By Goke Ilesanmi
He is an exceptional politician with rare passion for public service, humanity and philanthropy. He works all his life to better the lot of people politically, financially, economically and socially. Yet, he wears invisible dark glasses of humility to avoid being recognised, applauded and celebrated because he sees public service as a divine calling.
In spite of his nobility, his life symbolises uncommon cordiality and simplicity. An encounter with him will surely reinforce your belief in the popular maxim that barrels full of contents do not make noise.
A man of towering diligence, he believes that work comes before success and the only time success comes before work is in the dictionary because letter “S” sequentially comes before letter “W” in the dictionary alphabetical order.
His name is SENATOR MPIGI BARINADA, the Distinguished and Oratorical Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the upper chamber (SENATE) of the Nigerian National Assembly.
SENATOR BARINADA, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service in the current (Ninth) Assembly and Vice Chairman, Electoral Matters Committee in the Eighth Assembly is a lawmaker with distinction.
Apart from being an encyclopaedia of knowledge, he is a model of exceptional public service and credibility. His vice-chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service in this Ninth Assembly and vice-chairmanship of Electoral Matters Committee in the Eighth Assembly readily confirm these commendable attributes.
REASON FOR HIS PUBLIC SERVICE
In his strong desire to serve his people and facilitate massive grassroots development and people empowerment, this great grassroots mobiliser and exceptional philanthropist decided to go into politics as an exemplary political catalyst to effect a massive societal change.
That was after the observance of his one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme and commencement of work at the CGG in 1986 where he worked until 1988. It is noteworthy that during the period, he was Head of Operations, CGG/Shell Petroleum Company Ltd, Exploration Department.
Expectedly, he recorded outstanding achievements and demonstrated enviable leadership and political responsibility in his official capacity as the Chairman of Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State between 1999 and 2001.
For example, he embarked on massive empowerment of his local government people and successfully executed various developmental projects like road rehabilitation, sinking of boreholes, public pipe-borne-water facilities, construction of culverts, etc.
In recognition and compensation of his outstanding performance as a Local Government Chairman, SENATOR BARINADA was later appointed pioneer Commissioner for Youth Affairs by the administration of former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State and he served between 2001 and 2002.
Upon his assumption of duty as a Commissioner, this proactive political leader immediately hit the ground running based on the previous experience of impactful empowerment and exemplary performance.
He executed many laudable projects that enhanced the overall capabilities of the teeming youth and bettered the lot of the numerous underprivileged people in Rivers State.
Thereafter, based on popular demand for his service by his local government people, SENATOR BARINADA was re-elected to resume the leadership of Tai Local Government Area from 2008 to 2011.
SENATOR BARINADA later climbed the political ladder to a higher rung by representing his people at the Federal House of Representatives from June 2011 to June 2015
Given his scorecard of massive parliamentary and constituency performances, SENATOR BARINADA got re-elected into the House of Representatives to extend his quality representation and towering performance from June 2015 to June 2019.
To underscore the exceptional confidence reposed in this energetic self-starter and visionary political leader endowed with reservoir of sociability, cordiality, responsibility and hospitality, his people gave him yet another mandate of higher representation by voting him Senator of Rivers South Senatorial District during the February 23, 2019 National Assembly elections.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
This admirable humanitarian and visionary political leader was born almost sixty years ago.
SENATOR BARINADA started his elementary education at Koroma, Rivers State, Nigeria where he bagged the First School Leaving Certificate in 1974.
As regards post-primary education, he proceeded to the Government Secondary Commercial School, Ibaa, Rivers State, Nigeria in 1974 where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1979.
Thereafter, SENATOR BARINADA climbed the educational ladder higher and bagged a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration (Marketing) in 1984.
Later, he observed his one-year compulsory national assignment under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme and served as Administrative Secretary at the Benue State Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture, Makurdi in 1985.
Given his massive thirst for intellectual advancement, SENATOR BARINADA later proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and bagged a Post-Graduate Diploma in Educational Administration in 2002.
This highly visionary lawmaker also went to the University of Port Harcourt where he obtained his Master of Education degree in 2007.
To diversify and reinforce his educational qualifications, SENATOR BARINADA later enrolled for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, also in Port Harcourt and bagged a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Marketing in 2008.
In fulfilment of his aspiration for the attainment of the highest academic qualification, SENATOR BARINADA proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt where he bagged a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Management and Administration in 2012.
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
*SENATOR BARINADA has been appointed Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service in this (Ninth) Assembly in recognition of his exceptional public service and outstanding intelligence.
*He was appointed Vice Chairman, Electoral Matters Committee in the Eighth Assembly in recognition of his rare credibility, accountability and neutrality in public service.
*He was lauded by his constituents and voted to represent them at the SENATE from June 2019 to June 2023 as an endorsement of the elasticity of his intellectual and legislative capabilities for higher parliamentary responsibilities.
*He was voted by his constituents to represent them at the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES from June 2011 to June 2019 in recognition of his exceptional parliamentary responsibility and sterling constituency performance.
*As a Member of House of Representatives, he helped his constituents to secure employment, gave many scholarships and empowered people with 150 motorcycles to start transport business.
*As a pioneer Commissioner for Youth Affairs in Rivers State between 2001 and 2002, he initiated the Amnesty Programme which the Federal Government subscribed to and exploited for resolution of militancy and pipeline vandalism menace in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.
*As a Commissioner for Youth in Rivers State between 2001 and 2002, he empowered the youth in various ways and also got starter-packs for them from major telecommunications operators like MTN, Globacom, Econet Mobile now Airtel, etc.
*As the Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, he ensured the local government was connected to the national grid and electrified.
*As the Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, he empowered different categories of people. He trained artisans, gave them tools and empowered women with grinding machines to be self-reliant among other empowerment kits.
FINAL NOTE
SENATOR BARINADA is married to Mrs Patricia Obiageri Barinada and their marital union is blessed with children.