By Israel Mbam
The member representing Ezza South and Ikwo Federal Constituency in national Assembly, Hon Comrade Chinedu Ogah says he has sponsored Bills for the establishment of Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Federal College of food Technology, FCFT other institutions and projects that will better the lives of Ebonyians in the State. Speaking to newsmen after a breakfast meeting with some journalists in his Abakaliki residence, the Federal lawmaker blamed the increasing security challenges, unemployment and their likes on greed by few individuals who are not interested in the welfare of the masses.
He noted that the assumption that restructuring will solve Nigerians problems was wrong, stressing that each states and zones in Nigeria need each other to survive.
Comrade Ogah advocated for renewal of mind, and the building of spirit of patriotism among leaders at all level which will in turn bring about the needed national integration and development of all parts of the country.
According to him, restructuring would not solve Nigeria’s socio-political and economic woes, hence the urgent need for sincere moral reorientation and attitudinal change especially from the leaders and representative of the people at various levels.
He maintained that good governance would be enthroned when the people are allowed to freely choose those who lead or represent them and not by imposition as witnessed in various levels of leadership in Nigeria.
“The problem of Nigeria, especially in Southeast is greed and not restructuring as we think. Our problem is that we are selfish and greedy and if things were to be done normal, then somebody would not want to be inside his house to install village head.
“When you impose an unpopular person from a minority against the popular wish and demand of the people, it will result to agitation and crisis.
“If we allow those at the grassroots to choose their leaders, they will definitely listen to the leader as their own whenever he calls on them. That is when we can solve this problems of communal crises and other forms of insecurity.
“But, when you impose leaders on the masses and clampdown on them because of your privileged political position, the people are bound to resist and embark on agitation and a crime will be committed in the cause of the agitation.
“No state can survive without each other; the recent food blockade by nothern food dealers resulted to food drought and crisis in some parts of the country.
“Our existence as a country is interwoven, our problem is ourselves not allowing masses to choose their leaders and when leaders emerge through popular votes, no crime that can go in the community undetected,” Ogah said.
Ogah also kicked against the agitation for state police pointing out that state police would become a tool for intimidation, victimisation and oppression of the people by those in position of authority.
“see how some of our leaders handle the issue of security and even security operatives in their respective States even when they are not in full control, imagine what they will do if they are fully in charge of the police? The result will be that Governors, the senators, rep members and big men in power will intimidate and clampdown on those who can’t speak for themselves.
“The truth of the matter is that if you are a leader and there is security breaches in your area and you cannot fish out the criminals responsible, then, you are not a leader elected by the people because a leader elected by his people will know his people too”
Comrade Ogah who used the opportunity to give brief of his achievements as a federal lawmaker revealed that he has secured over 295 employments in federal parastals for members of his constituency and other Ebonyi indigenes.
He added that about 300 Ebonyi indegenes recently received N30,000 each from the Federal Government (FG) economic intervention grants, saying that many were engaged in the social works programme of the FG where they earn N20, 000 monthly.
In area of education, the rep member said he has given over seventy (70) million naira as scholarship grants students of Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency pursuing different academic programmes in various Nigeria and foreign higher institutions.
“We gave out in the first batch, N50 million to students both from my constituency and other parts of Ebonyi studying in various tertiary institutions within and outside Nigeria.
“We also gave N20 million in the second batch of the scholarship grants and we are committed to helping our students ease off financial burdens while pursuing their studies.”
On health, he noted that many who were trapped in so many hospitals in the state due to non payment of hospital medical bills had those bill settled and work are on in renovation, construction and equipping of various health centres and hospitals in his constituency.
“We have constructed a functional hospital at Item, Amagu Ikwo local government area; the hospital we are building at Idembia in Enyibichiri Alike is at 95 percent completion while plans have been completed for the renovation of Enyibichiri hospital also in Alike, Ikwo LGA.
“We have constructed so many bridges linking many communities and villages across the constituency including rural roads,” he said.
The lawmaker who said he would soon embark on projects tour with the media, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts at fighting insecurity and other challenges facing the country. He however called for support to the president to win the ongoing war against insecurity and bring out the country from its current recession.
The representative who explained that state police would not offer solution to the current insecurity plaguing the country however, urged those in power to ensure that they enjoy the support and confidence of the electorate.
He also noted that APC in Ebonyi is one family under the leadership of the Governor who has performed well in office. Ogah noted that he has no candidate for the Governorship race in 2023, adding that as a loyal party man, the choice of the party will be his choice too.
