesting also to note that she is now a force in Delta North. She steadily but gradually crept into Delta State politics in 2007. That was when she was elected into the state’s House of Assembly to represent the good people of Aniocha South State Constituency.
Mrakpor, who before then, had no known elective political experience, aside when she worked as a personal assistant to former Deputy Governor of Delta State, BSC Elue, chanced on the scene like a bolt from the blues. She grabbed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in a most dramatic manner and got elected into the house till 2015.
In 2015, she received an unusual promotion into Nigeria’s green chamber in Abuja. She was elected to represent the good people of Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North, Oshimili South in the House of Representatives till 2019 when Hon. Ndudi Elumelu whom she took over from in 2015, succeeded her in 2919.
Throughout the years she spent at the lower chamber, an era remembered by many for the controversy associated with her, Mrakpor was not known for introducing any bill, speaking on any serious issue of national interest or for introducing motions. It will not be out of place to say that as far as the function of introducing bills and moving motions were concerned, Mrakpor who has a diploma in journalism from the famous Nigerian Institute of Journalism Lagos and degree in English from University of Jos was a bench warmer.
While she can be so accused, one can also ascribe such to her in terms of courting controversy and trouble the way bees are attracted to a honey comb.
Mrakpor kick-started her journey into the world of controversy in Abuja when she first raised dust and caused all fingers to point to her direction when she alleged that the aide of the head of Nigerian Prison Services as it was known then slapped her and called her a whore.
“One man banged at my car, slapped me and called me a prostitute,” a BBC report quoted her
The alarm got Nigerians talking. The leadership of the hallowed green chamber extended an invite to the leadership of NPS to come and explain its own side of the allegation.
Months after and like a leopard that will never changes spot, Mrakpor who is variously referred to as Ada Anioma by her fans, found herself in the centre of another allegation when she was accused of slapping a 68-year-old woman. Like the allegation against the aide of Prisons boss, that issue too has been swept under the carpet. This is not to talk of other domestic squabbles she is alleged to be involved in, including her battle with the poor masses in her quest to make Asaba cleaner and devoid of illegal structure.
The latest now, is her petition to the Delta State Police Command urging them to pick up Linus Okolo, an Assistant Editor with South-South International, an investigative reporter. She alleged that the reporter maligned her by linking her to cattle rearing; an allegation that a former executive of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), in the state dismissed by saying that the reporter has not even published the story.
“I don’t know why anyone will link me to cattle rearing at this point in time. I petitioned the police and they invited us today. I petitioned the police base on false accusation and other things.” she told told a Newdawn reporter that sought her side of the story.
However, what we found surprising is her proclivity for trouble and why she should involve the police in an allegation bordering on libel instead of going to court to prove her innocence to the hilt. Why was the arrest done on Friday Eve if not to detain the reporter more than 24 hours. This and more questions are waiting for answers.
….To be continued
