NewsProbe News from Nigeria and Around the world
Raymond Ozoji, Awka
Ex-Anambra State Housing Commissioner Arc. Michael Maduakonam Okonkwo has declared that the incumbent representative of Orumba-North and South federal constiuency Hon. Okwudili Ezenwankwo is no match for him in the forthcoming general election.
Okonkwo, who made this public declaration at the secretariat complex of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka, where he formally announced his intention to contest Orumba-North and South federal constiuency seat on the platform of the party, said Orumba-North and South had lost confidence in the incumbent.
The former commissioner recalled that he was instrumental to the election victory of the incumbent on the platform of APGA but the incumbent according to him defected from APGA and joined an opposition party thereby becoming a traitor to the people.
He said, “I became ashamed because I went everywhere and I helped to have him installed as our representative but he disappointed us and defected from us. He took us to court and we are still dealing with it. Even without that, he is no match for what I am bringing for the people of Orumba-North and South.”
Okonkwo said he has been loyal to APGA since 2014 when he returned from the United States of America. That even when opposition parties tried to woo him to their camp, he declined and remained steadfast in his decision to remain in APGA.
He said he was more qualified and experienced than other aspirants given his eight years career as a commissioner in the government of Anambra state, adding that he has also been a core party man helping tremendously to solve problems of the party at ward, local government, zonal and state levels respectively.
The former commissioner said, “I have been a very loyal party member for over nine years now. I have been a very active stakeholder; served in the Executive for eight years; represented Orumba-North and South people and represented Anambra state as a whole. It is time I represented the good people of Orumba-North and South federal constiuency at the Federal House of Representatives.
“I gave the party members my reasons why I chose to do this. I chose to do this because Orumba-North and South local government areas have been found to be the poorest in the local governments in Anambra state.
“We have been marginalised. We have been neglected. We have the most dilapidated infrastructure. We do not have good education system. We do not have good roads. We don’t even have mechanised agriculture even though we are farmers.
“We do not have roads to move our agricultural products from farm to markets. We do not have social welfare for Ndi-Orumba-North and South. I have been a development agent as a private citizen helping to correct ills militating against development in my area.
“I believe I am the most qualified to represent Orumba-North and South federal constiuency in the next political dispensation because my people have suffered from socio-economic retardation for too long and I want to make them smile again.”
