I would like to begin this essay with a short ballad story of a village carpenter and a village doctor. One rainy season, a heavy storm swept through the community and destroyed several homes. The villagers rushed to the carpenter, demanding to know why he had not treated the sick and injured after the disaster. The carpenter calmly replied, “My duty is to rebuild your homes so you can have shelter again. The doctor’s duty is to heal your wounds. If I abandon my tools to carry out another man’s assignment, then both jobs will suffer.”
That simple story captures the confusion that often dominates public discourse in our society, especially at the grassroots today. Many times, we judge public office holders from the wrong parameters. We expect a Legislator to function like an Executive officer, and when those unrealistic expectations are not met, criticism begins to fly from every direction.
This brings me to the ongoing conversations surrounding the member representing Udenu Constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Solomon Izuchukwu Onah, (Jack Solo).
As his first tenure gradually winds down and the All Progressives Congress has settled for him as its consensus candidate for the 2027 general election, some voices within our Constituency have intensified criticisms against him. Across several Udenu WhatsApp platforms, the recurring question has remained the same: “What infrastructural development has Jack Solo attracted to Udenu? What are his measurable achievements? Why should he be reelected?”
This morning again, I woke up to another round of heated arguments, with some contributors trying desperately to paint a picture of non-performance. In the midst of the debate, Chris Ejiofor Nwodo rightly observed that Jack Solo was being assessed from the wrong prism. I completely agree with him.
Much of the criticism, in my opinion, stems from a poor understanding of the constitutional roles of the Legislative and Executive arms of government. In some cases, it even appears to be deliberate cyber bullying. But beyond the emotions and political sentiments, this moment presents an opportunity for civic education.
We must first understand the core responsibilities of a Legislator.
A State House of Assembly member is fundamentally elected to perform three major functions: representation, lawmaking, and oversight. He is not elected as a road contractor, Local Government Chairman, Governor, or Commissioner for works. He does not control State or Local Government allocations meant for infrastructural execution. The constitutional doctrine of separation of powers clearly distinguishes the responsibilities of Legislators from those of Executive office holders.
Therefore, when we begin to measure a Legislator strictly by the number of roads constructed or boreholes drilled, we are already setting the wrong examination questions for the candidate before us. It is like setting Engineering examination questions for a student of Mass Communication and then accusing him of failure because he could not solve complex calculations.
In the areas constitutionally assigned to him, Jack Solo has performed creditably well.
As a State Legislator, he has maintained an active presence in plenary sessions and legislative engagements. He has remained vocal on issues affecting the welfare and interests of Udenu people. More importantly, he currently serves as the House Committee Chairman on Trade and Investment, a strategic position with direct implications for economic development.
Today, the ongoing transformation of Chimaroke Park, Obollo Afor into a modern International Market did not happen by magic. Such projects require enabling legislative frameworks, policy backing, and institutional support. The Committee under Jack Solo’s leadership played a critical role in providing the legislative environment necessary for that initiative to thrive.
Again, many people may not know that the establishment of one trending tertiary healthcare training institution in Nsukka had significant legislative input from him. Two years ago, he was actively involved in editing, proposing, and driving the legislative processes that eventually gave life to the institution. Legislative work is often invisible to the ordinary eye because it does not come with loud sirens or ceremonial flag-offs. But in all honesty, it involves painstaking lobbying, negotiations, committee work, debates, amendments, and securing political consensus through multiple readings on the floor of the House.
That is the real work of lawmaking.
Ironically, many of the same people criticizing him today may not even fully appreciate how laws, institutions, and policies are created in a democracy.
Beyond his constitutional duties, Jack Solo has also shown personal compassion and philanthropy. We all saw the widely circulated report published a year ago, by his Media Assistant, Mr. Kelechi Okpe, showing the luxury house he built for an indigent widow within our Constituency. Unfortunately, while criticisms travel with lightning speed across social media, good deeds like this, often move slowly because some people have unconsciously convinced themselves that every act of kindness from a public office holder is merely an obligation owed to them.
The truth remains that political parties are not blind. The APC leadership in Udenu and across the State did not arrive at the decision to adopt him as a consensus candidate by accident. Political parties evaluate loyalty, legislative performance, public conduct, party commitment, and electability before making such decisions. The consensus around Jack Solo is therefore not an act of charity; it is a reflection of confidence in his stewardship and capacity.
Criticism in a democracy is healthy and necessary. Public office holders must always be subjected to scrutiny. However, such appraisals should be informed, objective, and rooted in constitutional understanding rather than emotional expectations or political prejudice.
Jack Solo may not be a Governor with bulldozers at his disposal, nor a Local Government Chairman handling direct execution of projects. But within the legislative mandate entrusted to him by the people of our Constituency, he has not been found wanting.
As citizens, our duty is not just to criticize, but to criticize intelligently.
May daylight spare us!
✍️ Jude Eze
